《The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order》 Chapter 1 ?Chapter 1: Prologue (I) A bloody war raged on in a remote corner of arge continent. However, it would be more fitting to call it a genocide due to the significant military superiority one side had over the other and how they did kill every man, woman, and child in their path. Heavily equipped soldiers in blue military uniforms, alongside tanks and other forms of armored fighting vehicles carrying guns, invaded arge city, butchering its people. The city, whose streets were stained red with blood, was the home of the Crimson People, a race known for their characteristic white hair and eyes with red irises. Crimson People were a reclusive race that reached the desert hundreds of years ago. Despite the harsh environment, through their hard work, they managed to thrive, constructing a country that resisted the passage of time. Unfortunately for the Crimson People, the desert they upied drew the greed of the Great Star Kingdom. Previous Star Kings had never cared for those territories since they believed it was impossible to make them habitable, but the Crimson People did it. Now that the desert had value, the current Star King, Sunit the Great, decided to take it. The Crimson People have proven to be too tenacious and hard to control, so he chose a more direct approach instead of wasting time making them part of the kingdom. At first, the Great Star Kingdom implemented a diplomatic approach, but the Crimson People would never ept the kingdom¡¯s conditions since it basically degraded them to ves. ..... The Star King knew that would happen. After putting on a charade for the masses, vilifying the Crimson People, and making it clear that diplomacy was no longer an option, he took a random excuse and began a war of extermination. Although the Crimson People fought bravely, they were no match for the enormous Great Star Kingdom, and in less than a month, the enemy army invaded their country¡¯s capital. A boy no more than five years old sat on a nearby mountain. His white hair and red eyes made it clear he was part of the Crimson People. He saw everything that happened in the city. The brutality and atrocity of any war could create deep psychological wounds in any adult, so that horrible scene should have been too much for a small child to handle. Yet, the boy showed nothing. Those small eyes showed no fear, no hate, no sadness, nothing at all. Footsteps alerted the child, and he turned to the right only to see five men d in military uniforms rise through the mountain edge and reach his location. He saw their weapons and how some of the soldiers had smiles full of madness and bloodlust, but even then, he showed nothing. After giving the five a nce, he turned his eyes toward the city. ¡°Here is one of them. Let¡¯s finish this small rat.¡± One of the soldiers raised his rifle and aimed at the boy. A twisted smile emerged as he pictured what would happen once he fired the bullet. ¡°Stop!¡± Another soldier yelled to his fellow countryman while pushing down the rifle aiming at the child. This man¡¯s eyes were so full of rage and guilt that he could not hide it even if he wanted it. Seeing how someone dared deprive him of his fun, the soldier with the twisted smile burst with rage. ¡°What do you think you are doing, Jona? Our mission is to kill every single one of these rats!¡± The guilt and rage in the soldier named Jona only grew stronger as he heard that. ¡°They order us to kill women and children. How the fuck can we obey such insane orders!¡± ¡°You should know the price for going against our orders!¡± The soldier with the twisted smile was relentless and would not give up. ¡°We can say we did not see him. There is no need to keep falling into this depravity.¡± Jona did not let go of the rifle as he turned toward the child. ¡°Child, run now!¡± The child did not move and kept looking toward the city. Anyone that saw such behavior would think that the child¡¯s mind had broken and could not process what was happening. ¡°You see, he has lost his mind. It is best if we end his suffering now.¡± The soldier, full of bloodlust, managed to push Jona away and aimed the rifle at the child. Before the soldier could pull the trigger, the boy aimed his hand toward them before clenching his fist. Immediately after that, earth spikes emerged from the ground, impaling the five soldiers and killing them instantly. The child killed both the good and the bad with that mere hand movement. Just like seeing his people dying did not cause anything on him, killing those soldiers also failed to generate a reaction. Now that the distraction was over, the boy concentrated on the city again. ¡°Had I dominated this power sooner, I could have saved them.¡± Those words sounded like a man riddled with guilt, but the boy expressed them without emotion. He was merely stating a fact, nothing more and nothing less. He gave onest nce to the city before standing up and leaving. As he walked away, he aimed his hand toward the dead soldiers, pulling the blood out of their bodies and toward him. Blood streams moved around the child¡¯s body before solidifying and forming a red robe. There were two words in the back written with milky white threads. ¡°RED KING.¡± At the tender age of four years and three days old, the Red King saw how everybody he ever knew perished. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: Prologue (II) A little over ten years after the Crimson War of Extermination, a vast military parade urred in the Great Star Kingdom¡¯s capital, Neptuno. There were fireworks, music, and cheers as soldiers in blue garments crossed the streets. Fathers raised their children on their shoulders to see the soldiers, and no one among the crowd did not smile and respectfully salute those men. Most soldiers smiled and kept their heads high as they marched, but there was a considerable portion whose eyes betrayed the shame hidden in their hearts. While for the Great Star Kingdom¡¯s people, the Crimson War of Extermination was a cruel but necessary conflict to get rid of a race whose goal was to invade theirnds and kill their families, the soldiers part of the war effort knew the truth. Only one term could correctly describe the Crimson War of Extermination. Genocide. Suddenly, people began to exim with shock as they saw a young man walking on the pristine street where hundreds of soldiers were marching. ..... No one should be in that street other than the military, but that was not really important. The young man¡¯s appearance truly shocked the soldiers and civilians of the Great Star Kingdom. He was a majestic and handsome young man with a fearless aura and a body that thrived with vitality. However, his white hair and red eyes were the most important features responsible for the upheaval. No one could believe that a member of the Crimson People, the exterminated race, would appear inside the Great Star Kingdom, much less during the parade that celebrated the war in which the army eradicated his people. The young man calmly walked through the immacte street toward the soldiers, and as people looked at the back of his robe, they could see two words. RED KING. Silence reigned as some of the civilians could not adapt to the bizarre scene before them, and they were the lucky ones. While ordinary people only saw a young man, the soldiers felt they faced a natural disaster, an emotionless force of destruction that would erase everything in its path. A young soldier could not resist the psychological pressure projected by the Red King, and he hastily loaded his gun before firing it. ¡°Boom.¡± The Red King stopped walking after the soldier fired the gun. Unlike what people expected, the bullet did not harm or even ricocheted out of his body. That small piece of metal remained suspended in the air less than five centimeters away from the Red King¡¯s head. Under the shocked sight of soldiers and civilians, the Red King grabbed the bullet with his fingers before making it glow with a crimson light. The Red King focused on the soldier that fired the gun at him and threw the bullet. ¡°BOOOM!¡± A st like the one made by a tank firing its cannon urred when the Red King thrust that crimson bullet from his hands. Due to the bullet¡¯s kic energy, dozens of soldiers, including the one responsible for the shot, were sted to pieces. ¡°?AHHHHH!¡± People began to cry due to that gory scene, but they did not do it for long. The Red King pped his hand on the ground, making a crimson light cover the earth for hundreds of meters around him. That crimson light was thest thing those civilians and soldiers saw before earth spikes rose from the ground and killed them all. No emotion appeared in the Red King¡¯s eyes after that carnage. He knew that was only the beginning, and he focused on fighting jets that appeared in the sky. What happened next could only be described as a sh of military technology against supernatural powers. Explosives, missiles, and high-power bullets rained down on the Red King, and this one responded by unleashing fireballs, lightning arcs, storms, acid rain, and many more supernatural abilities. Like during the Crimson Extermination War, where one side controlled much greater power than the other, there was no doubt who the winner would be. Neptuno, the crown jewel of the Great Star Kingdom, a city with fifty-five million people and renowned for the¡¯s highest military power, was reduced to ashes in less than fifteen hours. Only two people were alive in the city, and both were in the sky watching the ming ruins. One showed no emotion, while the other had fallen into utter desperation. Sunit the Great saw everything he held dear destroyed and could barely speak. His body had already given up, not that it mattered much since he only remained in the sky thanks to the Red King¡¯s tight grasp on the back of his neck. ¡°Monster...¡± The Red King turned toward Sunit, as that was the first word the Star King pronounced since the moment of his capture. ¡°Monster, demon, hellish creature sent to destroy my godly kingdom!¡± The Star King began to yell all his strength. It seemed that the shock of losing everything drove him crazy. The Red King only shook his head as he heard Sunit¡¯s words. ¡°Mysticism and fairy tales. The tools of the weak and stupid to exin something beyond their understanding. Three days after my birth, I could already understand words and perceive my surroundings. One weekter, I acquired the ability to talk and solve advanced mathematical problems. Of course, I hid all that from my progenitors, as I knew an existence like mine could incite fear in ordinary people. During my first birthday, I perceived the force that permeated every corner of this world. Before I was three, I learned how to use it to unleash elemental spells and strengthen my body.¡± Sunit could not understand what force the Red King was talking about, but that did not matter, as the young man never expected feedback. ¡°You... You are a demon. God will punish your unholy existence for what you have done to my people.¡± Those words provoked nothing in the Red King, and he only shook his head. ¡°So in your mind, ordering the extermination of the Crimson People followed God¡¯s desires, but exterminating your kingdom goes against his divine will. Ahh, I thought the king of thergest force in the world would be better, but you are yet another hypocrite.¡± The Red King said nothing else before letting go of the Sunit. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The Star King of the Great Star Kingdom screamed as he fell from the sky before shing with the ground and shattering every bone in his body. Ten days before his fifteen birthday, the Red King destroyed the Great Star Kingdom, the mightiest power in the world and responsible for the extermination of the Crimson People. The Red King stared at the broken city and understood he had be the mightiest entity in the world, but that only made him feel shallow. The night had reached its end at that moment, and the sun came out. As he felt the warmth of that majestic heavenly body, a goal that genuinely passionate him appeared in the Red King¡¯s mind. ¡°This world is too small for me.¡± The Red King stared at the mighty heavenly bodies that covered the firmament as a smile emerged on his face. Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Cain Laurifer (I) A young man with ck hair and green eyes walked through the halls of what seemed to be a school. He was one meter and sixty-five centimeters tall, very high considering he had just recently turned fourteen. Although the boy was not particrly handsome, he had a stoic expression, and his eyes glowed with a resolute light. That, plus his well-defined body, should have made him pretty attractive. However, all those who saw him walking through the hallway stared at him contemptuously. Some even make mockery remarks and do not bother to lower their voices. The young man was used to those stares and did not let them affect him as he kept walking to the exit. Unfortunately, someone shouted from behind just as he was about to leave. ¡°Cain, are you leaving without saying hello to your old friend?¡± The one that shouted those words was a skinny young man. He was not even one and a half meters tall, and his constant smirk made his face quite unpleasant. ..... Unlike their behavior with Cain, when the other students saw that skinny young man, they all adopted respectful expressions, with some people even bowing. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned around and stared at the skinny young man. He saw two people apanying this one, and his eyesnded on the only woman before looking away. ¡°What do you want, Jonathan?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was cold, clearly showing how he felt about that skinny young man. Before Jonathan could answer, one of the people apanying him shouted with rage. ¡°Garbage with a Low Tier 1 Wave Talent, how dare you use that tone with Lord Jonathan!¡± The youth that roared had arge body. He wanted to initiate a fight, but Cain did not even look in his direction and kept focusing on Jonathan. Being ignored only angered the youth even more, and he was about to jump toward Cain when Jonathan raised his hand. ¡°There is no need to be hasty, Kiron. But I must say, Cain, that your coldness harms my feelings. We used to be closest year, so I wanted to say goodbye now that school has finally ended.¡± Jonathan¡¯s words sounded nice, but everybody saw how the smirk on his face only grew nastier. ¡°By the way, are you going to enroll in some Wave University? The Hellzer University has already epted me. They did me a favor, allowing me to bring Cinthy with me.¡± Jonathan grabbed the waist of the girl by his side, and his eyes were full of mockery as he stared at Cain. When the girl felt Jonathan¡¯s grasp, she only giggled. However, when she stared at Cain, the same disgust the other students had in their eyes appeared in hers. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that. Just the previous year, the three were very close friends. He used to protect the skinny Jonathan from everybody, and his rtionship with Cinthy was not as simple as friendship. However, all of that changed when they turned thirteen and took part in the Wave Talent Test. Unlike Cain, who scored a Low Tier 1, Jonathan reached an impressive Peak Tier 3. As a reference, the second-highest score in the school was Middle Tier 2. Cain did not believe their rtionship would change just due to some score, but he was too naive. In this cruel world, where humanity was in a constant war against supernatural forces, being weak was the same as being a waste of space. As soon as Jonathan realized he would no longer need to depend on Cain for protection, he showed his true colors. It was not enough just to sever their friendship. He made sure to torment his old friend and influence the rest of the school to do the same. Before Cain could answer, Kiron began tough and did not lose the opportunity to mock him. ¡°Hahaha, Young Lord. How can this trash enter a Wave University? His only path is to join the Imperial Military Force, and even then, he will be nothing more than a war pup just like his father...¡± Kiron had not even finished speaking when his eyes widened, and a sense of utter danger assaulted him. He saw a fisting to his throat, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Luckily for therge youth, a sky-blue mantle covered Jonathan¡¯s body before the attack couldnd, allowing him to disy a speed an average human should not be able to achieve. Cain¡¯s punch almost reached Kiron¡¯s throat, but Jonathan¡¯s palm shed with his chest first, pushing him with so much force that he crashed against a wall. Cain threw up a mouthful of blood. He did not scream, but the expression on his face showed the agony he felt. ¡°Hmph, you dare to attack one of my people without any form of provocation. I am a mighty Level 2 Wave Warrior, and you are nothing but trash. Consider yourself lucky I went easy on you.¡± Jonathan had a self-righteous expression on his face as he shouted those words. Everybody knew that Cain acted due to Kiron insulting his father, but no one dared to contradict Jonathan, and they remained silent. Since he had already got his fun, Jonathan walked away apanied by Cinthy and Kirin. The trio wasughing, but thest one had an insidious light in his eyes as he gave onest nce at Cain. It took almost twenty minutes for Cain to gather the strength to stand up. He cleaned the blood from his mouth and walked out of the school under the students¡¯ scornful stares. Cain felt pain with every step he took but did his best to walk straight. He knew that attack would be useless with Jonathan present, but there were no regrets. More than a year of mockery and bullying had tempered Cain¡¯s will, and there were many things that he could resist. Still, no matter what, he would never ept someone disparaging his father, the man he respected more than anyone. As he walked to the train station, the buildings around him were all not only incredibly high but featured futuristic characteristics that proved the tremendous technological advance of humankind. Cain was not in the mood to admire those buildings. He took the train, which levitated and did not need any tracks. Despite the train¡¯s speed, the youth still required around an hour to reach his residence. He was one of thest people to get out, and after walking another fifteen minutes, he saw his home. Cain lived in a small apartment, and unlike the futuristic buildings near his school, this one appeared ordinary. Despite the decrepit exterior, everything inside was immacte and tidy. After entering his home, the first thing Cain did was head to a small shrine with the picture of a man. The man had ck hair and green eyes full of resolution. He was wearing a ck military uniform. ¡°Good day, Sir.¡± Cain kneeled in front of the picture and bowed for an entire minute before sighing. ¡°A.I. Chip, analyze my body.¡± Right after that, Cain heard a robotic voice in his mind. [Bip... scanning host.] Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Cain Laurifer (II) [Bip... Scanning host.] The A.I. Chip deployed a stream of information in front of Cain¡¯s eyes two minutester. It was like a virtual screen that only he could see. [Scanningpleted. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer ¡ª Stats: ..... -Strength: 0.8 -Vitality: 1.1 -Agility: 0.9 ¡ª Note: The host presents multiple internal injuries. The two lower left ribs have fractures, and there is also internal bleeding and torn muscles. There is no direct threat to the host¡¯s life at this moment. Suggestion: Seek medical attention immediately.] The A.I. Chip that Cain had used was nothing special. All children have one imnted in their brains during their infancy. While extremely practical in day-to-day life, theirputational abilities were not impressive. Cain only shook his head as he heard the A.I. Chip¡¯s suggestion. He barely had enough money to eat and pay the rent, so while the hospital¡¯s instations would help him heal his wounds in minutes, he could not afford it. The youth went to a cab and took a bottle of pills with ¡®Soldier Drugs¡¯ written on thebel. After taking a couple, the expression on his face eased as he felt the pain diminishing. ¡®Father¡¯s Soldier Drugs¡¯ are impressive. However, it makes sense for them to have such a fantastic effect on me since the drugs are for Wave Warriors, and I am yet to enter Level 1.¡¯ Cain sighed as he thought about hisck of talent but did not let those emotions bother him for long. He could not do much until his wound healed, so he began to look through the house for something to do, and his eyes fell on a small bookshelf. Only three books were on that shelf, but each was in pristine condition. While the A.I. Chip digitalized the information long ago, Cain enjoyed reading those solid books as he found it rxing. The three books were History of Godyer Humankind, Introduction to Wave Cultivation, and Soldier Military Manual. Cain¡¯s father obtained those books during his time in the Imperial Military Force, and while they were not precisely valuable, amoner would find it very hard to get them. Cain took the first book, History of Godyer Humankind, and began to read it with an excited smile. ¡ª Humans lived on a small blue more than ten thousand years ago. It was the birthce of humankind and granted all we needed for hundreds of thousands of years. Its original name was purposely forgotten through the ages and was now only known as Old World. Unfortunately, due to humankind¡¯s greed andck of control, we poisoned the Old World and made it uninhabitable. As the reached its end, many of the brightest human minds saw a path to survival in the stars, leaving our ancestral home for a new world. However, one man, one absolute genius, did not look into the stars for salvation and instead put all his effort into an even more daring path. Using his immense wisdom, he created a portal into a new dimension. At first, the leaders of humankind were thrilled with that discovery. After all, the path to the stars would only allow a few to survive, while that new dimension was much easier to ess. Sadly, humankind did not enjoy that happiness for long. A team of soldiers and scientists were the first to cross the portal. Their mission was to explore the new dimension and see how hard it could be to terraform it and establish the first human settlement. Less than half an hour after the human expedition crossed the portal, a horrible monster attacked and decimated them. Things went from bad to worse as the monster crossed the portal andy havoc in the Old World. Thousands perished before the military finally managed to end the creature¡¯s life. Not even a day after that, the leaders of humankindmanded the armies to shut down the portal and destroy all research about it so that catastrophe would not happen again. As for the great genius behind it, he went from a hero to a sinner. Some humankind leaders wanted to incarcerate him, while others demanded even harsher sanctions. However, that great man refused to give up on his dream. He saw in that horrible creature capable of fighting entire armies not only a path to survival but something much greater. Before humankind leaders could use him as a propaganda tool to further their agendas, he crossed the portal into the new dimension. People thought the man had gone crazy, and since there was no way he could survive in that dimension, everybody gradually forgot about him. Ten yearster, as the Old World reached a precarious period and civilization was about to crumble, the great genius returned. Not only did he survive a decade in the other dimension with all those monsters, but he had obtained supernatural abilities. He could fly, destroy tanks with his bare hands, and even endure the explosions of bombs point-nk without suffering any damage. He informed the people of the Old World about the force that permeated the new dimension named Wave. It was an incredible power that would allow humankind to grow stronger and expand their lifespan. The new dimension was full of danger, but it was also heaven. Humankind could be fearful, but if there was a word that described our essence, it was greed. A new world where we could gain supernatural powers and have the chance to obtain immortality. The masses immediately rallied behind the great genius, but things gotplicated soon. Humankind leaders saw the dangers of that dimension. How could they control people with supernatural powers capable of decimating their armies? They enforced harshws, so those trusted by them would be the first to benefit from the new dimension. Those actions would harm humankind as a whole but benefit those politicians and leaders, so they did not hesitate to take that path. Unfortunately, they failed to understand how much that great genius had changed after returning. When the man saw those leaders¡¯ ns, he acted fast and without mercy. Thousands perished in less than a week, and the entirety of humankind fell under his control. That massacre transformed that man into the Emperor of Humankind. Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Godyer Humankind Under the guidance of the Emperor of Humankind, the political and military structure of the Old World changed immensely. Paper money lost its value since it would be useless in the new world, and the true value of a man fell into his mind and brute strength. Strategists, generals, and soldiers became the most significant figures of the new world. Politicians and the likes found that rallying the masses mattered little when one man could kill all of them with a single strike. After spending almost a year raising talents and teaching people the basics of the new world and the Wave, the Emperor of Humankind led humanity out of their ancestral home and into a new world. Thanks to the Emperor of Humankind¡¯s protection and the rise of soldiers that mastered the Wave, humankind obtained a foothold in this new world. One of the first hurdles of the new world was the approach toward science, as the physicalws of this new world were different from the Old World, making the current technology useless. However, humankind persevered. Our territories expanded, and the creatures that were unstoppable monsters became nothing more than food. Seventy-six years after leaving the Old World, humankind learned two pieces of crucial information. ..... The first was that the new world had the name Aether, and we were currently in the Gaia Continent. The world¡¯s size remained a topic for discussion, but the Gaia Continent was one thousand timesrger than the Old World. The second information was the presence of other sentient races as wise as humans and who mastered the Wave to a much higher level. A bloody war began soon after meeting those new races, and although humankind was powerful, we were still too young. Ourck of power and the enemy carnage pushed humanity to the brink of extinction. We called them Dark Races, and their leaders responsible for humankind¡¯s setbacks were known as Gods. Unlike the deities of our Old World, the Dark Races¡¯ Gods were not mere ephemeral entities that no one could touch or see. They were supernatural life forms with the power to crush mountain ranges and burn oceans. Just when everything seemed lost, humankind did the best they knew how to do. We destroyed. After almost one hundred years of research, humankind managed to adapt one of the most potent weapons of the Old World to work in the new world. The weapon we used was named H-Bombs. A nuclear weapon can trigger an explosion capable of unleashing heat one hundred times higher than the Old World¡¯s sun¡¯s core, and H-Bombs could be one thousand times deadlier! The Emperor of Humankind and his most trusted generals tricked the Gods into marching toward the territories of humankind. When the Dark Races¡¯ armies and the Gods reached the core of humankind¡¯s territories, the only thing they found was emptynds. And one thousand H-Bombs! It was night, but the st of those H-Bombs illuminated the sky for fifteen minutes. Such an explosion would have doomed the Old World, but Aether managed to endure without a problem. Millions of Dark Race¡¯s warriors perished along with a great number of Gods. And while some Gods managed to survive, none of them did it without suffering horrible wounds. The Emperor of Humankind knew that the H-Bombs¡¯ trick did not mean they had won and would only give them some time to improve their power. Humankind went into hiding and slowly improved their strength while the Dark Races healed. Peace reigned for five hundred years until a new war erupted. However, this time, it was not the Dark Races that started it, but humankind. We came out of our hiding and marched toward the Dark Races. Humankind warriors could match their counterparts, but against the Gods, they were nothing. Yet, while the Dark Races had their Gods, humankind obtained its own spiritual leaders, the Titans! As for the first and mightiest of all Titans, he was no other than the Emperor of Humankind. It was brutal and bloody, and hundreds of millions perished, but after almost one thousand years of war, humankind expelled the Dark Races and got total control of the Gaia Continent. That war was known as the War of Supremacy and canonized humankind as the Godyer Humankind! ¡ª Cain always felt excitement running through his heart as he read the book. While that period was bloody, it was also a time of legends and myths. He closed the book and read the words in the back, which was the motto of the Godyer Humankind, making his heart beat faster. We canprehend the supernatural. We can dominate the supernatural. We can kill the supernatural ¨C Adam, Emperor of Humankind, The First Titan. Cain returned the book to the shelf and took out Introduction to Wave Cultivation. For the Godyer Humankind, the most basic Path of Power that almost all followed in Wave Cultivation used a Sacred Organ located in the lower belly named Evolution Core. In its natural state, the Wave finds itself as Life Wave. One must draw it into the Evolution Core, which will transform into Essence Wave. The faster one can draw Life Wave into your Evolution Core, the greater your talent would be. Someone like Cain with a Low Tier 1 Wave Talent would need ten years to be a Level 1 Wave Warrior, while those with high talent like Jonathan only need a few months. There were methods to improve one¡¯s Wave Talent, but obtaining them without background and extraordinary wealth was impossible. Cain read the book for almost an hour and only stopped when he felt how the pain finally subdued. Although there was still some damage left in his body, it would heal alone and won¡¯t bother him during his training. Before leaving his home, the youth ate something and gave one final bow to the small altar. He began to run at full speed toward a small forest not too far away from his location. Cain was too engrossed in his training and failed to notice two eyes looking at him from the shadows. Chapter 6 Chapter 6: Fighting a Wave Warrior Cain ran for almost an hour before reaching a secluded part of the forest. He enjoyed training here due to the serenity of the location. After resting for around five minutes, Cain took a couple of rusty weights covered by the roots of arge tree and continued exercising. Another hour went like that, and then the youth performed a series of martial arts moves. The improvement granted by physical exercise could notpare with Wave Cultivation, but Cain knew that being in peak physical condition helped the body draw Life Wave faster. While the help it provided was minuscule, it was the only method someone like Cain could get ess to. For his final training, Cain put arm guards and leg guards before adopting a martial stance in front of arge tree and began to strike it. Cain¡¯s attacks were precise and carried great control, proving how diligent he was with his training. Performing those blows put significant pressure on Cain¡¯s body, making a sharp pain appear in his ribs where Jonathan had punched him, but that only made him put more strength into his strikes. ..... The sharper the pain in his ribs, the more strength Cain put in his punches. He only stopped after feeling blood leak through his arm guards. ¡°Dammit!¡± Cain yelled with all his strength as he finally expressed the rage that had built inside him. ¡°I train so hard, so why do I have to be so weak!?¡± He may present a stoic front and do his best to ignore all the bullying done to him, but Cain was still fourteen years old. How could he ept that despite his hard work, he would never seed? Rage and frustration burned inside him, but Cain¡¯s eyes showed his resolution and that no matter how hard the path ahead was, he would not surrender. The youth took a deep breath to calm his raging heart when a feeling of utter doom suddenly assaulted him. He threw himself to the ground just in time to dodge a spear. Cain saw how the spear had pierced the tree he had been striking, and cold sweat ran through his back as he imagined what would have happened if he had not dodged. ¡°I guess even garbage can have good instincts.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. He stood up and turned around to see a bulky youth walking toward him. The attacker was none other than the youth apanying Jonathan through the school in the morning, Kiron. ¡°What the hell do you think you are doing!?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was full of rage. That spear would have killed him had he moved one secondter. ¡°Hmph, is not obvious? I am here to teach you a lesson. How can I let garbage like you offend me and do nothing?¡± Kiron spoke in such a rxed manner as if he saw Cain¡¯s life as nothing important. ¡°Do you think you can just kill me, and nothing will happen to you?¡± Even if the Godyer Humankind Empire epted that power reigned above everything, society still had codes and rules. Otherwise, civilization would have fallen a long time ago. ¡°Hahaha, who will notice if orphan garbage were to disappear. Besides, no one will know what happened here.¡± Kiron¡¯s smile grew wider as he spoke those words, and he took a ck metallic orb out of his pocket. Cain got a bad feeling as he saw the orb, and when he attempted to use the A.I. Chip to call the authorities, he found some form of interference. ¡®That orb must be projecting an electromaic field that blocks signals from going out.¡¯ Despite the danger in which he found himself, Cain remained calm. Unfortunately, what happened next totally shocked him since it meant the danger in which he found himself multiplied exponentially. A sky-blue aura emerged from Kiron¡¯s lower belly and soon covered every corner of his body. It was simr to the aura Jonathan had used to reinforce his body but much weaker. Cain clenched his fist as he saw it since it meant that Kiron was a Level 1 Wave Warrior. ¡°How do you like my Wave Cloak? Now that I have it active, your little tricks are useless.¡± Kiron lunged toward Cain as soon as he finished speaking, covering the more than forty meters between them in four seconds. Despite the immense danger in which he found himself, Cain did not let fear cloud his judgment. Turning around and running away would be the same as suicide since there was no way he could escape from a Level 1 Wave Warrior. Cain used those four seconds to calm his heart and analyze his next movement. At thest moment, he put his back against the tree and dodged the blow toward his head. Kiron¡¯s punch made the tree tremble, and splinters blew everywhere, blocking his vision. It was then that he felt a fistnd directly in his temple. Kiron only felt a little disoriented thanks to his Wave Cloak¡¯s protection, but things grew worse as a sharp pain assaulted his leg when a kicknded on his right knee. Cain knew hecked the brute power to ovee Kiron¡¯s Wave Cloak, so he aimed at points where a little strength was enough to weaken someone¡¯s ability to fight. While a newly advanced Level 1 Wave Warrior was capable of superhuman prowess, that was only when they had activated their Wave Cloak. Once their Essence Wave ran out and they could no longer project the cloak, there was not much difference between them and an average human. Cain immediately pulled back after striking Kiron¡¯s knee, avoiding a sudden blow to his chest, before kicking his opponent¡¯s jaw. Kiron¡¯s felt his senses weakening again due to that kick, and rage flooded his heart. Those blows would have been enough to incapacitate him if it weren¡¯t for his Wave Cloak. How could someone as narcissistic as Kiron ept that his martial arts were inferior to those of someone he considered nothing more than garbage. ¡°Fucking trash!¡± Kiron roared, and there was nothing left from the arrogant smile he arrived with. He attacked like a madman, sending blow after blow. Chapter 7 Chapter 7: Absolute Life Form System Cain dodged those punches while taking advantage of any opening to deliver precise strikes that gradually weakened Kiron¡¯s onught. Although it seemed that Cain had the upper hand, nothing could be farther from the truth. His attacks did not really harm Kiron, and the moment one of those punches coated in sky-blue auranded, it would be game over. Cain and Kiron fought for more than five minutes, reaching their limit. The first hadnded more than one hundred strikes while the other none, but neither showed visible injuries. That should be enough to tell you how mighty a Level 1 Wave Warrior was. Finally, Kiron¡¯s Wave Cloak began to fluctuate and show signs of instability, meaning that his Essence Wave was about to dry out. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and when he ducked to the ground to dodge a fist, he took the opportunity to grab something. Kiron knew he had little Essence Wave left, so he lunged toward Cain with arms wide open like an enraged animal. Such an attack had a wide range and made it almost impossible for Cain to dodge it, but it also left Kiron totally exposed, which the first did not hesitate to take full advantage of. ..... Cain punched toward Kiron¡¯s right eye, and hidden between his fingers was a sharp rock. If the Wave Cloak was at full potency, the rock might have difficulty piercing the tissue, but it buried itself very deep due to Kiron¡¯s exhaustion. ¡°AHHHHHH!¡± Kiron screamed due to the horrible pain, but his body still carried on with immense momentum, striking Cain right in the chest. Cain felt as if a car had just run over him. That crash sent him flying away while puking blood. ¡°Ahhh, my eye!¡± Kiron continued screaming as his sight stained with red. He finally reached his limit, and his Wave Cloak vanished, making him feel he would pass out at any second. Still, Kiron¡¯s rage allowed him to remain awake. He stared at Cain, whoy on the ground with his eyes closed, most likely unconscious due to the internal damage. ¡°I will kill you!¡± Kiron roared as he threw himself toward Cain, with both hands aiming toward this one¡¯s neck. Just as Kiron was about to choke him, Cain opened his eyes, raised his wais, and wrapped his legs around his enemy¡¯s neck. Before Kiron could get past his shock, Cain grabbed one of his arms and twisted it until it broke. ¡°Ahhh,¡± Kiron screamed again, but itcked strength due to the pressure on his neck. The exhaustion and pain, plus the disruption of his blood flow due to Cain¡¯s legs, made him pass out in seconds. Cain unlocked the triangle choke only after seeing that Kiron¡¯s turned blue due to theck of oxygen. Just breathing was painful, and blood filled his mouth due to the severe internal trauma he had endured. Despite all that, a smile emerged on Cain¡¯s face as he realized what he had just achieved. He defeated a Level 1 Wave Warrior! After almost half an hour, Cain finally gathered the strength to stand up, using the help of a nearby tree. He went through Kiron¡¯s clothes and grabbed the small metallic sphere jamming his A.I. Chip signal. Cain was about to turn off the metallic sphere so he could call the authorities when he froze. ¡®I call them. The authorities will take out our testimonies, but what then?¡¯ Cain slowly came to a realization. He could denounce Kiron¡¯s attack, but it would be his words against the word of a Wave Warrior. There was no one to back him up, and Kiron suffered even more severe wounds than him, with the right eye of this one gone. Of course, if one were to make an effort to analyze the circumstances around the battle, it would not be hard to see who the initial attacker was, but why would the authorities do that. Who would side with Cain, an orphan with no background and zero talent, against a Level 1 Wave Warrior? As for the truth? Cain was not a child and knew that the truth meant nothing without the power to back it. Things could go on an even more dangerous path, with the authorities taking Kiron as the victim and prosecuting him. ¡°Ugg.¡± Cain trembled as he heard Kiron¡¯s groan. Time was running out, and he needed to make a decision. Deep down, Cain knew the path he needed to take, but his sense of morality pushed him back. As he questioned whether or not to do it, he remembered the first line of the Soldier Military Manual. It was then that he stopped trembling, and all his doubts vanished. ¡®To be kind to your enemy is to be cruel to yourself.¡¯ Kiron regained consciousness, and the first thing he saw was a kicking to his face. It pushed the rock in his eye deeper into his head, all the way to his brain. The youth trembled for a few seconds before his brain stopped working, and he perished. Cain began to breathe faster and faster as he saw the dead body lying at his feet. However, he heard a voice in his mind before he could process all of that. [Congrattions, human! You have fulfilled the conditions and are worthy of bing the Vessel of the Absolute Life Form System.] Cain was shocked by the new voice in his head. It was simr to the A.I. Chip robotic voice, but something told him this was unique. Unfortunately, a horrible pain assaulted him before he could ask any question as he felt his A.I. Chip melting and fusing with something deep inside his mind. The pain was so immense that he fell to the ground and passed out. Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Apex Night had already fallen by the time Cain woke up. He felt dizzy as he stood up and cleaned the dust out of his body. When he felt the blood in his clothes, his eyes widened, and he remembered all the things that had happened. Cain was confused as he saw how there were no wounds left on his body, but the corpse next to his feet pushed away that concern. ¡®Yes, I killed him.¡¯ The youth began to tremble as he remembered that he was a killer now, but there was something else that happened before he passed out. ¡®Was that voice an illusion?¡¯ ¡°Not illusion at all, brat.¡± Cain almost jumped when he heard that voice. It was a male¡¯s voice, and although it sounded young, he could swear he felt a sense of ancientness in it. Like the A.I. Chip¡¯s voice, while it sounded like a voice reaching his ears, only Cain could hear it since it originated inside his mind. ..... Cain opened his mouth and was about to speak, but he stopped at thest minute. A meaningful light appeared in his eyes, and he remained silent. ¡®You can read my mind.¡¯ Cain made that thought appear, and that was not a question but a deration. ¡°Hmmm, brat, you are smarter than you look. Yes, I can read your thoughts. Not that it makes any difference since there is no way a child like you could trick or hide anything from me.¡± The voice carried a tone full of certainty. He was not boasting or bragging, just stating a fact. ¡°Before you start with your endless barrage of questions, I exin what happened to you.¡± Cain did not particrly like the man¡¯s bossy tone, but there was not much he could do, and he was full of questions, so he listened attentively. ¡°First of all, congrattions on bing the Vessel for the Absolute Life Form System. As its name suggests, the system¡¯s goal is to raise you to the world¡¯s highest stage. As for me, I am the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Spirit. You can call me Apex. My mission is to guide you and assess whether you are worthy of being the Vessel. I would have normally fused the system directly into your soul, but I take a detour since you had an A.I. Chip. First, I fused with the A.I. Chip, assimting it and creating the [A.I. Chip Module] before going into your soul. Through the Absolute Life Form System, you can ess all the functions of the A.I. Chip, but now they are improved and will continue growing as your soul bes stronger. As I waited for you to regain consciousness, I used the [A.I. Chip Module] to ess the Godyer Humankind Empire¡¯s Digital Network. I only managed to scratch the surface, but the amount of data I have collected has taught me a lot. Regarding your wounds, I used the little energy I brought with me to heal them. That was my introduction, brat. Now, you can ask me three questions, and no matter what secrets they hide, I will answer them.¡± Any other person would be thrilled at obtaining a supernatural system that could raise him from a carp into a dragon, but Cain took a deep breath and did not let his emotions get out of control. Cain walked away from Kiron¡¯s corpse before taking a meditative position. He stood like that for almost half an hour, but Apex seemed to have no hurry at all. ¡®Why was I chosen as a Vessel for the Absolute Life Form System, and what would happen if you were to consider me unworthy?¡¯ The cruelty of this world had shown Cain there was not such a thing as a free meal, and everyone had their agenda. Apex did not let the youth waiting and replied immediately. ¡°Those are technically two questions, but I will take them as one since they involve the same subject. First, the reason the system chose you as the Vessel is quite simple. You fulfilled the criteria. You have a strong and resolute will capable of facing adversity and a ruthless heart capable of making the hard choice when needed.¡± Cain immediately frowned when he heard that. He did not sell himself short and knew that his willpower was impressive for a fourteen-year-old man, but if that was all it needed, there were surely thousands of others that could be the Vessel. Apex knew the doubts in Cain¡¯s mind, and what he said next made things clearer. ¡°And most importantly of all, you are a Reincarnator. That makes your connection with the Eternal River of the Afterlife wed, allowing the Absolute Life Form System to work.¡± Utter disbelief appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he heard those words. ¡®A Reincarnator?¡¯ ¡°Oh, I see. You have yet to awaken your memories. Yes, you are a Reincarnator, a unique soul that resisted the purge of the Eternal River of the Afterlife. That is why your willpower is so strong and your mind so keen despite your young age.¡± Apex gave Cain a moment to process his words before continuing. ¡°I presume you have experienced vivid dreams of different worlds or ages from a very young age.¡± Cain instinctively nodded as he heard that. He had experienced recurring dreams but felt so distant and always found it hard to remember anything specific about them. The most explicit memory of those dreams was a destroyed city and sunlight reaching his face. Everything else was foggy. ¡°The memories of your past life will eventuallye back, but whether or not that is a good thing is hard to say. You might not like what you see.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed. Being a Reincarnator sounded very good, but what if your mind could not endure the darkness of your past? Apex once again gave Cain some time to adjust to the information before continuing to answer the original question. ¡°Regarding what will happen if I found you unworthy. That is also simple. I willmand the Absolute Life Form System to devour your existence and look for a new Vessel.¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Gic Coder Module A rueful smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he heard that. The system that seemed to have the keys to a great future could kill him if he failed to prove his worth, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. If he were to ask for someone¡¯s help, they would either think he was crazy or dissect him to take the system away. Not to mention that Apex could read his thoughts, so trying to hide anything from the System Spirit was virtually impossible. Cain sighed and shocked his head before a calm expression appeared on his face. ¡°Who created the Absolute Life Form System, and what purpose do they have in mind?¡± ording to Apex, the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s purpose was to make him stronger, while the System Spirit¡¯s purpose was to determine the Vessel¡¯s worth, but Cain knew that was not necessarily the creator¡¯s purpose. The purpose of food on a farm is to feed the chickens, but the farmer did not do it out of kindness. ¡°The universe created me, and my goal is to raise a perfect warrior that will one day stand for what is right and just.¡± ..... Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard Apex¡¯s answer and immediately knew there was something wed with it. He did not understand some of the terms the System Spirit used, but Apex spoke about something called the Eternal River of the Afterlife and that the system worked due to a w. If the universe created the Absolute Life Form System, why would it need the help of a w to work? Cain knew Apex knew the thoughts crossing his mind, but he chose to ignore that fact since there was nothing he could do about it. ¡®Final question. Tell me, Apex, how can I know you are telling me the truth and not just full of shit?¡¯ Unlike previous times, Apex did not answer immediately. It took around five seconds before Cain could hear the System Spirit¡¯s voice again. ¡°Hahahaha, brat, you are indeed smart. Only a fool would trust the words of someone they have recently met just because they told them they would be honest.¡± Apexughter resonated through Cain¡¯s mind, and the youth could see there was no anger in it. If anything, Cain felt a sense of approval in the System Spirit¡¯s tone. ¡°Ok, there is no way for you to be sure what I say is true, but you will see with your own eyes how the Absolute Life Form System makes you stronger. As for my killing you, if you are unworthy, that will also happen. Regarding the answer about the universe being my creator, that was a total lie.¡± Cain did not really like being subjected to someone else. Still, he at least discovered something about the Absolute Life From System and, more importantly, about Apex, the one with the power to end his life at any moment. ¡°Now that is over, you should get familiar with the system. You canmand it simrly to how you did with the A.I. Chip. You can take this chance to make a scan of yourself.¡± After hearing Apex¡¯s words, Cain nodded and called for the Absolute Life Form System. ¡®System, scan.¡¯ Immediately after that, Cain felt an electric current move through his body at a shocking speed before a virtual screen appeared in front of him. [Scanning Vessel. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: None Lineage: Human Wave Talent: Low Tier 1 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.02 Agility: 0.04 Vitality: 0.01 Wave: O.0 ¡ª Arts and Skills: Soldier Cultivation Technique. ??? ¡ª System Modules: -A.I. Chip Module: ¨C Pseudo Cellr Analysis ¨C Basic Data Gathering and Analysis ¨C Basic Virtual Simtion ¨C Basic Scan Force Field ¨C Basic Hacking -??? -??? -??? -??? ¡ª Destiny Force: 10.2 points] Cain was surprised by the amount of information and how fast the Absolute Life From System acted. It took the system less than one second to do what the A.I. Chip did in minutes. He took a moment to process things, and only after having a clear picture did he start to ask Apex questions. Although the System Spirit was arrogant and aloof, Cain was sure that Apex would not ck off and do his best to help when it came to the questions regarding the system. ¡°Apex, why does the system show my stats so low? I did an analysis yesterday, and the numbers were much different.¡± Cain was right that Apex would help him, but the System Spirit did not lose the opportunity to bother the young man. ¡°Brat, the A.I. Chip used mortal parameters to analyze your stats. Thanks to the [Basic Hacking] tool, I recollected helpful information. The system uses the parameters of your Godyer Humankind Empire to determine Wave Cultivator¡¯s stats. I must say I am surprised. Your stats are in the three digits.¡± Although Apex did notugh, Cain could hear the teasing tone in his voice. The youth was slightly annoyed, but he was also amazed. For the Godyer Humankind Empire to give mortals such a lower number meant that Wave Cultivators were monstrously more powerful. Cain could not even imagine the prowess of someone with ten points in strength could achieve. He did not let his fantasies run wild and focused before asking a new question. ¡°Apex, what do the question marks in the virtual screen represent?¡± ¡°Regarding the one in the [Arts and Skills]. That is a unique ability that came with the system. It will manifest itself when the right timees, or maybe never.¡± Apex gave a moment for Cain to understand his words before continuing. ¡°As for the ones in [System Modules]. Those are the modules saved in the Absolute Life Form System.¡± Cain got so excited by the new modules that he momentarily forgot hisst question. The [A.I. Chip Module] did not seem that impressive, but the youth was sure it would benefit him in the future. Not to mention that, ording to Apex, it would grow stronger along with him. ¡°How can I activate a new module?¡± ¡°You can activate a new module in each primary cultivation stage. You already have obtained the [A.I. Chip Module] in this stage, but due to the unique circumstances of this one, you can still unlock a new one.¡± Cain could not help but smile at the idea of getting a new module. The Absolute Life From System¡¯s goal was to make him stronger, so he was sure the new module would be of immense help. There was one problem. Cain had no idea what module to choose. Apex knew the youth¡¯s predicament and exined. ¡°The Creator ordered the modules ording to how useful they would be for you during each cultivation stage. Of course, you can choose a different one, but since youck the ability to perceive the system and the sealed modules, you would only be tempting your luck.¡± Cain was not dumb enough to ignore Apex¡¯s words and choose a different module out of curiosity or a sense of rebellion. ¡°System, activate the next module!¡± Cain almost yelled those words. The next second, he felt a sense of immense heaviness, but soon it vanished, and he heard the system¡¯s robotic voice. [Gic Coder Module activated] Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Bloodline [Gic Coder Module activated] Cain was surprised and confused by those words. As a member of the Godyer Humankind and having ess to an immense amount of scientific knowledge, he knew what genes were. Still, he had no idea what this new module would do for him or why the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Creator thought it would be good to have it at the start of his journey. Luckily, a moment after Cain activated the module, the Absolute Life From System gave him a detailed exnation. [Gic Coder Module: Module meant to grant Vessel the means to control life¡¯s fundamental building blocks. -Tools: ¨C Basic Gic Stimtion ¨C Basic Gic Suppression ¨C Basic Gic Enhancement] ..... Although Cain got an idea of those tools¡¯ purpose by their names, he was still full of doubts, but a voice interrupted his train of thought. ¡°It iste, and remaining here is not a good idea. Get rid of the body, destroy the jamming sphere, take the weapon, and burn your clothes before returning home. I will guide you since it¡¯s your first time using the [Gic Coder Module].¡± Apex¡¯s voice drew Cain back to reality, and he stared at the corpse close to him. When he decided to kill Kiron, he already shredded any idea of involving the authorities, so he followed the System Spirit¡¯s instructions. Cain did his best to harden his spirit and grabbed the corpse before running for almost two hours. He reached a cave home to some wild beast and threw the corpse. No one should know that Kiron came here. After all, how could that youth go telling people he would go to kill someone. By the time someone found his body, he would be nothing more than animal waste. After that, Cain went to a river where he started a small bonfire. Before washing his body, he burned all his clothes, destroyed the sphere, and threw the pieces in the water. After ensuring there was no iota of Kiron¡¯s blood or DNA, he returned to his training center. He started a controlled fire to burn any sign of struggle and evidence left from the battle before going toward the spear still embedded in the tree. As soon as Cain touched the spear, he felt an electric current emerge from his body into the weapon. ¡°Done. I have erased the serial number and any digital information about it. You can use it freely now.¡± Cain was surprised by Apex¡¯s words. He trembled for a moment as he imagined what would have happened had he shown this spear on the outside. It would be like shouting to the wind that he had killed Kiron. As for how Apex did it, Cain guessed that he used the [Basic Hacking] tool from the [A.I. Chip Module]. It took a lot of effort to bring the spear out of the tree, but once Cain did it, this one shrunk to a small rod less than twenty centimeters long. Next, a somewhat bizarre scene urred, as a naked youth ran through the forest before sneaking back into his home. Luckily, it was night, and few people were on the streets, so he went unnoticed. Cain put on some clothes, and after making a reverence to the altar with the picture of his father, he sat down and adopted a meditative position as he figured out all that had happened. Apex allowed the youth to rest and spoke only after seeing Cain¡¯s eyes regain their usual firmness. ¡°Pay attention, brat, as I don¡¯t like to repeat myself. You have unsealed the [Gic Coder Module] and essed three tools, including the [Basic Gic Stimtion]. ording to your Empire Science Academy records, members of the Godyer Humankind have different types of bloodlinestent inside your bodies. Your ancestors obtained those bloodlines in many different ways. However, due to the descendents¡¯ck of training, they were diluted and slowly became dormant, with only some genes left, so weak that they were incapable of expressing their might. The [Basic Gic Stimtion] will locate and activate those hidden genes, allowing you to awaken a dormant bloodline.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that, and he could not help but tremble as excitement filled his heart. There were many ways to improve one¡¯s Wave Talent, and bloodlines were one of the mostmon and effective ways! ¡°Before you get too excited, unlike the [A.I. Chip Module], which was part of you from the beginning, to use the [Gic Coder Module], you need to spend Destiny Force.¡± When Cain heard thatst term, he immediately remembered thest question he had about the Absolute Life Form System. Apex knew the question that appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, so he began to exin what Destiny Force was. ¡°The Absolute Life From System is not omnipotent, brat. Everything muste from somewhere, and the system uses Destiny Force as fuel. To understand Destiny Force, you must first grasp the concept of destiny. A life form¡¯s destiny can be considered the amalgamation of his entire existence. Its coreponents are talent, willpower, perception, background, and even luck. Destiny is not static. It grows and weakens ording to your actions and decisions. When you decide to enter a danger zone searching for a treasure, and against all odds, you manage to return alive, that will evolve your destiny. And when you chose to escape as fear overcame your will, that would also change your destiny. Lucky changes present themselves at all times. Whether or not one takes them is what separates shooting stars from mere moths. Thanks to the wed connection between your soul and the Eternal River of the Afterlife, the Absolute Life Form System can transform your destiny into a quantitative force, useful for its modules. You are lucky as the system came with 10 Destiny Force points, which will be enough for the first activation of [Basic Gic Stimtion].¡± Although the concept of destiny still felt illusory for Cain, he understood enough of it from Apex¡¯s exnation. Still, there were two questions in his mind. ¡°Will the Absolute Life From System give me missions to obtain more Destiny Force? Also, you say the system came with 10 points, but I have 10.2, so where the rest from.¡± ¡°Hmph, brat, do you think the Absolute Life From System is your babysitter, guiding you by the hand? If you want Destiny Force, go out and get it. Only garbage needs others to tell them what to do when the answer is right in front of them.¡± Apex¡¯s tone showed that he clearly had a negative picture of those who refuse to take their lives into their hands and let others decide for them. He made a slight pause before continuing speaking, and this time his voice carried a sense of viciousness. ¡°As for the extra 0.2 points. While lucky chances are the most effective way to obtain Destiny Force, they are not the only ones. You can steal destiny, and the way to do it is very straightforward.¡± Cain froze as he figured out the hidden message behind Apex¡¯s words. ¡°Hahaha, that is right, brat. You can steal the destiny of others by killing them! The one you killed before was garbage, but his destiny was still great enough, so killing him granted you that 0.2 Destiny Force.¡± Killing a man who wanted to take his life shook Cain to his core, yet the Absolute Life Form System wanted him to go on a killing spree. ¡°Brat, the world is cruel and full of danger. Killing is a part that no one can avoid. Showing mercy to your enemies will only bring you suffering. You should learn that soon, or else you will regret it.¡± Cain did not attempt to argue with Apex since he knew he would not win. He took a deep breath before stabilizing his emotions, and then he sent amand to the Absolute Life Form System. ¡°System, activate [Basic Gic Stimtion].¡± [Basic Gene Stimtion requires 10 Destiny Force points. Does Vessel want to continue?] ¡°?Yes!¡± [Activating Basic Gic Stimtion.] Cain felt how his blood and flesh began to burn the next second. A sense of utter exhaustion assaulted him, and he fell asleep. As the power of the Absolute Life From System through the [Gic Coder Module] changed the essence of his body, Cain began to dream. He had lost his body and was now mighty lightning that moved through storm clouds. All creatures beneath him lower their heads, except for one. A giant gori, the size of a mountain, roared at the sky. However, it did not do it for long, as a lightning pir descended and split its body in two! After the lighting pir butchered that massive gori, it began to condense into a majestic two-meter tall wolf. Cain¡¯s size was nothingpared to the gori, but he managed to kill thetter in a single strike. There was blood all over his fur, giving him a terrifying look. Chapter 11 Chapter 11: Lineage Cain woke up the next day and immediately noticed that something had changed. A surging strength ran through his body, and some of his senses worked exceptionally well. The youth went to his bathroom and was shocked by the picture in the mirror. He was five centimeters taller, hadrger muscles, and his eyes turned blue. ¡°Your ugly face won¡¯t change no matter how much you look at it.¡± Apex¡¯s voice woke Cain up. He took a deep breath and called for the system with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. Since he had awoken a bloodline, his Wave Talent should have changed. As for how much it did, that was the mystery he was about to solve. ¡°System, scan!¡± [Scanning Vessel ..... ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: None Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.04 Agility: 0.06 Vitality: 0.06 Wave: O.0] Cain could not help but tremble as he saw the change in his Wave Talent. Jonathan could bully him due to having a Peak Tier 3 Wave Talent, but now he was superior. He even saw how his stats had improved, with his vitality that used to be the lowest, reaching a shocking level. After taking a moment to calm himself, Cain noticed how his Lineage had changed from human to Lightning Lupus, which drew some confusion. Initially, the youth had not given too much importance to the Lineage section, but it seemed that would be a mistake. ¡°Apex, can you exin to me what a Lineage is?¡± Like always, when it came to something rted to the system, Apex did not ck off and gave Cain an urate description. ¡°Lineages are unique constitutions. One can obtain them in different forms, the mostmon through a bloodline. Technically, all bloodlines are Lineages, but not all Lineages are bloodlines.¡± While the description was not long, it solved Cain¡¯s doubts. Before, he was a pure-blooded human, but thanks to [Basic Gic Stimtion], he awakened a bloodline and obtained a Lineage. ¡°As for the Lightning Lupus Lineage. ording to the Empire Science Academy¡¯s records, it is a mighty one, but also tagged as wed.¡± Cain grew worried when he heard thatst part. A wed bloodline was not a small matter, as it essentially meant there was a w in his body. Luckily for the youth, Apex did not make him wait and exin what he meant by wed. ¡°A bloodline can be considered wed for many reasons, but yours fell in that category because it has an emotional instability. There will be times when your emotions go out of control, and whether or not you can control yourself will depend on your willpower.¡± Although emotional instability was dangerous, it was not that bad. Cain was more than willing to ept that defect in exchange for such a fantastic Wave Talent. Not to mention that he still had the [Gic Coder Module], which might help him fix that. ¡°Anyway, now that you have fixed your Wave Talent, you should focus on training. ording to the information I have recollected, it won¡¯t be long before you have to go to the Imperial Military Academy.¡± Apex¡¯s words reminded Cain of something very important, his military service. All members of the Godyer Humankind must spend one year of military service in the Imperial Military Academy, except those entering a Wave University. Sending fourteen-year-old boys to military service would have caused an uproar in the Old World, but no one found it odd in the Godyer Humankind Empire. They were in perpetual war, so the culture made everybody strive to be stronger. ¡°I have two months before embarking on the Imperial Military Academy. I need to take advantage of every second.¡± Cain was eager to train and test his Wave Talent, but Apex stopped him. ¡°Wait a moment. Since you have awakened a lineage, instead of embarking on the Essence Evolution Path of Power, you should consider taking the Astral Rebirth Path of Power.¡± Cain was utterly oblivious to the term Astral Rebirth Path of Power mentioned by Apex, something the System Spirit knew. ¡°Usually, mostmoners have no actual knowledge about the Astral Rebirth Path other than knowing of its existence, so you should not feel bad for not knowing what I am saying. I am about to share what I obtained from hacking the Empire Science Academy, but there is no need to worry. It is basic information that anyone in a Wave University would learn, so there is no problem if people know you have it.¡± Apex gave Cain a moment to process his words, and after seeing that the youth was focused, he carried on. ¡°As you already know, Wave Cultivation consists in drawing the Wave, which finds itself as Life Wave in the environment into our bodies and using the Sacred Organ that is the Evolution Core, to transform it into Essence Wave. That is the Essence Evolution Path of Power. The mostmon for humanity and the one everybody has ess to. Those that have a Lineage have also awakened their Rebirth Hearts. That is the second Sacred Organ of the Godyer Humankind and the one that allows you to transform Life Wave into Astral Wave. Of course, I am talking about the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Unlike the Essence Evolution Path of Power, which focused on controlling elements, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power takes the body as its core. Both are strong, but the Empire Science Academy epted that the second is more powerful. Of course, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power is also more challenging, and the resources you will need in the future will be much greater than those in the Essence Evolution Path of Power. So, you need to consider what path you want with caution.¡± Cain¡¯s expression showed how much importance he gave his next decision. Still, it did not take long for him to make a decision. He sat down and used the Soldier Cultivation Technique to draw Life Wave into his body. However, instead of sending it into his Evolution Core, he sent it to the Rebirth Heart. Since when did hard work ever scare Cain Laurifer! Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Astral Wave Warrior The sun had juste out when a military truck levitating above ground entered the slums and reached what seemed like a dpidated apartmentplex. Usually, such an expensive vehicle would draw the attention of the worst kind of people in the slums, but no one dared to get close to it. The reason was the words on the side of the truck. Imperial Military Force. No one was dumb enough to try and steal something from the Imperial Military. There were easier ways to kill yourself. Two men with bulging muscles left the vehicle. One was bald, while the other had arge scar around his neck. ¡°That is Cain Laurifer¡¯s home, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ..... After that small exchange, both men began to frown. Cain should have received a message that someone from the Imperial Military Force would pick him up, so he should have been waiting for them, yet no one was in sight. The Imperial Military Academy was a branch of the Imperial Military Force. Most of the instructors were seasoned soldiers, so the fact they would have to drag people out of their homes was not something they were fond of. Just as the duo determined who would have to enter the department, one fat youth came out of the truck and approached them with a servile smile on his face. ¡°Sir Tristan, Sir Lodon, there is no need for you to dirty your hands. If you allow me, I could go and bring that man. I know him, and one could say we were schoolmates.¡± Tristan and Lodon were soldiers who had experienced war, and there was no way they would not notice the intent in the youth¡¯s eyes. He clearly wanted to cause problems for Cain. Usually, the duo would not entertain such silly games, but since Cain failed to obey the instructions given days ago, it meant ack of discipline, which was not allowed in the military. So they let the fat youth do it. Once he saw the soldiers agreeing, the fat youth¡¯s smile grew wider, and he ran toward Cain¡¯s apartment. He did not even bother to knock on the door and just gave it a clumpy kick, busting the lock. ¡°Hey garbage, how dare you make Sirt Tristan and Sir Lodon wait!¡± The fat youth roared those words and entered the apartment as if it was his. However, he had taken less than three steps before being sent flying away while vomiting blood. Lodon and Tristan were surprised by the sudden events, but they immediately acted, with one of them jumping toward the fat youth to catch him, so he would not suffer more. The bald soldier, Tristan, narrowed his eyes as he noticed how someone charged out of the department and lunged toward the fat youth in London¡¯s arms. Tristan¡¯s sky blue Wave Cloak manifested as he jumped in front of hisrade before aiming a hand toward the iing target. A st of superpressed air emerged from his palm and struck the assant, sending this flying away. Cain crashed against the ground and rolled a few times but managed to reincorporate himself. His eyes then focused on Tristan as his Wave Cloak burst. Tristan and Lodon were once again surprised as they saw that, unlike theirs, Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak was dark-purple, meaning he was an Astral Wave Warrior! ording to their records, Cain was just an average youth from the slums. The only remarkable thing about him was his absolute garbage Wave Talent. Yet now they found out that he was not only already a Wave Warrior, but one that took the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Although the duo found it impressive for Cain to have awakened a Lineage, they were not that shocked. Humans have bloodlines sleeping inside their bodies, and there are times when these would spontaneously awaken. While it was not exactlymon, it was not unheard of either. Despite their surprise, Tristan and Lodon¡¯s gazes immediately grew cold when the duo saw the savagery in Cain¡¯s eyes. Tristan¡¯s aura grew multiple times stronger, and des of air that cut the ground beneath his feet began to manifest themselves. Cain¡¯s instincts kicked in as he felt the danger of a warrior who had experienced the brutality of the battlefield, allowing him to grow calm and ovee the emotional outburst from before. As he regained control, Cain began to frown. The fat youth surprised him during his training, drawing his wrath at the worst possible moment. His emotional instability acted. He might have killed the fat youth if Lodon and Tristan had not protected this one. ¡®I need to do something about this emotional instability. It is not so simple to subdue it by sheer willpower.¡¯ Cain took a deep breath and deactivated his Wave Cloak before giving a slight bow to the soldiers. ¡°I am sorry for my behavior. I let my anger and fighting drive get the worst of me. ¡± Cain apologize to the duo, giving an excuse. Of course, he would not reveal the ws of his Lineage to strangers. Tristan and Lodon nced at each other and knew that Cain was hiding something, but it was not their job to screen the recruits. ¡°Gather your things and get in the truck.¡± Tristan only spoke that before turning around, but someone else began to shout. ¡°Sir Tristan, that garbage attacked me. You should punish him!¡± The fat youth had difficulty breathing, but he still gathered the strength to scream. How could he ept that someone like Cain, who everybody bullied in school, harmed him? In his mind, Cain was a nobody that no one would help, so the soldier should immediately side with him. However, things did not go the way he expected, and Tristan and Lodon looked at him like they were looking at a clown. ¡°He is a Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior. I wonder how great your talent is to call him garbage?¡± Those words made the fat youth¡¯s face grow pale. He and his friends used to insult Cain, and now that this one was powerful, he could not help but tremble at the idea of future retaliation. The truth was the fat youth was overthinking things. Cain was not contemting any form of revenge against this one, not because he was merciful, but because the fat youth did not even enter his sight. Before getting in the truck, he went to his department and gathered his most important belongings. Chapter 13 Chapter 13: Abnormal Cain¡¯s imposing body and sharp blue eyes drew the attention of everybody in the military truck. Some women looked at him with coquettish smiles, but he did not care. His experiences with Cinthy had left a painful mark, and he was not particrly interested in things like romantic love. After Cain and the fat youth were in the military truck, this one rose above all the houses and shed away incredibly fast. Despite its speed, the people inside felt nothing due to the inertia gadget. Some of the recruits were mesmerized by the view, but Cain did not lose his time with it. After finding a conformable location, he immediately restarted his cultivation. As soon as Cain began to train, all the youth noticed the change in the surroundings, and they were not alone since even Tristan and Lodon nced at him. While the youth only noticed something different, the soldiers were the ones that perceived the change in the Life Wave. Cain was like a ck hole and devoured everything, leaving nothing for the others. ¡°This brat¡¯s talent is definitely above Tier 3.¡± ..... ¡°Yes, who would have imagined that there were geniuses even in the slums.¡± Cain was utterly oblivious to what happened around him. Before obtaining his Lineage, the feeling he got when training was as if drops of water fell on his head, but now it was as if he stood at the end of a mighty waterfall. The feeling was intoxicating, and he could not get enough of it. Of course, Cain did not let his guard down since he did not know anyone. That is where the [Basic Scan Force Field] came in. Using that tool, Cain projected an electromaic force field around his body that worked as a form of sonar. Hemanded the system to wake him if anyone invaded his personal space. The [Basic Scan Force Field] also could jam signals and electronicmunication, but Cain did not activate that function as it would draw suspicion. Cain began to smile as the military truck got closer to its destination. 72 Sectors formed the Gai Continent, and the closer you were to the core of each one, the mightier the density of the Life Wave would be, which would manifest itself as an increase in the speed at which you improved your cultivation. The Sector that Cain lived in was the Hellzer Sector, and after more than a day of travel, the military truck finally arrived at Hellzer Military Base. After they arrived at the location and the military truck¡¯s door opened, Cain woke up from his training and nced at the base, and what he saw shocked him. ¡°Go into that Star Cruiser. Once all the recruits have arrived, we will march.¡± Cain was shocked by that and was not alone, as all the recruits looked at the soldiers with doubt. The Star Cruiser resembled a futuristic aircraft carrier and was beyond massive. Tristan did not bother with the recruits and left soon after saying those words, but Lodon took a moment to speak to them. ¡°The Imperial Military Academy has many bases, but none in the Hellzer Sector. Therefore you will be traveling to the Copsing Lightning Sector.¡± The Gaia Continent was immense, and traveling from one Sector to another was like traveling betweens in the old universe, so there was no surprise none of the youths ever left the Hellzer Sector. Many of the youths showed fear at the idea of leaving the Sector. Cain was trembling, but there was no fear on his face. He did not know why, but the idea of exploring and travelingrge distances filled him with a sense of thrill and excitement that was hard to control. Cain smiled as he began to walk toward the Star Cruiser, and the others soon followed behind him. Tristan had already reached a zone where many more soldiers had gathered. ¡°Hahaha, Tristan, you are one of thest to arrive. How did the cadets you brought end up to be?¡± Arge man, almost two meters tall with tan skin andrge scars all over his face, spoke loudly. Although he wore a simple military uniform, it was clear to all how high his status was by how the other soldiers behaved around him. ¡°Vice-Captain Josef, you sent us to the worst parts of the Sector. Those brats eitherck talent, or their willpower is too weak to make proper soldiers. They are not fit for the battlefield.¡± The soldiers only nodded after hearing those words. Unlike the Old World wars, where humans fought humans, the battlefield against the Dark Races was countless times bloodier, and few could handle that. ¡°We did find one that is promising.¡± Lodon had reached the group and spoke a few moments after Tristan. Josef¡¯s eyes narrowed after hearing Lodon¡¯s words, and he focused on the recruits that arrived with the duo. It took him a moment, but his eyes finallynded on Cain. ¡°I suppose you are talking about that brat.¡± As soon as Josef saw Lodon nod, his eyes grew colder and projected a powerful intent. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt that a beast targeted him, and then without hesitation, he unleashed his Wave Cloak and made his aura explode. The dark-purple Astral Wave drew the attention of everybody, but Cain could not care less as he turned around and adopted a battle stance. He did not know what happened but felt incredible danger. However, the danger vanished the next second, leaving Cain extremely confused. He looked at the surroundings but did not find anything. In the end, he just shrugged his shoulders and walked into the Space Cruiser. ¡°Good, very good. That brat did not hesitate before unleashing everything the moment danger arrived. I can not say much about his power or martial skills, but when ites to perception, he doesn¡¯t fall behind a Second Lieutenant.¡± Josef smiled and nodded, something the other soldiers did as well. While talent and martial skills were crucial, you could quickly die on a battlefield if your perception was weak. Cain had no idea of the soldiers¡¯ discussion and found a ce to sit in the Star Cruiser. He was about to resume his training when he noticed something and focused on the cruiser¡¯s entrance. A youth with a body equally imposing that of Cain entered the Star Cruiser. He was very handsome, with ck hair and fiery red eyes. Unlike everybody else in the cruiser, the youth wore expensive clothes, and there was a majestic red ring on his right hand. He ignored the gazes of everybody and sat down before closing his eyes. Cain¡¯s interest in the youth grew as he noticed how this one began to draw massive amounts of Life Wave. After some consideration, he decided to use one of the [A.I. Chip Module] tools. ¡®System, use [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] on that man.¡¯ [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] was the tool Cain used to make a scan of himself, and he could also use it on others. Of course, there were several restrictions if employed that way. An electromaic force emerged from Cain and reached the red-eyed youth. It did not take long for a virtual screen to appear before him. [Scan of targetpleted. ¡ª Name: ??? Race: Godyer Humankind Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth ( Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength:0.49 Agility:0.29 Vitality:0.54 Wave:0.41] A serious expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw those stats. ¡®So he is one of the Abnormals.¡¯ Chapter 14 Chapter 14: Secret Trial ¡®So he is one of the Abnormals.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he focused on the youth¡¯s stats. The Imperial Military Force used the term Abnormal for those with more than enough talent to enroll in a Wave University and still chose to enlist in the Imperial Military Academy. There are many reasons, the mostmon being children of Noble Families that sought to make a name for themselves. That was something Cain learned from the information Apex gathered with [Basic Hacking]. Cain saw how more and more cadets entered the Star Cruiser before some officers made their way in. He only recognized Tristan and Lodon. Finally, the gates of the ship closed down, and everybody received a message through their A.I. Chips. The message contained information about the cots and the day-to-day life on the ship. Still, the archives named Imperial Military Guide, Wave Beast Compendium, and Dark Races Compendium drew all of Cain¡¯s attention. Those archives had a lot of helpful information, but they carried a warning about any form of unauthorized copy or distribution. Not long after the gates closed, the Star Cruiser rose thousands of meters above the ground before shing at supersonic speed. While invisible, a force field around it would protect it from damage. ..... Although Cain spent most of the days focused solely on his cultivation, he had to stop from time to time to eat and would use those small windows to learn more about the Imperial Military Academy and read thependiums. Of course, the information he had ess to was basic but was still extremely interesting and valuable. Cain and the red-eyed youth were not the only ones cultivating, but their training had a diametrical effect on those around them. The duo drew the Life Wave with so much strength that it generated a vacuum, forcing the cadets in cots around them to move away. That drew the ire of many, but since Cain and the red-eyed youth were more powerful and possessed greater talent, no one dared to offend them. After four weeks of travel, the Star Cruiser finally reached its final destination. The youths looked through the windows, and even Cain was no exception. He saw a massive metallic city at the center of a tremendous forest. The most impressive of all was the tower at its center that rose for more than ten thousand meters! Such structure would have been impossible in the Old World but not in Aether. As for the name of that tower, Cain knew it. ¡®Titan Tower.¡¯ The name may sound simple, but the implication was something that made Cain tremble. In it, there was a Titan, a member of the Godyer Humankind with more power than a nuclear bomb! Cain saw many Star Cruiserse in and out of the city. However, his cruiser diverged from the others and headed to an isted section of it. As Cain felt the Star Cruisernding safely, he could not help but show a funny smile. When he first saw the ship, part of him thought that something epic would happen on the journey here, but he understood that those thoughts were too naive. Their borders would be a joke if the Godyer Humankind Empire could not protect its ships while moving inside the Gaia Continent. Under the guidance of the soldiers, the thousands of cadets left the Star Cruiser. A beautiful woman was waiting for all of them, d in an immacte uniform. Cain was just about to walk toward her when a loud voice echoed. ¡°All those that had be Wave Warriors muste with me. Lady Sonia will handle the rest of you.¡± The one speaking was the same Vice-Captain Josef that had tested Cain. Despite the sound of the Star Cruiser¡¯s engine, everybody heard him clearly. Although most did not know what was happening, no one dared disobey the man, and all those who had already be Wave Warriors walked toward him. Of the more than five thousand cadets inside that Star Cruiser, only forty-two walked toward Vice-Captain Josef. The ratio was abysmal, but no one found it odd. Unless your Wave Talent was above Low Tier 2, reaching Level 1 Wave Warrior in less than a year was almost impossible. Everybody adopted a military stance in front of Josef, but this one did not give any more instructions and remained silent. Yet, none of the cadets could rx as the man unleashed a pressure that made all of them ufortable. Half an hourter, after the Star Cruiser that left Cain in the city departed, a new one arrived. Like before, Vice-Captain Josef summoned the Wave Warriors toward him before remaining silent. Four hours passed like that, and only after the number of cadets surpassed two hundred did Josef give new instructions. ¡°Follow me!¡± Josep said nothing else before turning around and starting running. Some cadets knew what happened, but most of them were oblivious. Still, both sides did as Josef told and followed him. At first, it was easy, but things grew harder as Josef¡¯s speed increased with each step he took. Less than twenty minutes after the race started, around half of the cadets summoned their Wave Cloaks to keep up. Many cadets even threw their luggage as the extra weight pushed them down. Cain was lucky since he had only brought a small military backpack. Cain¡¯s figure soon drew people¡¯s attention. Not only did he look fine despite the speed, but his clothes made it clear he was amoner. While the Essence Wave enhanced an individual¡¯s constitution, its effect could notpare with the brought by the Astral Wave. However, Cain was still just a newly advanced Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior, so he was also forced to summon his Wave Cloak by the time the race continued for more than an hour. Once again, Cain drew people¡¯s attention as they saw his dark-purple Wave Cloak. He was not the only Astral Wave Warrior but was the only one that did note from a Noble n. If everybody were not so focused on the race, people would have already approached Cain with all sorts of questions. After one and a half hours of running, Josef seemed to have finally reached his destination. He looked to the cadets and saw that everybody else had used their Wave Cloaks other than the red-eyed youth, and many of them barely had any strength left. Cain had difficulty catching his breath, but at least he remained standing. He nced at the ce where Vice-Captain Josef brought them and saw it was a massive gate that led out of the city. Right next to the gate, there was an old man. He had a military uniform like Josef, but his¡¯ was all worn out. Unlike the imposing Captain Josef, the old man¡¯s body was skinny and seemed tock any strength. Yet, when he opened his eyes, all the cadets felt a crushing pressure. Luckily the pressure did notst long, or else most cadets would have lost consciousness. ¡°So these are the brats?¡± The cadets trembled since the old man did not open his mouth, and they all heard those words directly inside their minds. Even those that came from Noble Families were not an exception. ¡°Yes, Sir Oliver.¡± Josef¡¯s words gave the cadets an idea of how high the old man¡¯s status was. Oliver gave a soft nod before closing his eyes again. All the cadets wondered about this old man¡¯s might, but they soon regained focus as they heard Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words again. ¡°Listen up, brats. Since you are already Wave Warriors, you have the right to participate in the Military Academy Secret Trial. Behind that door is a Tier 0 Danger Zone, with hundreds of Wave Beast, some of which even reach Level 2.¡± Wave Beast was a term everybody understood by now. Those were animals that mutated after obtaining the ability to observe Life Wave. However, unlike humans with their Sacred Organs, they can not refine it. Therefore, a Level 1 Wave Warrior would usually have no problem defeating a Level 1 Wave Beast. Josef gave the cadets a moment to process his words before continuing. ¡°There are also treasures, some of them including Wave Artifacts.¡± The words Wave Artifacts made the eyes of all the cadets glow. Even the most crappy one was worth more than what amoner family could earn in their entire life. A cold smile appeared on Josef¡¯s face as he saw the greed in the cadets¡¯ eyes. ¡°Oh, before I forget. Other than Wave Beast, there are also Dark Races¡¯ Wave Warriors in there. Some of them very powerful.¡± Those words erased the cadets¡¯ smiles, and some even began to tremble. Although Wave Beasts were not easy to kill, they were sure to at least be able to escape with their lives in the worst-case scenario. However, if they fought Dark Races¡¯ Wave Warriors, there was a decent chance they could die. Chapter 15 Chapter 15: Alone The Godyer Humankind taught its children how to hate the Dark Races from a young age, depicting them as horrible monsters. While that did the trick, making every human loathe them, it also generated a great fear in their hearts. All the youths present were Wave Warriors, but none of them was a proper soldier, so the idea of facing the Dark Races still scared them. Even thoseing from Noble Families that seemed to have an idea of the Military Academy Secret Trial adopted solemn expressions. ¡°Do we... Do we have to take the test?¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s eyes grew immensely cold as he heard that and focused on the one who uttered those words, making the youth tremble non-stop. Although Josef was angry, he noticed how that was a question many wanted to ask, so he only sneered. ¡°Hmph, the Imperial Military Academy can offer you even better resources than Wave Universities, but if you want them, you have to take them. Background doesn¡¯t matter here. Only your strength does!¡± Josef¡¯s aura exploded as he uttered those words, and a furious dark-purple Wave Cloak emerged from him. It unleashed so much power that it almost sent some of the youth flying away. ..... ¡°Those too scared to face the danger ahead should get the fuck out of my sight right now!¡± After Josef uttered those words, several cadets lowered their heads and left, reducing the number that would take the Secret Academy Test by a quarter. Vice-Captain Josef did not bother to nce at the cadets leaving and focused on the ones remaining before nodding and waving his hand, making rectangr flying drones fly to every cadet. ¡°Since you have decided to take the Military Academy Secret Trial, I will give you the instructions, but before that, you must hand over all your Wave Artifacts and treasures. You can also leave your belongings there so they do not disturb you during the test. Make sure to take out the special military backpack. It has Soldier¡¯s Drugs and survival equipment and can be used even in battle.¡± No one dared to disobey Vice-Captain Josef and did as he told them. Although some Noble Families¡¯ youths would have liked to keep their treasures, they knew there was no way they could trick the Imperial Military Academy. Cain took out the special military backpack and deposited his belongings in the drone. He was about to leave the spear he stole from Kurin but stopped and looked at Josef. ¡°Can I keep this? It is not a treasure nor a Wave Artifact.¡± Josef stared at the spear for a moment before nodding. It was not against the rules to bring something like the spear since it was not of much use for a Wave Warrior. Somemoners could not help but show envy as they saw that, but none of them brought something like that. Those of Noble Families were close, if not at Level 2, and a weapon like Cain¡¯s was useless for them. Josef saw how the cadets had stored their belongings and carried on. ¡°While there are dangers, and I encourage all of you to test your limits, there is a difference between courage and stupidity. The power of the enemies you will face inside is proportional to how deep you go into the Danger Zone. Of course, idents can happen, but as long as you remain less than fifty kilometers away from the entrance, you should not face anyone above Level 1.¡± Cain and the other cadets smiled as they heard that. A safe zone made things easier, and it seemed that as long as they were careful and did not overestimate their capabilities, they would be fine. If the cadets that left knew that, they might have chosen to remain, but since they were too scared to face the prospect of danger, there was nothing they could do other than me their weakness. ¡°During the Military Academy Secret Trial, the Imperial Military Credits you obtain will be multiplied by ten. Also, your final scores will determine the Secret Test Rank, with those at the top obtaining a bonus.¡± Imperial Military Credits were something Cain had already familiarized with. The folder given to him after entering the Star Cruiser described it as the currency used by the Imperial Military Force and one of the main currencies of the Godyer Humankind Empire. Obtaining it was very hard for amoner, and its uses were almost endless. Not to mention it also worked on calcting the merits one individual obtained through his career in the military. ¡°The gate into the Danger Zone will open in five hours when the sunes out, and the trial willst for three months. You need to use your A.I. Chip to record your killings. Are there any questions?¡± ¡°Is there in-fighting allowed?¡± Josef and the other cadets immediately focused on Cain when they heard that question. Although the cadets frowned, Vice-Captain Josef smiled as if showing approval toward that question. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t kill or maim someone, in-fighting is allowed.¡± Cain nodded before closing his eyes. The idea that because they were all humans, they would fight together was something extremely naive, and he had already learned that. No one else asked questions, and they all began replenishing their strength. However, the atmosphere grew tense since they knew that if a treasure were to present itself, chances were that a fight would happen. Cain did not care about the others and instead used one of the techniques in the Soldier Military Manual, Internal Breathing. Of course, he also used this opportunity tomand the system to scan all the other cadets. He drew Life Wave into his Astral Heart. Still, instead of using it to improve his cultivation, he circted it through his body, replenishing his strength and diminishing his fatigue. Josef shook his head as he saw some cadets trying to improve their cultivation, but he smiled as he focused on Cain and saw the youth using that basic military technique. ¡®Smart brat.¡¯ From time to time, roarsing from inside the Danger Zone would reach the youths. Although it would have been easy to block that noise, the wall purposely allowed them to pass so they could generate physiologic pressure in the cadets. The first thing that breaks in war is not the body but the mind. If a soldier could not endure some roars, what use would they have on a battlefield? When the first ray of sunshine reached their faces, all the cadets opened their eyes. Some could not rest due to the roars, but most were at their peak. The gate into the Rank 0 Danger Zone opened, and all the cadets marched in. Once thest one crossed it, the gate closed. Less than fifty meters ahead, a massive forest packed with trees blocked everyone¡¯s view. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw groups forming. Some were small with only two people, while others wererger. Thoserger had members of Noble Families as their core, with somemoners added to the mix. It did not take long for someone to approach him. Cain saw the youthing with a smile, but he also noticed the hidden scorn in this one¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hmph.¡± Cain only sneered and did not wait for the youth to get close to him before shing into the forest. Although there was safety in numbers, Cain knew those nobles would only be using him as a pawn, so he did not bother them. The scion that had walked toward Cain showed immense rage when he saw this one run into the forest. Although part of him wanted to chase and teach a lesson to themoner that ignored him, he did not dare to leave alone. Other than Cain, someone else had marched into the forest moments after the gates closed, the red-eyed youth. Many nobles would have liked to have someone with such power in their teams, but the red-eyed youth was too strong, and they could not control him, so instead of giving the leadership, they preferred to avoid him. Chapter 16 Chapter 16: Earth Lion Cain walked forward at full speed, yet his movements made little sound. Once again, the youth used one of the techniques from the Soldier Military Manual. This time it was called Silent Step. It did not precisely involve Wave, but an average human would find it very hard to use it due to the high physical requirements. He was not walking blindly, as he had already picked up a scent and was approaching it. ¡°System, scan me.¡± [Scanning Vessel. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer ..... Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 1) Lineage: Lightning Lycan Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.13 Agility: 0.17 Vitality: 0.14 Astral Wave: O.12 ¡ª Arts and skills: Soldier Cultivation Technique. Soldier Skills Lycan Physiology Lightning Conversion ??? ¡ª System Modules: -A.I. Chip Module: ¨C Pseudo Cellr Analysis ¨C Basic Data Gathering and Analysis ¨C Basic Virtual Simtion ¨C Basic Scan Force Field ¨C Basic Hacking -Gic Coder Module: ¨C Basic Gic Stimtion ¨C Basic Gic Suppression ¨C Basic Gic Enhancement -??? -??? -??? ¡ª Destiny Force: 0.2 points] Cain was satisfied with his current stats and abilities and was sure they would be enough for this test. It did not take long for him to reach the origin of the scent he followed. He did not reveal himself and carefully approached the creature without being noticed. The youth realized the scent he had picked belonged to a Wave Beast that resembled a two-meter-tall lion with brown skin. Due to this being the first time he met a Wave Beast, Cain was a little surprised, but he managed to focus soon. Thanks to the Wave Beast Compendium, he knew the beast was an Earth Lion, known for its sturdiness. ¡®System, scan the target.¡¯ Like before, an electromaic force emerged from Cain and soon reached the Wave Beast before a screen with its information appeared in front of him. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Lineage: Earth Lion Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 1) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.16 Agility: 0.13 Vitality: 0.21 Life Wave: 0.19] Even if this was not Cain¡¯s first life-and-death battle, it was still the first time facing a Wave Beast, so he was nervous. Luckily, once again, the [A.I. Chip Module] came handly. The Wave Beast Compendium had all kinds of information about each Wave Beast, including this Earth Lion. Alone, that knowledge was not very helpful, but after the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] scan, Cain got all the data needed to use the [Basic Virtual Simtion]. ¡®System, use [Basic Virtual Simtion] to simte a battle between the Earth Lion and me.¡¯ [Using Basic Virtual Simtion] Cain did not have to wait for long before virtual simtions appeared in his head. It was like watching a movie. All sorts of scenarios were presented, such as a direct attack, using a more furtive method, and even drawing the Earth Lion to a different location. Of course, the simtions were not wless, and things could differ from reality, especially if they involved more intelligent life forms. However, with a Wave Beast, their trustworthiness was around 95%. Cain took a deep breath and waited for the creature to close its eyes before taking out and arming his spear. His Wave Cloak emerged, enhancing his strength but also alerting the Earth Lion. The Wave Beast immediately rose from the ground and turned toward the origin of the danger. A green Wave Cloak was about to manifest when a spear was embedded in its neck. ¡°Hhhhh.¡± The Earth Lion attempted to scream, but the spear impeded it. An immense agony assaulted the Wave Beast, but it did notst for long as a youth d in dark-purple Astral Wave lunged toward it and kicked the spear¡¯s end, pushing it deeper, and killing the beast. Although the battle was extremely short and easy, the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool showed Cain how easily things could have gone wrong. So, he was agitated and found it hard to rx. Luckily, it did not take long for Cain¡¯s mind to focus, and he acted. First, Cain took out the spear, then used it to open the creature¡¯s chest and remove the heart. A Wave Beast¡¯s body could be considered a treasure, but Cain could only carry a limited weight, so he kept the most valuable part. After storing the heart in the backpack, Cain spread dirt on his weapon and hands to mask the scent of blood and left. Cain made sure to move far away from the dead Earth Lion, and only after almost half an hour did he focus on another scent and follow it. Once again, the scent belonged to an Earth Lion, but Cain found two of those Wave Beasts now. Before choosing whether to take the two beasts at once, Cain analyzed them and used the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool to see how good his chances were. After ensuring his chances were good enough, Cain took a deep breath and waited for the Earth Lions to look in the opposite direction before attacking. Cain invoked his Wave Cloak and sent the spear to one of the Earth Lions. Like before, his spear found its way to the beast¡¯s neck, but there was another threat he needed to handle this time. Unlike its partner, the other Earth Lion managed to fully invoke his green Wave Cloak, raising its offensive and defensive might exceptionally. Cain knew he could not just wait, so he lunged toward the unharmed Earth Lion. As the [Basic Virtual Simtor] had shown him, a w aimed at his head. Following his n, Cain slipped through the ground, dodging the w and appearing right beneath the Earth Lion¡¯s belly. Cain¡¯s fist d in Astral Wave buried itself in the Earth Lion¡¯s belly, causing severe internal damage. He immediately rolled away, avoiding the Wave Beast¡¯s body from stumping him. ..... Without losing momentum, Cain rose and fired another blow, this time, he aimed at the Earth Lion¡¯s shoulder, breaking it and, in doing so, crippling the beast. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The Earth Lion screamed in pain, and blood leaked out of its mouth, showing the internal damage it suffered. Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard the beast¡¯s scream since it alerted everyone in the surrounding of a battle urring. He immediately jumped over the Earth Lion, tightened his legs around the beast¡¯s neck, and began to bash the back of its head. It took less than five blows for Cain to kill the Earth Lion. He then gave the final blow to the agonizing Wave Beast before taking out his spear. Cain used the spear to take the heart of one Earth Lion before his eyes narrowed as he detected the scent of a group approach. ¡®Humans.¡¯ Cain immediately stored the heart and spear and shed away. He had no intention of interacting with other cadets, especially if they were in arge group. Although he left one Wave Beast¡¯s heart behind, it was better to avoid conflicts for the time being. Chapter 17 Chapter 17: Fighting a Level 2 Wave Beast A few minutes after Cain had left, a group of eight cadets arrived. The one leading it was a handsome youth with green hair and eyes. He stared at the two dead Earth Lions, and his eyes narrowed at theck of wounds. ¡°Whoever killed them, they did it fast, and all their attacks aimed at vital points. Their knowledge about these Wave Beasts¡¯ physiology and martial skills are vast.¡± The youth with green hair did not expect any feedback from the others, and he was just thinking out loud. After that, he nced at the three people behind the group. ¡°What are you three waiting for?¡± The trio trembled as they heard the man¡¯s cold voice. Their status was inferior to those of the rest of the group, which did not seem to be a problem initially since they all treated them very well, but once they were alone, the group dynamic changed significantly. Unfortunately, even if they regretted their decisions, there was nothing they could do. ..... The group¡¯s leader did not care about the trio¡¯s thoughts, and his eyes focused on the direction where Cain had left. ¡ª Cain ran for almost an hour, changing routes from time to time and doing his best to hide any sign of his presence. Only after making sure no one was near him did he escte to arge tree and sit on a branch. All the running and the battles had awakened his appetite. No one provided them with meals for this test, but there was food all around them. However, Cain did not n to eat the fruits in the surroundings. He took out one Earth Lion¡¯s heart and bit it, taking arge piece into his mouth. A Wave Beast¡¯s heart had arge concentration of Life Wave, something beneficial for any Wave Cultivator. There were downsides, such as the possibility of food poisoning, but that was not something Cain had to worry about, thanks to his Lycan Physiology. Of course, there was also the fact that cooked meat was much better, but Cain would not risk revealing his presence with fire just to satisfy his pte. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt the surge of Life Wave inside him, and without hesitation, he adopted a meditative position and began cultivating. While Cain focused on his cultivation and had chosen a location where no one should bother him, he did not let his guard down. The [Basic Scan Force Field] never stopped working and would alert him if anyone entered it. Cain did not stop cultivating until thest surge of Life Wave transformed into Astral Wave. The day had ended by the time he came out of training, but that was not a problem for him. Wolfs had always been great night-time predators. Cain¡¯s night vision allowed his field of view to be around 80% as good as during the day. He quietly descended the tree before picking up a scent and following it. It did not take long for him to see a group of Wave Beasts. They were five rhinoceros-like creatures with spikes all over their bodies. Just two Wave Beasts pushed him to the limit, so fighting five of them was not something Cain would do. Still, that did not mean he would just leave. ¡®System, scan targets.¡¯ A few secondster, a virtual screen appeared in front of him. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Linage: Porcupine Rhinoceros Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 1) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.14 Agility: 0.07 Vitality: 0.20 Life Wave: 0.18] While there were slight variations, the five Porcupine Rhinoceros had around the same stats. As Cain analyzed them, he realized those beasts were a perfect example that stats did not fully represent the danger of an enemy. Porcupine Rhinoceros had lower stats than Earth Lions, but Cain would find it much harder to face them due to their racial traits and hisck of long-range attacks. Cain left without alerting the Porcupine Rhinoceroses and soon reached the location of another Wave Beast. This time the beast was only one, but he did not take it lightly as the feeling it gave him was that of immense danger. The Wave Beast resembled a two-and-a-half-meter tall gori with sinning metallic fur. After the system showed him the beast¡¯s stats, Cain understood the reason for the dangerous feeling. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Linage: Metall Gorri Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 2) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.42 Agility: 0.22 Vitality: 0.51 Life Wave: 0.41] The Metall Gori was a Level 2 Wave Beast, surpassing Cain in everything, especially in strength. Cain knew that facing a Level 2 Wave Beast would be dangerous, but he also knew that he would not always be able to fight easy enemies, and running away from every danger would only harm him in the long run. Of course, that did not mean he would blindly charge toward the Metall Gori. Using the information gathered by the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis], he projected the battle inside his mind with [Basic Virtual Simtion]. He spent almost half an hour going through the simtion, and only after considering everything did he decide to fight. Even then, he waited another hour for the Metallic Gori to lower its guard and generate an opening. Just as the Metallic Gori stretched its body due to boredom and tiredness, a sense of danger assaulted it. A burst of aura appeared near it, and from that same direction, a spear shed toward it. The Metallic Gori managed to move in thest second, stopping it from piercing its chest, but it stillnded on its shoulder before it could unleash its Wave Cloak. Cain emerged from the trees¡¯ cover, and his eyes narrowed as he saw how the spear barely managed to prate the Metallic Gori¡¯s flesh. While the simtion showed that oue, he was still surprised by the beast¡¯s resilience. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Metallic Gori roared with pain and anger as it saw the one responsible for its wound. Its Wave Cloak burst with power and increased the amount in its right arm as it attacked. Chapter 18 Chapter 18: Abyssal Demon Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that giant fist enhanced by Life Wave approaching him at a shocking speed. He managed to dodge the attack while continuing advancing and used the momentum to strike the spear¡¯s rear, pushing it deeper into the Metallic Gori¡¯s shoulder. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Metallic Gori roared in pain as the spear practically drilled through his shoulder. However, just as Cain was about to continue his onught, he saw the Waver Beast¡¯s left arming at him. ording to the simtion, that attack should have crippled the Metallic Gori¡¯s left arm, giving Cain enough time to break some of the beast¡¯s ribs, but things did not go that way. Cain only managed to form a cross with his arms, using them as a shield against the beast¡¯s p. Although the p sent Cain flying away, it did not harm him other than numbing his arms. While the [A.I. Chip Module]¡¯s simtion was not perfect, it was correct that the spear would greatly hinder the Metallic Gori¡¯s left arm. Cain¡¯s eyes focused, but he was still a little shaken. This experience showed him that he should only take the simtions as a guide and not blindly trust them. ..... ¡°Wave Burst!¡± Cain pronounced those words as his Astral Wave output increased exponentially. The ability Wave Burst was something all Wave Cultivators could use, just like Wave Cloak. It allowed one to increase their Wave output, enhancing their strength but affecting their stamina and the amount of time they can have their Wave Cloak active. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Metallic Gori roared, this time not with pain but rage, as it also used Wave Burst. Cain and the Wave Beast shed to each other, with the first taking a turn to the beast¡¯s left in thest second. Not only did Cain dodge the Metallic Gori¡¯s attack, but hended a heavy blow on the beast¡¯s knee. That strike was enough for the Mattalilic Gori¡¯s legs to bend, allowing Cain¡¯s kick tond straight in the back of the beast¡¯s head. Such a blow in the back of the head caused massive trauma to the Metallic Gori¡¯s brain, which Cain took full advantage of. Cain used all his strength as he began to strike the Metallic Gori¡¯s liver, making the creature feel immense pain while at the same time taking away its focus and drive. Although he only used his fist, Cain was an Astral Wave Warrior, so the might of his punches was stronger than what an Essence Wave Warrior could provoke by striking with a hammer. Of course, only low-level and weak Essence Wave Warriors thatcked skills and technique would use their Essence Wave like that. The liver was thergest nd and a center of blood cirction, and unlike the heart, itcked a rib cage to protect it, so one could imagine the amount of damage it would take by receiving Cain¡¯s blows. The Metallic Gori felt it suffocated, while blood did not stop emerging from its maws, forcing it to get down on all fours. Cain¡¯s eyes became cold as he saw that, and he immediately jumped on the beast¡¯s back. He grabbed the Metallic Gori¡¯s head with his left hand and began to strike the upper section of the spine with his right one. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of crashes and cracks emerged from the impact area as Cain shattered the cervical vertebrae and severed the spinal cord, killing the Wave Beast. Cain felt his blood burning due to the thrill of battle and the w of his Lineage, but luckily he managed to calm down fast. The youth deactivated his Wave Cloak as a sense of exhaustion assaulted him. The battle had been short but using Wave Burst took a toll on his endurance. He took his spear out of the beast¡¯s body, opened its ribcage, and extracted the heart before shing away, only stopping once he was sure there was no one close to him. The following month went like that, with Cain hunting down Wave Beasts and using the hearts he obtained as both food and a source of Life Wave to improve his Wave Cultivation. Every day, he went deeper into the forest, and like Captain Josef told him, the enemies¡¯ power grew. Sometimes he would find a pack of Peak Level 2 Wave Beasts. Of course, Cain was not suicidal. Other than scanning them and marking their location, he did nothing to those packs. Cain picked up a sulfur smell on the thirty-nine day inside the Military Academy Secret Trial. As soon as he did that, he pushed his focus to the limit. The reason was that the sulfur smell did note from a Wave Beast. ording to the Dark Race Compendium, that was a characteristic of the Infernus Daemon Race, one of the Dark Races! Cain made sure he was in peak condition before following the scent. After twenty minutes, he was able to see his target. It was a man with arge muscr body, obsidian skin, and an expression full of savagery and chaos in his eyes. There was a scar on his chest, but other than that, he seemed in perfect health. He stood meditatively in a deforested zone next to a river. While that made it hard for him to hide, it also forced opponents into revealing themselves to attack. That disy of strategy alone was a testament to why a member of the Dark Races was so much harder to handle than a Wave Beast. As soon as Cain¡¯s eyesnded on the member of the Infernus Daemon Race, he felt hatred. He had never seen one and much less interacted with them, but as a member of the Godyer Humankind, he was taught from a very young age to see them as the enemy and loathe them. And if the Godyer Humankind Empire indoctrination was not enough, Cain felt resentment because he lost his father in the war against them. ¡®System, scan him.¡¯ Cain even slowed his breathing as he focused on the enemy and waited for the system¡¯s analysis. [Target scan sessful ¡ª Race: Infernus Daemon Race Lineage: Abyssal Demon Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.61 Agility: 0.33 Vitality: 0.54 Astral Wave: 0.51 ¡ª Note: There is a foreign object hidden inside the target¡¯s body] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw those stats, and by the amount of Astral Wave, he deduced that the Abyssal Demon was already at Peak Level 2. As for the foreign object inside the Abyssal Demon, while it drew some interest, it was not Cain¡¯s main concern right now. ¡®System, scan me.¡¯ The Absolute Life Form System followed Cain¡¯smand, and a new virtual screen appeared for him, this time with his data. [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 1 Wave Warrior) Linage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.15 Agility: 0.20 Vitality: 0.17 Wave: O.16 ¡ª Arts and skills: Soldier Cultivation Technique. Soldier Skills Lycan Physiology Lightning Conversion ???] The system showed Cain the immense difference between their stats, but that did not mean he would give up. First, he used the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool to project the oues of a battle between him and the Abyssal Demon. In most of the simtions, he died or had to run away with severe injuries, but there was a path he could take that would allow him to win. Cain took a deep breath, hid in the shadows, and waited for the right time. ..... The chance presented itself after five hours when the Abyssal Demon took a moment to begin circting his Astral Wave. He had just started training when a spear shed toward his back. Chapter 19 Chapter 19: Killing Abyssal Demon The Abyssal Demon felt the iing spear. The ambush forced him to suddenly stop his revolving Astral Wave, which made a metallic taste appear in his mouth, and he turned around while a dark-purple Wave Cloak manifested. He fired a punch toward the spearhead, making the weapon burst into pieces. However, his eyes widened as he saw the youth that managed to get next to him by hiding in his blind spot. Cain had not activated his Wave Cloak to thrust the spear, which is why the Abyssal Demon managed to intercept it with such ease. Nevertheless, that also allowed him to hide his presence until he was ready to strike. The youth manifested his Wave Cloak and aimed his palms at the Abyssal Demon¡¯s face before part of his Astral Wave mutated into arcs of lighting. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Abyssal Demon screamed in pain, and the lightning arcs exploded in his face, igniting his eyes. A cold smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw that, but it did notst long as a blownded in his stomach, sending him flying away while puking blood. Cain felt immense pain but did not have the luxury of resting as a tremendous sense of danger assaulted him. He clenched his teeth and gathered his strength before jumping to the right. ..... ¡°?Boom!¡± The youth did it just in time to avoid the Abyssal Demon crashing down on his previous location. Even then, Cain continued retreating as the enemy lunged toward him. Cain found it hard to believe the incredible tenacity of the Abyssal Demon. The Abyssal Demon¡¯s eyes were useless, but he used his other senses to follow Cain. His attackcked precision, but their strength made it so that one was more than enough to break several bones. Despite the immense danger, Cain was able to keep a cool head. He made his way back to the trees, and once there, he deactivated his Wave Cloak and hid his presence. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Abyssal Demon roared as he began to destroy the trees around him but could no longer feel Cain¡¯s presence. Cain slowly moved away from the Abyssal Demon. He was having difficulty breathing and was sure there was internal damage. If another blow hadnded, he might have lost the ability to fight and perish. As the Abyssal Demon continued to destroy everything around him in rage, Cain returned to where the spear had broken and retrieved its head. Cain focused and did his best to ignore the pain as he approached the Abyssal Demon. He activated his Wave Cloak, enhancing his strength before throwing the spearhead. That projectilecked any skill. Not to mention dodging it, the Abyssal Demon could have stopped it with bare hands if he was in peak condition. Unfortunately, due to the state of his eyes, the Abyssal Demon only managed to block it by putting his arms in what he perceived could be the spearhead trajectory. The Abyssal Demon felt a sharp pain in his arms as he blocked the spearhead, but that was all, and it did not manage to harm him. Sadly for the Abyssal Demon, the spearhead was only a distraction, and the next instant, he felt immense pain as a kick had justnded on his right knee, shattering it. ¡°Ahhh, you disgusting human!¡± The Abyssal Demon cursed as he waved his hand like a madman, but he hit nothing. Things went from bad to worse for the Abyssal Demon. The next second, a punchnded on the base of his skull. Cain saw how his attack momentarily paralyzed the Abyssal Demon and continued punching. Savagery appeared in his eyes as he felt his blood burning. Even when the Abyssal Demonnded on the ground, Cain did not stop his relentless attack and carried on until he felt his Wave Cloak about to vanish. The youth regained hisposure after the emotional outburst passed, and his eyes widened as he saw the bloody paste that was once the Abyssal Demon¡¯s head. ¡®It is fine. He was a member of the Dark Races.¡¯ As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice ¡°So those are your thoughts after killing another intelligent being.¡± Apex took Cain by surprise. Although the youth was a little shaken by the bloody scene, there was not the guilt or psychological pressure he felt when he ended Kiron. ¡°There is no mercy for the Dark Races.¡± Cain clenched his bloody fist as he replied. ¡°If that is all you have to say, then I mustpliment your Godyer Humankind Empire for their indoctrination.¡± Cain did not know why, but the System Spirit¡¯s words irritated him greatly. ¡°Did you not say that killing is a part one can not avoid!¡± Apex did not immediately reply to Cain¡¯s words and waited for the youth to calm down. ¡°Brat, there is nothing wrong in killing someone, but do not let others¡¯ beliefs affect your heart. You took that man¡¯s life because you wanted to. Own it, and do not hide behind excuses like a coward!¡± Those words shock Cain¡¯s spirit. He knew Apex was correct. As soon as he saw the corpse, he attempted to distance himself from the act. Cain stood up and did not take his eyes away from the Abyssal Demon¡¯s bloody corpse. ¡°I killed you because you were my enemy!¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20: Wave Artifact ¡°Don¡¯t waste time. Take out the Abyssal Demon¡¯s heart and search for the foreign object inside his body.¡± Apex did notment on Cain¡¯s words, nor did the youth expect the System Spirit to do it. Cain did not expect a pat on the back. He spoke those words because he believed them. He picked the deformed spearhead from the ground and used it to open the Abyssal Demon¡¯s chest. By cutting over the scar, Cain did things much easier and faster. Just like Wave Beast¡¯s hearts were valuable, so were Dark Race¡¯s as they contained a tremendous amount of Astral or Essence Wave. After saving the heart in his backpack, Cain searched for the foreign object and soon found it. ¡°What is this?¡± ..... Cain took a ck orb the size of a fist out of the Abyssal Demon¡¯s abdomen. ¡°So this is where those soldiers hid them.¡± Apex¡¯s words only confused Cain more, but luckily he continued speaking. ¡°Do you remember the Vice-Captain¡¯s words about Wave Artifacts inside this ce? We have been here for more than a month and explored a lot yet found nothing.¡± Cain did not need Apex to say anything else to understand where he was heading to. Of course, he remembered the part about Wave Artifacts. It was one of the main reasons why he wanted to enter the Military Academy Secret Trial alone. Amoner would find it almost impossible to get a Wave Artifact. Even Level 4 Wave Warriors considered them as treasures that could save their lives, and it seemed that the orb in his hand was one of them. Cain felt an electromaic current emerge from his hand and reach the orb. The next moment, a virtual screen appeared in front of his eyes. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Disying information. ¡ª Name: Kic Gauntlets Grade: High Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Astral Wave Warriors, able to protect the hands and forearms. Active Ability: -Kic st: Once you charge enough Astral Wave, it can fire a st of kic force on impact. It has three levels.] Along with that description, a detailed exnation of the Kic Gauntlets¡¯ abilities and how to use them reached Cain¡¯s mind. ¡°Normally, one would brand and get the information out of the Wave Artifacts through a digital data package left in it through the A.I. Chip, but you did it through the system.¡± Apex made a slight pause to make sure Cain understood before carrying on. ¡°To activate the Wave Artifact, just channel your Astral Wave into it.¡± Cain could not wait to test the Wave Artifact, so he immediately followed Apex¡¯s words and sent his Astral Wave into it. Arge smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw the orb glowing before melting and transforming into gauntlets covering his hands and forearms. Although Cain was eager to try the gauntlets, he knew that his fight with the Abyssal Demon drew some attention, so he hid his presence and left immediately. Cain ran for at least an hour and hid his presence before climbing a tree and resting. He used Internal Breathing while devouring a Wave Beast¡¯s heart and consuming Soldier Drugs. Three hourster, Cain¡¯s body regained vigor and his internal wound diminished, but he could not say the same about his mind. The surveince and fight with the Abyssal Demon had pushed him to the limit, so he needed a proper rest. After tying a rope around his waist and then to the tree, Cain began to sleep. Only someone like Cain, who had the [Basic Scan Force Field] at his disposal, could sleep so calmly while taking this trial alone. Cain woke up in the middle of the night after sleeping more than ten hours. He felt refreshed but still felt some pain around his abdomen. The first thing he did was survey his surroundings, and only after making sure there was no one near did Cain test his Wave Artifact. As soon as he activated his Wave Cloak, Cain noticed the effect of the Kic Gauntlets. They automatically channeled and condensed the Astral Wave around them, enhancing both offense and defense. Cain began to strike arge tree. Thanks to the data gathered by the [A.I. Chip Module], he discovered that his punches were 17% stronger now. That was just the Kic Gauntlets¡¯ passive ability. Following the instructions of the Wave Artifact, he fueled it with a significant amount of Astral Wave, activating a matrix. Cain saw that the Kic Gauntlets¡¯ ability was ready and punched the tree. He was almost pushed back and felt his arms numb, but that mattered little after he saw the might of his attack. Arge hole appeared in the tree, and this one then fell. That attack carried a greater force than the Level 2 Abyssal Demon disyed. And that was only the first level of Kic st! Of course, such might did note cheap. Cain noticed that the first level Kic st charging on both gauntlets had drained half of his Astral Wave. Cain¡¯s excitement did not diminish after seeing Kic sts¡¯ cost. He was still a Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior, so it was no wonder his reserve drained so fast. After resting for a little more, pushing his body back to the peak, Cain picked up a familiar scent and followed it. It was not long before the youth saw a pack of three Porcupine Rhinoceroses. He scanned the Wave Beasts and discovered they were all Level 1. Before, just fighting one would have been a challenge, but now that he had a Wave Artifact, things were different. Cain could almost not believe the images shown by the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool, as they were incredible. He did not lower his guard and quietly approached the pack before shing toward the one in the rear. The Porcupine Rhinoceroses entered battle mode, activating their Wave Cloaks as Cain shed toward them, but before they could do anything, the youth had already reached one of them. Cain fired a fist toward the Porcupine Rhinoceros¡¯ side. His right gauntlet glowed as the matrix activated and Kic st fired. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Wave Beast yelled in pain as the punchpletely disregarded its Wave Cloak and physical defenses, sting a bloody hole and sending it flying away. Shock appeared in the Porcupine Rhinoceroseses as they saw theirpanion¡¯s fate. Cain would have reacted the same if not for the simtion, but since he did not, he could take advantage of the Wave Beasts¡¯ distraction. He reached the next Porcupine Rhinoceros and punched with his left arm, firing another Kic st. This time the Wave Beast did not yell as the strikended on its head, killing it instantly. It still sent it flying away, crashing against thest Porcupine Rhinoceros. Cain saw how thest Porcupine Rhinoceros crashed to the ground after being struck by itspanion¡¯s body. He ran toward the beast and, before it could stand up, began to hit its head. Seven blows were all that Cain needed to kill the final Porcupine Rhinoceros. As Cain saw the state of the battlefield, he could not help but feel shocked. He killed the three Porcupine Rhinoceroses in less than thirty seconds and suffered no damage! That was enough for one to understand the mighty Wave Artifacts! Chapter 21 Chapter 21: Hell Devil Cain did not lose much time being amazed by the might of his Kic Gauntlets. He took out the spearhead, which was now only useful as a de, and removed the hearts of the Wave Beasts before shing away. Obtaining that Wave Artifact was like giving wings to a T-rex. Cain¡¯s killing speed increased exponentially, and he could now confidently face Level 2 Wave Beasts. His rush stopped after he again picked up a sulfur scent for the second time. Unlike Wave Beasts, facing a Wave Warrior of Infernus Daemon Race was difficult, even with his Wave Artifact. Cain followed the scent, which led him to arge mountain. It came from a cave, which immediately drew some problems for him. Since Cain could not establish eye contact, using the [Pseudo Cellr Analisis] tool became much harder. He would have to get close enough so that the Infernus Daemon could enter the range of his [Basic Scan Force Field]. As he silently approached the cave, the system sent a warning signal. [Warning. Warning. ..... ¡ª Basic Scan Force Field has detected several magic matrices in the surroundings. If touched, they will trigger a spell. ¡ª Magic matrices locations marked] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and his alertness spiked as the system marked invisible magic matrices hidden around the cave. ¡®Abyssal Demons, while intelligent enough to put traps, usually disdain to do it, so the one inside the cave must be a Hell Devil.¡¯ Just like the Godyer Humankind had many Lineages, the Infernus Daemon Race also had more than one. ording to the Dark Race Compendium, the Infernus Daemon Race had three main Lineages, and the Hell Devils were fond of traps and schemes. Cain dodged all the magic matrices and got close enough to the cave for the [Basic Scan Force Field] to cover the Infernus Daemon. It did not take long for the system¡¯s voice to appear in his mind. [Target scan sessful. ¡ª Race: Infernus Daemon Race Lineage: Hell Devil Race Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Level 2 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.14 Agility: 0.19 Vitality: 0.27 Essence Wave: 0.48 ¡ª Note: There is a foreign object hidden inside the target¡¯s body] As Cain suspected, the one inside the cave was a Hell Devil. As for the fact it had taken the Essence Evolution Path of Power despite having a Lineage, that did not surprise him. Not because you have a Lineage, you would necessarily embark on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Some chose not to take it because of its harshness, and others had Lineages that were more suitable for the Essence Evolution Path of Power. ¡®Just marching inside the cave would be suicide. A barrage of spells woulde to greet me before I could even get close to the Hell Devil.¡¯ Cain began considering the best path forward and ran many simtions with the system. It did not take long before a n appeared in his mind. He got next to the mountain that held the cave and began to strike it in several locations before charging the matrix in his right gauntlet and giving a final blow. Those strikes were not thrust randomly since the system marked them as weak points. A second after that, Cain connected a Kic st, and the cave began to tremble. It was a matter of time before it copsed. Since running into it would be suicide, he forced the Hell Devil toe out. A beautiful humanoid woman emerged from the cave. She was simr to a human, other than her red skin and horns. Despite her appearance, the woman¡¯s eyes were cold as she surveyed the surroundings. The Hell Devil felt the Astral Wave and knew an enemy was near. She quickly discovered the youth covered in a dark-purple Wave Cloak shing toward her. ¡°Wait, please don¡¯t do this!¡± The woman¡¯s plight and the sad expression on her face could have moved anyone¡¯s heart, especially that of a youth. Yet, Cain¡¯s expression remained resolute no matter what he heard or saw. It was not that he did not find the woman attractive. If he was honest, the red color of her skin hit the right spot. Unfortunately for the Hell Devil, Cain would not back down now. He had decided to join the Imperial Military Force in the future, which would mean killing members of the Dark Races. While he no longer hid behind an excuse, letting the indoctrination of the Godyer Humankind Empire guide him, that did not mean he would show any mercy. The woman saw that her words did not work, and her sad expression turned cold as she raised her hand and fired a fireball. That spell was fired almost instantly from her hand because she had been preparing it from the moment she saw the youth. Cain had expected such an attack and was ready to counter it. His left gauntlet glowed as he connected a Kic st to the ground, triggering an explosion that fired dozens ofrge rocks forward. The rocks and the fireball counter each other, allowing Cain to appear right before the Hell Devil. Just as he was about to send a blow toward her neck, he heard the system¡¯s voice. [WARNING! INCOMING SPELL FROM 8 O¡¯CLOCK] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. He had made sure to survey the surroundings before the battle started, but he found no one, and if not for the [Basic Scan Force Field], he would have never known until it was toote. ¡®I can not dodge it nor form a proper defense in such a short time.¡¯ Cain¡¯s mind worked extremely fast, searching for a way to survive, and he found it. He continued advancing, but instead of striking the Hell Devil¡¯s throat, he grabbed it and her waist before turning around. The youth used the Hell Devil as a shield against the spell. Dozens of small shadow desnded on the Hell Devil¡¯s back, cutting the flesh like nothing and leaving deepcerations in the spine. Due to the hasty defense, some des alsonded on Cain. Cain clenched his teeth as he endured the pain and focused on where the attack came from. Surprise and rage emerged in his eyes as he saw that the attackers were not members of the Dark Races but humans. A man and a woman walked out of the trees¡¯ cover. A shadowy aura emerged from thetter that covered both. Chapter 22 Chapter 22: Oveing burning rage The duo was a man and a woman, and their dark-purple and sky-blue Wave Cloaks revealed the Path of Power they had taken. ¡°Oh, I am sorry for those wounds. I did not see you. Luckily you were able to react to my Shadow des.¡± Cain saw the woman smiling toward him, but the evident disdain in her eyes told him all he needed to know. He felt his rage growing stronger and was doing all he could to stop himself from lunging toward them. Without saying a word, Cain raised the Hell Devil by the neck and calmly began walking toward the cave¡¯s entrance. Although Cain¡¯sposure surprised the duo, they never cared about his response. What mattered to them was the dying Hell Devil in his hands and the Wave Artifact. ¡°Filthymoner, how dare you to ignore Lady Nira, a member of the Viscount Kilor¡¯s Household.¡± The man roared, showing a righteous expression as if they were doing Cain a favor by talking to him. Nira¡¯s smile vanished as she saw Cain¡¯s coldness, but she remained calm. The Hell Devil was mortally wounded, but if they wanted the Imperial Military Credits for her death, they needed to be the ones that gave the final blow. ..... If they charged toward Cain, this one might break the Hell Devil¡¯s neck before escaping, which was not good. ¡°Hand over the Hell Devil and the Wave Artifact you stole, and we will let you leave unharmed.¡± Nira¡¯s words were harsh and seemed not to leave room for discussion. She never considered the Wave Artifact as Cain¡¯s property, as amoner could not possess something like that in her mind. Cain felt his rage soaring without control as he heard how those two spoke to him. It reached the point he had to bite his tongue to remain calm. Luckily Cain did not have to endure for long since once he reached a specific point, he activated Wave Burst. Nira and the man thought Cain wanted to fight and sneered since not only did they outnumber him, they were both Level 2 Wave Warriors. However, instead of attacking, Cain used his enhanced strength to break the Hell Devil¡¯s neck and bury his hand in her stomach. Cain¡¯s coldness and savagery surprised the duo, giving him enough time to extract the Wave Artifact and run away. ¡°You dare to run!¡± The man roared as he saw Cain escaping and immediately chased. Sadly, he walked over a magic matrix, which triggered an explosion. ¡°James!¡± Nira had just started to charge her spell when she saw the st. While the explosion seemed mighty, spells engraved on the ground in the form of magic matrices were not particrly strong, so James was only sent flying away with some burn mark over his body. Nira walked over to James and helped him stand up. Both of them could still fight, but Cain had already vanished. ¡°Filthymoner!¡± James roared in rage as he felt his skin burning. ¡°It is not worth bothering with him. Let¡¯s explore the zone and see if we find something valuable.¡± Nira was also furious, but since Cain had already vanished from their sight, it would be almost impossible to track him down now. ¡ª Cain ran through the forest for more than an hour before stopping. His face twisted due to the immense rage that filled him. It was as if his blood was burning, demanding him to fight. The way the duo looked at him as if he was a mere insect that should happily bow down to them sickened him. He rose to a tree and adopted a meditative position, focusing on resting and calming his fury. It took him a while, but as night fell, he finally rxed. ¡®That woman¡¯s shadows. Not only did it hide the presence, it even covered the scent.¡¯ Cain was able to quickly deduct how the duo was able to get so near without him noticing them. As for how they located him? That had many answers, with one being pure bad luck. They might happen to stumble upon him by chance. The truth was that the reason did not matter. Those Shadow des almost killed him, and Cain was not the forgiving type. ¡®ording to the scan I did before entering the trial, they were both Level 2 Wave Warriors, with the man having advanced recently.¡¯ Fighting a single Level 2 Wave Warrior almost cost him his life and was when he had a n and was able to set an ambush. Fighting the duo with his current strength was suicidal. Cain shook his head as he threw away the notion of fighting the duo inside the Military Academy Secret Trial. He could not win in a direct battle, and unlike Nira and James, he was not willing to break the rules about killing other humans and infuriate Vice-Captain Josef. He took out a Wave Beast¡¯s heart and Soldier Drugs, and after a session of cultivation and healing, he focused on the Wave Artifact taken out of the Hell Devil. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Disying information. ¡ª Name: Fire Sword Grade: High Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Essence Wave Warriors. Able to enhance spells with fire attributes. Active Ability: -Fire Burst: Once you charge enough Essence Wave, it can fire a two-meter tall arc of fire capable of crossing one hundred meters in three seconds.] Cain was surprised by the Wave Artifact¡¯s information. Not only about its power, but the fact that Essence Warriors would use something like swords. ¡°It is moremon than you might think.¡± Apex¡¯s voice surprised Cain. The System Spirit usually spent all his time using the [Basic Hacking] tool to gather information, so they have not talked a lot recently. ¡°Can you borate?¡± Although all the information Apex obtained was at his disposal, Cain would prefer not to go through millions of files right now. Luckily for Cain, Apex did not leave him in suspense. ¡°Essence Wave Cultivators are not the typical mages of your fairy tales. If that were the case, their usefulness on the battlefield would be limited. Although Essence Wave Warriors do focus on long-range attacks, they can deploy impressive mele skills, especially those that train some auxiliary body refinement techniques.¡± Cain nodded to Apex¡¯s words and proceeded to save the white orb in his backpack. Using the sword without proper skills was useless, especially since the damage he could do with his fists was higher. Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Light Boots Cain spent the next few days going deep into the forest, killing all the Wave Beasts he found in his path. It was not up to five days after the encounter with the duo that he found another dangerous target again. He followed the sulfur¡¯s scent and discovered an Abyssal Demon resting in an area full of broken trees. To his surprise, this one seemed severely injured, and the youth figured out arge fight had urred by the blood pattern across the ground. Cain did not waste too much time and immediately scanned the Abyssal Demon. [Target scan sessful ¡ª Race: Infernus Daemon Race Lineage: Abyssal Demon ..... Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.54 Agility: 0.30 Vitality: 0.47 Astral Wave: 0.44 ¡ª Note: Target is heavily wounded and can not fully deploy his battle power. There is a foreign object hidden inside his body] Not only was this Abyssal Demon weaker than the one Cain faced a month ago, but he was severely injured, making things even easier. There were many paths Cain could take to handle this Abyssal Demon, and due to the broken trees, setting a sneak attack was not hard. Nevertheless, as he saw the fearless expression on his enemy¡¯s face, his eyes glowed with determination. The Abyssal Demon was doing his best to recover his energy when he saw a youthing out of the trees¡¯ cover and walking to him. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the surroundings but detected no one else. ¡°Hahahaha, finally, one of you is not a coward and fights heads on!¡± Cain did not say a word, but his aura exploded as he used Wave Cloak and Wave Burst at once. ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡± The Abyssal Demon roared as he also triggered Wave Cloak and Wave Burst before charging toward Cain and firing a fist. Cain countered with his own fist, making the sound of a small shock wave appear due to the strength they unleashed. None of them could surpass the other, but Cain did not remain still and fired a kick thatnded straight in the Abyssal Demon¡¯s jaw. Before Cain could get too happy, a fist hadnded on his chest, sending him flying away. The Abyssal Demon would have wanted to chase, but that kick shook his brain, temporarily paralyzing him. Cain used those seconds to step up from the ground as a metallic taste appeared in his mouth. That punch was hurtful but not enough to reduce his battle power. ¡®I lowered my guard after my attacknded. The damage would have been much worse if he was not so wounded.¡± One of the reasons Cain chose to take a direct approach was to train himself. He would not always be able to count on ambushes or sneak attacks, nor would he always have time to simte the battle beforehand, so he had to learn how to adapt at the moment. The Abyssal Demon shook his head as he regained his focus, just in time to a fist bathed in Astral Wave fired toward his throat. He raised his arm just in time to block it, but a kicknded directly on his knee the next second. Cain had justnded that kick before jumping back, dodging an elbow strike that targeted the top of his head. Like that, the battle carried on with both exchanging blows. Cain¡¯s attacks and reactions became faster, but the Abyssal Demon could not say the same. The Abyssal Demon¡¯s wounds worsened as the battle continued, making his movements sluggish. ¡°Kic st!¡± After three minutes, Cain ended the battle as he connected a fist right in the center of the Abyssal Demon¡¯s chest and triggered Kic st. The Abyssal Demon trembled as the impact caused massive internal trauma and pushed him back a few meters. He fell to the ground and no longer stood up as his heart stopped beating. Cain approached the Abyssal Demon and was surprised to see a smile on this one¡¯s face. ¡®A good death is its own reward. I guess what they say about Abyssal Demons is true. They live for the thrill of battle.¡¯ Cain nodded toward the fallen enemy before using the spearhead to take out the heart and Wave Artifact. He left and rested after running for at least thirty minutes. First, he rose to a tree, took out some Soldier Drugs and a Wave Beast¡¯s heart, and recovered. Although the fight was not easy, he did not have broken bones, at most some bruises. Once Cain was fully rested and managed the worst of his injuries, he inspected the Wave Artifact. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Disying information. ¡ª Name: Light Boots Grade: Medium Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Astral Wave Warriors. Able to enhance Wave¡¯s density around legs, improving the force put into the ground, propelling your body forward with greater strength, therefore increasing your speed. Active Ability: -Burst: Once you charge enough Astral Wave, it will propel you forward with great speed.] Cain could not be happier with the Wave Artifact. Even if the Light Bootscked an offensive ability, he could use Burst in many ways. It would help him during a battle and also improve his survival skills. Taking advantage of his resting, Cain called for the system to show him his current Destiny Force. [Destiny Force: 0.2] As soon as he saw those numbers, Cain frowned. ¡®Apex, didn¡¯t you say that I could steal destiny by killing others. Why did I obtain nothing from the Abyssal Demons and the Hell Devil I killed?¡¯ Cain was sure there was no difference between races for the Absolute Life Form System, so he did not believe that only humans could work regarding stealing. ¡°Brat, when ites to stealing someone¡¯s destiny, there are two points to consider. The might of their destiny and how high is yourspared to theirs. If your destiny is much higher than the ones you kill, you will get nothing no matter how much you ughter. The reason you get nothing from those inside the Military Academy Secret Trial is simple. Just what kind of destiny could those Abyssal Demons and Hell Devil have?¡± Cain immediately understood Apex¡¯s words. Every member of the Dark Races inside the Secret Military Trial was bound to die, so their destiny was basically zero. Chapter 24 Chapter 24: Atrox Immortus Race Cain spent the next couple of weeks hunting Wave Beasts and faced two Hell Devils during that time. All the Dark Races¡¯ warriors he found were part of the Infernus Daemon Race, which told Cain that those warriors were packed together ording to their races. He also detected humans multiple times but avoided any meeting. ¡®There are less than two weeks until the trial is over. I will keep exploring for a couple more days before returning.¡¯ That thought just crossed Cain¡¯s mind when he detected a human¡¯s scent. Coldness emerged in his eyes since he knew the owner. It was the same duo that almost cost him his life. Cain felt his blood burning as his desire to kill grew stronger. Remembering how the duo looked at him still made him feel an endless fury. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ Cain calmed himself and began walking in the opposite direction of the duo. Although he had grown stronger, he was still a Level 1 Wave Warrior, and facing two Level 2 would be suicide. Not long after that, Cain picked up a strong smell of blood. Due to the killing, he was used to it, but the scent was too potent and fresh. ..... Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he hid his aura the best he could as he approached the scent¡¯s origin. It did not take long for him to find the source and what he saw drew an absolute dread in his heart. In the youth¡¯s vision, there was a man with silver armor made of thousands of des beneath a waterfall. There was destruction all around him, and the water reaching his waist was pure red. That color came from the almost twenty bodies lying impaled around him. Most of them were Wave Beasts, but there were three that belonged to cadets! ¡®Atrox Immortus Race!¡¯ Cain remembered the words he read in the Dark Race Compendium about them. As he focused on the cadets impaled in the rocks around the waterfall, his eyes widened with sheer terror since he saw they were still alive. Just like humankind earned its title through their massacre of Gods, the Immortus race gained theirs due to the terror they infused on their enemies. Cain felt his heart beating faster and faster, forcing him to do his best to control himself. There was no way he would face that monster, but still, hemanded the system to scan him. [Target scan sessful ¡ª Race: Atrox Immortus Race Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 3 Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.75 Agility: 0.69 Vitality: 0.19 Astral Wave: 0.66 ¡ª Note: Target¡¯s vitality is in a state of severe disarray. There is a foreign object hidden inside his body] Absolute shock appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw those stats. He could not believe that the soldiers had let a Level 3 Wave Warrior inside the Military Academy Secret Trial, even worse, one of the Atrox Immortus Race! The fact that the Atrox¡¯s vitality was in disarray meant nothing for Cain as he knew that if they were to fight, he would die beforending even a single blow. Without second thoughts, Cain slowly made his way out of the vicinity. He had moved for less than one hundred meters when it happened. ¡°Eeeeee!¡± The sound of a screech made Cain¡¯s entire body tremble. He turned to the side and saw a Wave Beast with the form of a hawk looking at him. The Wave Beast was outside his [Basic Scan Force Field] range, and Cain failed to pick up the scent because he focused solely on the Atrox. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about the Wave Beast. What mattered to him was that he felt two eyes focusing in his direction, making his instinct scream like crazy. ¡°Eeeeee!¡± The Wave Beast screeched again as it lunged toward Cain, but the youth¡¯s boot glowed before he shed away like a lightning bolt. ¡°?AHHHHHHH!¡± Less than three secondster, Cain heard that horrible scream of pain, making his blood run cold, pushing him to run even faster. He was burning his Astral Wave like a madman and constantly activating his Light Boots¡¯ ability. ¡°That man already discovered your presence. After he finishes with the Wave Beast, he wille for you. Running will not help since he is several times faster than you. You should think of something quick, brat, or else you will die.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice and knew he needed to think fast, but there was a problem. He could usually react to a dangerous situation very fast, but right now, fear clouded his mind. What he saw near the waterfall terrified him, and the idea that it could happen to him affected his reasoning. Luckily for Cain, the System Spirit seemed to have recognized his plight and decided to give him a hand. ¡°Members of the Atrox Immortus Race are inclined to inflict intense pain on their opponents. That Wave Beasts will buy you a few seconds, but if you want a chance, you need to give him a prey he wants as much as you.¡± A cold light crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he heard those words and knew what kind of prey could give him enough time. ¡®Other humans.¡¯ If he guided the Atrox toward another cadet, Cain could obtain enough time to escape. Just like when he decided to kill for the first time, uncertainty appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes, and just like back then, he remembered his father¡¯s words. ¡°What is the point of surviving if you do it full of regret!¡± Cain yelled those words. He did it to reaffirm his heart, as he would never take that path. ¡°Hahaha, well done brat. You are right. People willing to sacrifice the weak and innocent so they can prolong their disgusting lives are worse than garbage!¡± Apex¡¯s voice was full of thrill, but viciousness appeared as he continued. ¡°However, not everybody here is innocent.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard that, and there was no hesitation in them this time. He focused on his sense of smell and found the scent he was looking for. He made a sharp turn to the left and ran with everything he had. The muscles on his legs were burning, but he did not care and kept pushing harder. Suddenly, a sense of absolute doom assaulted Cain. He felt a presence about to reach his back. Just as fear was about to freeze his mind, his eyes glowed with red light. Cain felt all the fear vanish, and his mind suddenly heightened, making everything around him move extremely slowly, and mobilizing his Astral Wave became several times easier. He did not know what happened, but that did not matter, as he found a way to survive. He arched his body and turned around as the matrix in the Kic Gauntlets shone. By the time he had fully turned, a fist was about tond on his head, but Cain smiled since his attacknded first. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bones breaking echoed through the forest as the Atrox received a double Kic st right in the chest. The Atrox puked blood before being sent flying away, piercing through a tree on his path! Cain did not resist the recoil and instead used it to propel his body away. His mind returned to normal, but there was no time for questions as he continued running. That attack harmed the Atrox, but Cain knew it would only buy him a few moments, nothing more. Luckily, that was all Cain needed, as after jumping past a small river, he found the ones he was looking for. Nira and James were surprised to see Cain appear out of nowhere. Before the duo could react, the youth only showed a cold smile and used his Light Boots to sh away. ¡°That trash got another Wave Artifact!¡± James¡¯ eyes showed his greed, as did Nira. ¡°?Boom!¡± However, both froze the next instant as they heard a small crash behind them. The duo turned their heads and saw a three-meter tall man covered in de armor. Chapter 25 Chapter 25: Level Cain heard the sound of cries and explosions behind him but did not look back and just continued running. He did not know how long the Atrox would spend with the duo, so he needed to use this time to get as far away as possible. His Astral Wave finally depleted after five more minutes of running, but he kept going forward despite feeling he would pass out from the exhaustion. An hourter, Cain had finally reached his breaking point, and with thest strengths left in him, he climbed a tree before falling asleep. Ten hourster, Cain¡¯s eyes slowly opened. At first, there was drowsiness, but when the memories of what just happened reached his mind, he almost jumped from the branch and focused his senses. Cain calmed only after ensuring he was alone and there was no one in the vicinity. A smile appeared on his face as he looked at his arms and remembered the blow hended on the Atrox. However, along with that happiness, there was also confusion. Cain did not understand how his mind reached such a heightened state and why his Astral Wave mobilized so smoothly and fast all of a sudden. ¡°Apex?¡± The youth knew that Apex constantly used the [Basic Hacking] to obtain information from the Godyer Humankind Network, so he hoped there would be some insight into his previous state. ..... ¡°Sorry, brat. Although there are some mentions of your state in the Empire Science Academy, the data I have collected is too shallow. I mighte up with an answer after more digging. If I do, you will know.¡± Cain sighed and nodded toward the System Spirit¡¯s words. It seemed he would have to wait. After using some Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts as food and replenishing his Astral Wave, Cain got down from the tree and continued his journey back to the entrance. He did not distract, avoided all fights, and just ran. It took Cain almost one week and a half to race back to the entrance. He was surprised to see many cadets already present, and there was also Vice-Captain Josef standing there. Cain¡¯s appearance drew a lot of attention due to the Wave Artifacts in his arms and legs. Many showed greed, but not even those cadets from Noble Families would dare to do something with Vice-Captain Josef present. Although Cain felt those stares, he did not bother with them. After finding an empty spot to sit down, he began to take Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts to train and eat. Once again, Cain drew attention. Since the cadets all hunted in groups, none of them had Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts left. Some cadets got near Cain to see if they could buy the hearts, but the youth did not even nce at them. He was just too engrossed in his training and had no interest in selling something so beneficial for him. A few dayster, Cain body trembled and felt a rush of strength as his Wave Cloak manifested on its own, growing stronger. Vice-Captain Josef turned toward Cain, and a small smile appeared on his face for a second before returning toward his stoic expression. Cain opened his eyes and could not help but smile as he understood what had just happened. ¡®Level 2!¡¯ The eyes of many nobles focused on him as they saw that. Although they could not be sure, they had deduced that Cain entered the trial as a newly advanced Level 1 Wave Warrior. So, for him to advance so fast, his Wave Talent was above Tier 3. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about the gazes of the cadets and immediatelymanded the system to scan him. ¡®System, scan me!¡¯ [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Linage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.19 Agility: 0.25 Vitality: 0.22 Wave: O.21] ¡®Awesome!¡¯ Cain was thrilled with his advance and improved stats. ¡®Had I been this strong at the start of the trial, my gains would have been much higher.¡¯ Cain did not linger too much on those thoughts since they did not matter. He closed his eyes and continued training. While the feeling of strength was great, he did not forget the immense might of the Atrox and how close he came to losing his life. After a few days, a metallic sound woke Cain out of his training, and he saw how the gates out of the Danger Zone were opening, and many soldiers crossed it. Most of the cadets were already here, and soldiers would explore the Danger Zone to catch the Wave Beasts and warriors of the Dark Races still alive, and they would also pick up the corpses of the dead cadets. Cain stood up with a smile on his face. He had grown a lot in this trial, both in body and mind. Just as he was about to reach the open gates, he heard a voice that shocked him. ¡°YOU!¡± That voice belonged to someone Cain was sure was dead. He turned around and saw Nira¡¯s frail figure. Large wounds were all over her body, and her right arm was gone. ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Chapter 26 Chapter 26: Atone for my sins Nira¡¯s pitiful figure did not just call Cain¡¯s attention, as everybody from the cadets to the soldiers on their way to explore the Danger Zone, and even Vice-Captain Josef turned to her. The first one to walk toward Nira was a handsome young man with pale skin, dark hair, and yellow eyes. Despite his somewhat thin appearance, there was a powerful aura around him. He was not alone as a group of nine cadets followed behind him. Most were nobles, but at least two came from a humbler background. ¡°What happened, Lady Nira.¡± The man¡¯s voice was soft yet possessed a powerful sense of authority. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that pale youth. He had already scanned him, and after the red-eyed man, he was the strongest of this batch of cadets. Unlike Cain¡¯s cautious gaze, Nira¡¯s eyes glowed with happiness as she saw that pale youth. However, that happiness vanished as soon as she focused again on Cain. That was visible to all, and clearly, there was a story between them. ..... ¡°It is all that man¡¯s fault. He led an Atrox toward James and me. He did not even give us a warning before running away, leaving us to face that monster on our own.¡± Nira began sobbing before throwing herself toward the pale youth¡¯s chest. Still, that did not mean she would stop speaking. ¡°We only met once, but he left after we refused to take him as part of our team. How could we have imagined that he would be so spiteful to do such a thing? Poor James used all his strength to give me a few seconds to escape. He is now...¡± Nira began to cry at that moment. Although she did not finish her sentence, everybody could imagine James¡¯ fate. Cain¡¯s eyes grew incredibly cold as he heard Nira¡¯s words. It was alright if she told everybody about him guiding the Atrox to them. He felt no regret or shame for his actions, but her lies made him furious. ¡°I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken. You use fellow humans as a shield against members of the Dark Races. There can be nothing more despicable than that. How do you n to atone for your sins?¡± Zamir¡¯s face carried a sense of rightful indignation, making all the other cadets look at him as some sort of hero. Cain froze for a moment as he heard Zamir¡¯s words. This one demanded that he atone for his sins, dering him guilty without even bothering to listen to his side of the story. The other nobles remained silent, but it was clear with whom they would side. As for the fewmoners present, they all stick with their groups. Vice-Captain Josef saw all this and did not interfere. Still, his eyes had a profound light as he waited for everything to y out. Cain could exin everything that happened with the duo. How Nira and James ambushed him when he fought a Hell Devil and almost killed him. The [A.I. Chip Module] recorded everything through the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] tool. Nevertheless, as Cain saw all the scornful stares the other cadets gave him, he knew it would be futile. ¡®They have already found me guilty. No matter what I say, even if I show definite proof of Nira¡¯s wrongdoing, they would just twist the truth and turn it against me.¡¯ As realization reached his mind, all the growing doubt and fear in his heart vanished, and Cain stared back at all those cadets with nothing but calm in his eyes. Zamir¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that look. He secretly wanted Cain to rebel and yell at them, allowing him to disy his diplomatic skills to all those watching, but things didn¡¯t go his way. ¡°Victor, go and arrest him,¡± Zamir spoke to a cadet in the back of his group. The one that received themand was a tall youth, almost one head higher than the others, withmoner clothes. Despite his size, he was among the weakest as he was still a Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior. ¡°I?¡± Victor unconsciously shook his head as he heard thatmand. Cain was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior. How could he possibly handle someone like that? Of course, the tall youth did not dare to refute. He knew very well what Zamir was capable of. ¡°You are carrying out my orders. Anyone that goes against them is my enemy. Do it, and you might get his boots.¡± Zamir did not hide his words and made sure everybody heard them. He disyed his managing skills and how those who followed him could benefit, even if they weremoners. As soon as the tall Victor heard those words, all his reluctance was pushed away by greed. He almost ran toward Cain, fearing someone else would take his job. As he was about to grab Cain, a nasty smile appeared on his face. The fact both came from a simr background did not matter, as the only thing in his mind right now were the boots. He was sure that this one would not dare to resist after Zamir¡¯s words. The moment Victor put his hand over Cain¡¯s shoulder, his entire body froze as he saw two cold eyes that seemed capable of piercing his soul. Before Victor could do anything, Cain grabbed his head and sted him against the ground. That scene shocked everybody, and before they could even process it, Cain stamped Victor¡¯s chest, making this one puke blood, before unleashing his Wave Cloak. ¡°You want me to atone for my sins? Make me!¡± Cain spoke those words and put more pressure on Victor¡¯s chest. Cain¡¯s savagery shocked everybody. Only Vice-Captain Josef could see the calmness behind those actions. Had Cain truly lost control, he would activate his Wave Cloak before stomping on Victor¡¯s chest, which would have resulted in the death of this one. Zamir was taken back by the sudden events, and things only grew worse as he saw how all the cadets turned toward him for guidance. Everything went smoothly up to this point, but now that an unexpected change had urred, he did not know what to do. Just like one would expect from someone so young and inexperienced as Zamir, he chose violence in the first setback. Unfortunately for Zamir, Cain spoke before he could do anything. ¡°Take one step forward, and I shatter his ribcage.¡± Cain put even more pressure on Victor¡¯s chest, making agony appear on this one¡¯s face. ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t care about the fate of the man following your orders, go ahead.¡± Cain knew that he could not defeat Zamir in a physical contest, so he targeted this one¡¯s ego and reputation. He hit the right spot since Zamir froze and dared not move a single step. The other nobles looked at the soldiers in the nearby area, but none of them dared to move without Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s orders. Now that Cain had handled the masses, he took a deep breath and was about to talk to Vice-Captain Josef. There was no point in speaking with the other cadets, and he no longer cared about their opinion. Cain had just opened his mouth when his eyes narrowed, and he focused on the trees, only to see the red-eyed youth emerge from them. Large wounds on the red-eyed youth¡¯s body gave everybody an idea of the battles he endured. The worst injuries were a deep cut on his right leg and an ugly bruise on his right shoulder that indicated broken bones. The tense atmosphere shattered when the red-eyed youth appeared due to the shock that assaulted everybody when they saw the body he dragged. It was an Atrox. Chapter 27 Chapter 27: Levi The young man with red eyes resembled a mighty hero, standing there with a stoic expression on his face and the body of an Atrox in his hand. Cain was even more shocked than the others as he recognized the Atrox. It was exactly the one at Level 3 that almost killed him. Zamir¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the red-eyed youth. He had stood away from this one before as he enjoyed being the center of attention, but now he smiled. The situation was out of his control, but he could not just back down, so Zamir chose to rely on the red-eyed youth¡¯s momentum to handle the situation and pressure Cain into submission. ¡°Brother, it is good that you are here. The situation might seem strange, but what happened...¡± Zamir had just started speaking when the red-eyed youth stopped him. ¡°First of all, don¡¯t call me brother. And second, I heard all of it. Your yelling was hard to ignore.¡± That short exchange enraged Zamir. He was being polite, and yet the red-eyed youth practically insulted him. Had anyone else done that, he would teach them a lesson, but things were not so simple this time. ..... The red-eyed youth calmly walked toward Cain while dragging the Atrox¡¯s body. His face showed nothing, and after Zamir¡¯s fiasco, none of the nobles dared to talk to him. Cain¡¯s breath slowly as he prepared to handle anything. The red-eyed youth was undoubtedly more powerful than him, but that did not mean he would just give up. The distance between the two reduced until they were five meters apart. That length was nothing for Level 2 Astral Wave Warriors, and silence reigned as everybody waited to see what would happen. ¡°My name is Levi. I know for a fact that you did guide the Atrox toward the duo. Could you tell me why you chose those two specifically?¡± Levi¡¯s words shocked all those present. He assured that Cain did indeed guide the Atrox toward Nira and James, but not only was there no sense of rebuke in his words, he even politely asked for an exnation. ¡°Lord Levi, he did...¡± ¡°Speak to me again, and I will break your jaw.¡± Just like with Zamir, Nira could not finish her sentence because Levi interrupted her. However, the red-eyed youth¡¯s behavior toward her was much colder. Levi did not bother to hide his emotions, and his eyes showed evident disgust as he stared at the woman. Nira was surprised by that. She had never met the red-eyed youth, yet this one clearly had a bad impression of her. Despite her anger, she did not dare to antagonize Levi and kept quiet. Cain was surprised by the sudden events. He had already given up on exining what happened to the other cadets since they would never support him, but since Levi gave him a chance to speak, he took it. ¡°I did guide the Atrox toward them. I needed to use someone to distract that monster, and since they did not have a problem attacking me while I fought a Hell Devil, I chose them.¡± ¡°LIAR!¡± Cain had barely finished speaking when Nira yelled at him. However, before she could continue, she felt Levi¡¯s cold eyes focus on her neck. Levi¡¯s gaze was full of savagery as he stared at Nira, but calm down as he focused on Cain. ¡°Do you have proof that what you say is the truth?¡± Cain nodded toward Levi and sent a file from his [A.I. Chip Module] to the chip of this one. Levi closed his eyes for a moment as he went through the video recorded by Cain that clearly showed Nira and James attacking this one during the fight with the Hell Devil. Once Levi went through the video, he turned toward Nira and sneered. ¡°Hmph. You attacked him before and almost took his life, yet now you are crying because he did something simr to you. I wonder how hypocritical can someone be?¡± Nira froze and saw how the nobles who before looked at her with pity slowly moved away. If Cain had shown the video before, she would have just said it was fake, and the others would have backed her, but no one dared side with her against Levi. She even saw how Zamir let go of her. The pitiful expression on her face vanished, and a poisonous hatred emerged in her eyes. ¡°So what if I use him! He is just a lowlymoner. Die to help someone of a Noble Family like me should be an honor to him. James¡¯ death is all his fault!¡± Everybody was shocked by Nira¡¯s words. Her twisted mentality surprised even the nobles, and all the goodwill they had toward her vanished. Although many of the nobles did indeed seemoners as inferior, none of them would dare to say those words out loud, especially in the military. Commoner made up the bulk of the Imperial Military Force, and many Captains and other higher ranks came from such backgrounds, so Nira¡¯s words severe any path she might have in the military. Many of themoners felt rage at those words, but the most potent killing intent did note from them but from Levi. A burning Astral Wave burst out of the red-eyed youth as he stared at Nira, and without saying a word, he walked toward her. Nira froze as she felt that killing intent and saw Levi approaching. All the nobles had already moved away, and there was no way one of themoners would step up to help her. Luckily for her, someone did intervene, and not even Levi could handle that man. ¡°The Military Academy Secret Trial is over. You are not allowed to harm someone unless it is in self-defense.¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words reached everybody, and they knew things would not escte anymore. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned around and stared at Josef. Unlike the others, there was a calm smile on the man¡¯s face, showing that the youth¡¯s fierce aura caused nothing on him. Nira took a breath of relief after hearing Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words, but when Levi focused on her again, this time with a cold smile, she knew something horrible would happen. ¡°I know he led the Atrox toward you because I had been lurking in the shadows waiting for a moment to attack this Level 3 Wave Warrior. I was honestly surprised by the sudden events, but I adapted and chased while remaining hidden. Meaning that I was also there when the Atrox attacked you and that man named James. Do you want me to show everybody what happened during that battle?¡± Levi¡¯s words confused people as they saw Nira¡¯splexion grow pale. ¡°Please, no.¡± Nira¡¯s plea did not stop Levi. The next second, everybody received an archive through their A.I. Chips. Curiosity made it so that all opened the archive containing a video. In it, the cadets saw how Nira and James fought against the Atrox. At one point, Nira fell to the ground, and James jumped in front of the Atrox to protect her. Instead of showing gratitude, the woman fired a shadow de toward James¡¯ leg. That allowed Nira to run away, certain that someone would be left behind to entertain the Atrox. That is how the video ended. What happenedter, including the battle between Levi and the Atrox, was omitted. The cadets could only assume that James perished and that Levi managed to perform his ambush, allowing him to kill the Atrox. If before the nobles stood away from Nira to not be dragged down with her, now they did it as they could not stand her presence. Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Silver orb Nira did not know what to do. She became an absolute pariah in a second, and no one bothered to hide their scornful looks. ¡°Lord Zamir.¡± Nira attempted to get closer to Zamir, but this one gave him one final look full of disdain and walked away. The woman crumpled to the ground as despair filled her eyes. She was alone, and her life in the military was over before it even started. However, no one cared about her. Those despicable actions and mentality had already pushed bothmoners and nobles away. Zamir walked toward Cain with a smile on his face. There was nothing of the scorn he had shown before. He even gave Levi a polite salute when he got near the duo. ¡°I had been deceived. I hope you can forgive my small mistake, but I could not simply ignore the words of a fellow cadet in her times of need. Anyway, you are a proud warrior, so what do you say if you let go of Victor and we get a fresh start? I am sure that a County¡¯s assistance will greatly help someone like you.¡± When the other cadets, soldiers, and even Vice-Captain Josef heard that, they all gave one meaningful look at the duo. Zamir was smart enough to adapt to the circumstances. He apologized while wisely putting all the me on Nira and even mentioned his County¡¯s assistance, hinting that he could mobilize some of that wealth to help Cain if this one was smart enough. ..... Cain saw Zamir extend his hand, and he knew that if he were to shake it, he would get ess to great opportunities. Of course, that would also mean putting himself beneath the scion. There was a broad smile on Zamir¡¯s face as he was sure that Cain would ept his apology and prove to the others he could handle things without the need for violence. ¡°True friendship is valuable because very few are worthy of it.¡± Those words confused Zamir, but Cain did not care as he was reciting some of his father¡¯s teaching. Cain then stared at Zamir¡¯s palm, and a disgusted expression appeared on his face. ¡°What kind of man would I be if I epted the shallow friendship of someone who a few minutes ago was insulting me.¡± The idea of shaking Zamir¡¯s hand and epting to be part of this one¡¯s group vanished before it appeared. Cain took his foot out of Victor¡¯s chest, finally allowing the poor cadet topse into unconsciousness. He did not do that to quarry favor with Zamir but because he no longer needed to have a hostage. Zamir¡¯s eyes twitched as he saw his hand still extended, yet there was no one to shake it. In all his life, he had never found himself in a situation quite like this one. Even though Zamir¡¯s status was inferior to that of his two older brothers, he was confident that his time in the military would be smooth due to his background. He even dreamed of the moment that his status would rise to the level he could control Jarken County. However, everything went out of control, and whether or not he could recover from this setback was unknown. ¡°You!¡± Zamir yelled as he activated his Wave Cloak and fired a fist toward the one he considered the origin of all his problems, Cain. Cain had predicted that such a thing would happen. That is why he did not deactivate his Wave Cloak. However, a smile appeared on his face as he felt a wind of air reach his back and knew he would not have to act. ¡°Boom.¡± A small st urred as Zamir¡¯s punch shed with Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s palm. All the cadets were surprised to see Vice-Captian Josef move at such striking speed without even needing to activate his Wave Cloak. ¡°I warned you all. None was allowed to harm someone unless it was in legitimized self-defense.¡± ¡°CRACK!¡± The cadets heard Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words before the sound of broken bones echoed. ¡°AHHHH!¡± Zamir yelled in pain while Vice-Captain Josef shattered the bones on his hand. Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s face showed nothing as he kept squeezing, making the sound of shattering bones louder. The scion fell to the ground, and he did his best to stop tears from rolling down his cheeks. ¡°Rules are something we soldiers take very seriously.¡± Vice-Captain Josef spoke to the cadets as he squeezed Zamir¡¯s fist into a bloody mass. He then focused on Nira, and his eyes grew cold. ¡°Had you and James killed Cain, I would have cut your heads after the trial ended. If you think a measly Viscount could have protected you, you are even more stupid than I thought.¡± Nira trembled when she saw those eyes. She had initially thought nothing would happen to her if she broke the rules because of her background. All the nobles adopted a solemn expression as they reconsidered their understanding of the Imperial Military Force. The weight their background carried around here was much smaller than they thought. Vice-Captain Josef finally let go of Zamir¡¯s hand before turning around and walking toward the gate. ¡°Everybody must gather in an orderly fashion outside the Danger Zone in ten minutes.¡± No one dared to disobey Vice-Captian Josef¡¯s words, and they all walked toward the gate. Some nobles helped Zamir, and a fewmoners did the same with Victor. Cain was walking toward the gate when he noticed somethinging toward his chest, and he caught it. His eyes narrowed as he saw a silver orb, simr to the ones he found in the Dark Race¡¯s warriors he killed. ¡°The main reason I managed to defeat the Atrox was the severe lung trauma your attack caused on him. I always pay my debts, so that is yours. We are even.¡± Levi said those words to Cain before walking away. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he found the red-eyed youth extremely odd, but he said nothing and stored the orb before walking toward the gate. Chapter 29 Chapter 29: Copsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking All the cadets gathered outside the Tier 0 Danger Zone and formed orderly following Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s instruction. Even Zamir was not an exception, as the scion was terrified of what would happen if he disobeyed again. Vice-Captain Josef nced at the cadets and nodded as he saw how the eyes of many had lost their original naivety. ¡°Normally, the first three months in the Imperial Military Academy involve an intense program of martial arts, physical exercise, and Wave Cultivation, but you took the route of the secret trial. However, from now on, you will be together with the rest of the cadets. You will only have three sses for the next three months. They are Military Tactics, Dark Race Assassination, and Wave Mastery. The schedule and other misceneous information should have already reached your A.I. Chips.¡± Seeing how Vice-Captain Josef made a slight pause, the cadets eded their A.I. Chips and saw all that information. ¡°Now, you have ess to the Imperial Military Academy Network. You can find our armory, stores, missions, and many other things in it. You can also use it to monitor your Imperial Military Credits.¡± Josef paused again. He even signaled the cadets to enter the Imperial Military Academy Network this time. Cain was excited thinking about all the treasures that the Imperial Military Academy Network might have and immediately essed it. He wanted to head into the stores directly, but a message appeared when he entered thework. [Wee Cadet Cain Laurifer to the Imperial Military Academy Network. Please select a code name that will work as your online I.D.] ..... Cain frowned as he heard that message. There was no real problem with it, but what bothered him was that he had always sucked at creating names. It was only after almost a minute of contemtion that Cain¡¯s eyes glowed as a name came to his mind, one he was sure was awesome. ¡®Saint of Killers.¡¯ As soon as Cain chose that name, the robotic voice appeared again in his mind. [Wee, Saint of Killers, to the Imperial Military Academy Network. ¡ª Primary Interface: -Personal Information -sses -Stores -Missions ¡ª Imperial Military Credits: 282] Cain took a moment to review the information in the Imperial Military Academy Network. After seeing the Wave Artifacts, he was surprised by their variety and price. The military credits obtained by killing all those Wave Beasts and Dark Race Warriors in the Military Academy Secret Military Trial were multiplied by a factor of ten, meaning what he gained in those three months of killing was just 28.2. And the cheapest Wave Artifact that Cain could find in the stores was worth thirty Imperial Military Credits. Out of curiosity, he looked for his Kic Gauntlets. To his shock, they were worth 950 Imperial Military Credits! To buy them through the store, Cain would have to kill thirty times the amount of Dark Race Wave Warriors he did inside the Military Academy Secret Trail. ¡®No wondermoners find it almost impossible to get Wave Artifacts. They are incredibly expensive.¡¯ ¡°Brat, why did you choose the word Saint for your I.D.?¡± Apex¡¯s voice woke Cain up from his thoughts, and that question made him frown. ¡®Can¡¯t you read my thoughts?¡¯ ¡°I can, but there is a moment when an ideaes into birth, and even I can not reach that level of precognition. I want to know what impulsed or inspired you to use that word. Was it a feeling or something else?¡± Cain felt a level of seriousness in Apex¡¯s words that confused him greatly. The Absolute Life Form System seemed to be a miracle of the universe, and as the System Spirit, Apex was also a unique entity. For him to act this way due to a word was strange. Although Cain was curious about the reason behind Apex¡¯s reaction, he was sure the System Spirit would not reveal that information. So, he chose just to tell the reason. ¡®Honestly, it just sounded cool.¡¯ ¡°I see.¡± Apex only said that before remaining silent, leaving Cain full of questions. Cain kept exploring the Imperial Military Academy Network when suddenly, a new message appeared. [Saint of Killer, upload all the documentation regarding your killing inside the Military Academy Secret Trial.] Cain followed the instructions, uploading all the videos and pictures to the Imperial Military Academy Network. Of course, he only showed the final blow. There was no need to reveal any more of his abilities. The [A.I. Chip Module] uploaded the videos extremely fast, and less than a minuteter, Cain saw a new section appear in the Imperial Military Academy Network. [Copsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking] Cain selected it, and a screen with several names appeared. [Copsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking: -1. Blood Inferno (864) -2. Ice Lotus (856) ... -9. Saint of Killers (282) -10. Beasts Master (264)] Cain was a little surprised to see his name in the ranking, but after some thought, it made sense. Unlike the others, he did not have to share his Imperial Military Credits, and thanks to his Wave Artifacts and the [A.I. Chip Module], his killing speed was pretty fast. Vice-Captain Josef saw that everybody had enough time to go through the Imperial Military Academy Network and watch the Copsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking. ¡°All of you should have already seen the Copsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking. The cadets with the ten highest umtions of Imperial Military Credits are in it. Each month, those in the ranking will get 500 Imperial Military Credits, with the top three getting an additional 500.¡± Desire appeared in all the cadets¡¯ eyes as they heard those words. 500 Imperial Military Credits was a lot, and when they read the name at the N¡ã1 position, they all turned toward Levi. Although their batch of cadets was not the only one taking the Military Academy Secret Trial, they assumed Levi to be Blood Inferno due to the fiery nature of his Astral Wave. Levi felt the gazes of the cadet but showed nothing. He had the strength to back up his position. ¡°You have all the information needed at your disposal for your stay in the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. Use the time to familiarize yourself with the city if you wish. sses will start in two days.¡± Vice-Captain Josef said those final words before turning around and leaving the cadets on their own. Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Fiend Devourer All the cadets had already formed groups among themselves during the Military Academy Secret Trial, so they remained in them. Even thosemoners who were unhappy with how things went inside the trial preferred to stay together. There were only three people that were utterly alone. One of them was Levi, whose powerful and hostile aura kept people away. The other was Nira, who was aplete pariah. And thest one was Cain, who had no intention of making friends with the people who had rallied against him. Cain¡¯s experience with Jonathan had taught him a harsh lesson, and although he did not believe everybody was the same, he would not offer his friendship easily. Since he had nothing to handle with the cadets, Cain read the information regarding his residence and headed to it. He took the chance to explore the surroundings on his way but did not find anything remarkable. It made sense when he got a better understanding of the city. This massive metallic structure built with a Titan Tower at its center was the Lightning Imperial Fort. As for the ce where Cain and the other cadets stay, that was an isted section. The youth were not stuck together with the rest of the army. ..... Cain reached the building where he would stay after almost an hour of walking. It was nothing impressive, and the entrance led directly to a series of elevators. Less than two minutester, Cain reached his apartment. It was very simple, with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Of course, it was a pcepared to his home in the slums. The first thing Cain did was head into his bedroom, where the drone that took his belongings before the trial started was supposed to be. ¡®Good, nothing happened to it.¡¯ A smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he took out the picture of his father. He went to an empty cab and formed a small shrine, simr to the one he had in his house. ¡°I am sorry for spending so many days without showing respect, Sir. However, the Military Academy Secret Trial was not a ce where I could get distracted.¡± After speaking those words, Cain bowed to the altar for five minutes before standing up. Cain went to the bathroom, took a shower, ate some food that was not raw meat, and then copsed in his bed. Those three months inside the trial had forced him to spend every second on high alert, and now that he finally rxed, his mind needed proper rest. It was ten in the morning when Cain finally woke up. He slept for roughly twelve hours, a lot considering his powerful vitality. ¡°Brat, you have rested enough. It is time to focus on your next step.¡± Apex¡¯s words made Cain focused, and a serious expression appeared on his face as he went to the living room and ordered his belongings. ¡°I have five Wave Artifacts. The Kic Gauntlets and Light Boots are very useful for me. The other three use Essence Wave, so I should sell them.¡± Cain had killed five Dark Race¡¯s Wave Warriors inside the Military Academy Secret Trial, two Abyssal Demons, and three Hell Devils. He got his gauntlets and boots from the Abyssal Demons, and from the Hell Devils, he got a sword, dagger, and armguards. ¡°You can directly sell the Wave Artifacts you don¡¯t want to the Imperial Military Force, and you will get fifty percent of their selling price.¡± Cain could not help but frown when he saw that. If he sold them that way, he would lose a lot of Imperial Military Credits. ¡°There is a second path we can take. That is through barter with someone else in Lightning Imperial Fort.¡± ¡°Oh, is that legal?¡± Although the idea of barter interested Cain, he was not willing to risk angering the hegemon that was the Imperial Military Force. He knew that Wave Artifacts were important for the military and did not know what type of market you could find outside of the Imperial Military Force. ¡°We can consider it a gray area. While barter is somewhat shady due to the massive amount of stolen goods moved in that way, we will be fine if we don¡¯t meddle with those highly regted. The most important part is to find a reliable broker in the Godyer Humankind Network, which I already did while you slept.¡± Apex¡¯s exnation handled many of Cain¡¯s worries, and after a moment, he chose to go down that path. The duo soon found someone interested in the dagger and armguards and managed to exchange them for full body armor. As for the Fire Sword, he kept it for the time being. Cain deposited the two Medium Bronze Wave Artifacts in the drone and put in a series of coordinates before letting it out of the building through his window. If everything goes well, it should return in a couple of hours with the armor. After handling that, Cain took out the silver orb that Levi had handed to him. He had made a quick scan and knew it did not contain a Wave Artifact but something else. Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module], and soon a virtual screen appeared in front of him. [Fiend Devourer: Astral Rebirth Path of Power Cultivation Technique. -A total of ten levels. The first nine levels correspond to Astral Wave Warrior Level 1 to Level 9. The tenth level focuses on the advance to Wave Champion. -Allow the user¡¯s digestive system to consume flesh and blood of Dark Race¡¯s Wave Warriors to strengthen the body and extract Wave for cultivation. -If branded, the device will transfer the cultivation technique¡¯s information to the A.I. Chip¡¯s database. The unauthorized distribution of this information is considered treason and punishable by death.] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that information, and in the next second, a smile appeared on his face. Of all the things the silver orb could have contained, a cultivation technique was the best. Chapter 31 Chapter 31: Wave Cultivation Of everything avable in the Imperial Military Academy Network Interface¡¯s stores, the most expensive was not the Wave Artifacts but the techniques, with cultivation techniques reaching a sky-high price. After taking a moment to get over the excitement, Cain went into thework and searched for the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, and the price shocked him. It was worth 3500 Imperial Military Credits. Almost four times more than a High Bronze Wave Artifact like his Kic Gauntlets! Until now, Cain had been using the Soldier Cultivation Technique, which only guided his cultivation up to Level 4. That severely limited him, although, to be fair, going from Level 3 to Level 4 was a significant bottleneck, which would mean the end of most people¡¯s Path of Power. Cain was sure he wanted this new cultivation technique, but just as he was about to brand it and ess its information, he heard Apex¡¯s voice. ¡°Not so fast!¡± Cain froze as he heard Apex¡¯s voice and did not dare to brand the silver orb. ..... ¡°What happened? Is there a hidden threat?¡± As he got over the shock, coldness appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he guessed that Levi had left a trap in the silver orb. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination fly, brat. There is no trap or anything else inside the silver orb. It is just that I want to try something. Wait for a moment.¡± Cain felt waves after waves of electrogenic energy emerge from his hand and enter the silver orb. It went on for five minutes before he heard Apex again. ¡°Ahhh, I guess it would not be this easy.¡± Apex¡¯s words confused Cain, but this one rified things the next second. ¡°I wanted to use [Basic Hacking] to get the information about the cultivation technique without the need to brand it. That way, you could sell itter on. Unfortunately, the [A.I. Chip Module]cks the strength to do it. If your soul force were higher, things might be different.¡± When Cain heard that, he also sighed. Although he knew hacking the silver orb should break some rules, it harmed no one, and no one would find out. If that was the case, why not do it, and get an extra 1750 Imperial Military Credits? ¡°I could use Destiny Force to temporarily improve the might of the [A.I. Chip Module], which should be enough to hack the silver orb. It would only cost three points.¡± Cain smiled for a moment before sighing again. ¡°I only have 0.2 points.¡± ¡°Your understanding of destiny is still too shallow, brat. Check out your Destiny Force.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, and without hesitation, hemanded the system to show him his Destiny Force. [Destiny Force: 16.7] ¡°How did my destiny grow so much!? I did not kill anyone, improve my talent or get a high upgrade in my cultivation.¡± Destiny was too ethereal, and even after Apex¡¯s exnation, Cain still failed to understand it truly. ¡°Brat, you survived the Military Academy Secret Trial, stood firm against all those other cadets drawing the attention of influential people, obtained an excellent cultivation technique, and gained fame through the Copsin Lightning Military Academy Ranking. Something would be wrong with the universe if your destiny did not improve after all that.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as a sh of enlightenment appeared in them. Destiny was much more than just brute power. ¡°Now, do you want to spend three points of Destiny Force to hack the silver orb?¡± There was no hesitation in Cain¡¯s mind as he epted that trade. Although he needed to save Destiny Force to get rid of his bloodline¡¯s w, [Basic Gic Suppression] cost fifty points, so he would rather get the 1750 Imperial Military Credits now. There was no point in saving wealth if he perished before he could use it. ¡°Do it.¡± [Vessel wants to spend three points of Destiny Force to temporarily enhance [A.I. Chip Module]?] The robotic voice of the Absolute Life Form System appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, and as soon as this one nodded, his Destiny Force diminished by three points. The next moment, the electromaic force that emerged from his palm grew exponentially more potent. Apex hacked the silver orb and transferred all the information into Cain¡¯s [A.I. Chip Module]. Cain did not lose time and immediately started analyzing the information. The introduction was somewhat simr to the Soldier Cultivation Technique, but this one was much more detailed and profound. The first rank of Wave Cultivation took the name of Wave Warrior. At this rank, the Body Rebirth Path of Power and Essence Evolution Path of Power follow simr routes. From levels 1 to 3, the Wave Cultivator would draw Life Wave into their Sacred Organs, refine it, and then use it to form meridians. Those meridians will emerge from the Rebirth Heart in the case of those following the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and from the Evolution Core for those that took the Essence Evolution Path of Power. The meridians will epass all the thorax viscera and work as a circtory system for Wave, just like veins and arteries with blood. A Wave Cultivator only needed to supply Life Wave to their Sacred Organs, which would handle the meridians¡¯ formation on their own up to Level 3. However, to advance to Level 4, the Wave Cultivator had to guide the meridians and make it so that they prated inside the bones. That process was incrediblyplicated, and only those with a solid foundation could take it since weak meridians could never achieve that feat. After your meridians have prated the bones, to enter Level 5, you must brach them and make it so that they reach the muscles. Once you enter Level 6, your meridians would have fully pierced your skin, allowing the distribution of your Wave from the Sacred Organ to the outside many times faster. Next came Level 7, which involved branching your meridians again, generating an entirely new set that would originate in your skin and return to your Sacred Organ. At that point, your entire body automatically drew Life Wave from the surroundings, making your recovery speed much faster. At Level 7, a Wave Warrior could try to evolve to the next rank and be a Wave Champion. The amount of power they have is extraordinary, with some achieving supersonic speed. When Cain read thest part, he was shocked. Even the most modest estimate of supersonic speed would mean that someone could move 343 meters per second. The Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique had two more levels for Wave Warrior. You did not need to take them, and entering them was even more challenging than evolving into a Wave Champion, but they would help you solidify your foundation. After increasing his knowledge about cultivation, Cain focused on the uniqueness of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Chapter 32 Chapter 32: I am sorry Cain adopted a meditate position and began to train in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. He would have to start from the first level of the cultivation technique despite being already a Level 2 Wave Warrior. Of course, the process would be much faster since his cultivation was higher. The Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique taught him how to make his meridians wider and thicker, allowing them to contain more Astral Wave and for this one to flow faster. That, of course, tranted into a higher amount of Wave needed for each level, but that is where the uniqueness of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique came into action. It allowed humans to consume flesh and blood from Dark Races¡¯ Wave Warriors and obtained refined Astral or Essence Wave from them. Cain followed the instructions of the cultivation technique and gathered his Astral Wave inside his stomach, making it revolve faster and faster. Once the Astral Wave reached a temperature that made Cain feel his intestine was aze, he took something from his military backpack. ..... He took not a heart but a container where all the blood dripping from them had gathered thanks to the backpack¡¯s special filters. There was no need to use something so packed with Astral Wave like the heart for the first part. Cain felt sick when he first consumed that blood, but that burning Astral Wave purified it. Soon the new energy reached the meridian formed during Level 1, improving them. Other than eating and sleeping, Cain did nothing else until it was time to go to his first ss. He was about to leave when he noticed the drone waiting for him in the corner of his room. ¡®The armor!¡¯ His training had engrossed him so much that he almost forgot about the armor. He opened the drone and found a ck orb almost twicerger than the one containing his Kic Gauntlets. Without hesitation, he essed the information inside the Wave Artifact. [Wave Artifact branded through A.I. Chip Module. Disying information. ¡ª Name: Nullity Armor Grade: High Bronze Details: Artifact meant for Astral Wave Warriors. Able to enhance Wave¡¯s density around the body, improving physical defenses. Active Ability: -Nullity: By consuming significant amounts of Astral Wave, the armor can project a force field capable of nullifying a percentage of the strength behind an attack by Wave Warriors. Attacks with Level 3 battle power would find 85% of their damage nullified. Attacks with Level 5 battle power would find 35% of their damage nullified. Attacks with Level 7 battle power would find 12% of their damage nullified.] Cain smiled as he sent his Astral Wave into the ck orb, making this one melt before reaching his back and forming a metallic structure protecting his spine. That was its inactive state, but it would take less than a second to be ready for battle. It did not take long for Cain to exit his home, and then he followed the instructions through the [A.I. Chip Module] to reach the building where the ss would take ce. The building was an auditorium, and many cadets were already seated. Cain looked around and noticed that many of the cadets that took the Military Academy Secret Trial with him were in the auditorium. There were around two hundred people in total, and there were none that did not manifest a dangerous aura. ¡®I see, so we were divided ording to our skill. I guess it makes sense. After all, it would be pointless for someone who had yet to enter Level 1 Wave Warrior to have the same sses as me.¡¯ He noticed that most people were in groups, but some sat alone. Like in the secret trial, Levi¡¯s aura rejected those around him, and while the cadets nced at him from time to time, none dared to get closer. Cain found an empty seat in an area without many cadets and sat down. He did not think of sitting beside Levi since even if he had a good impression of this one, calling it a friendship would be an overstatement. All of a sudden, Cain noticed an uproar in the auditorium as everybody focused on the entrance. He also did it, and what he saw shocked him. At the entrance stood a beautiful woman. She had a small face, sky-blue eyes, and short white hair. There was not a question in Cain¡¯s mind that the woman was the most gorgeous he had ever seen in his life. ¡®Fuck!¡¯ Cain almost yelled that word as he felt his blood burning. His emotional instability did not just affect him when he was full of wrath. Lust could also do the trick. He rose from his seat so fast that it almost sent it flying away, drawing everybody¡¯s attention. The woman also turned to Cain, and when she saw those eyes full of unrestrained lust, a monstrous coldness appeared on her face. She was not just a pretty face. Anyone who thought that would surely regret it. Cain felt a powerful desire to jump toward the woman, but before taking a step, he bit his tongue with so much strength that blood filled his mouth. The pain allowed Cain to regain his focus, but his previous actions had already made a ruckus. Many men looked at him with mockery, while the women showed disgust. Those gazes reminded Cain of his time in school, but instead of feeling depressed, a smile appeared on his face. ¡®I have grown.¡¯ Unlike in school, he did not ignore those eyes full of disdain. There was no need since they could not affect him. However, Cain soon focused, and a stern expression appeared as he approached the woman. The woman¡¯s coldness did not vanish, and she saw how Cain stopped ten feet away from her. Cain looked at her directly before bowing and shouting so loud that his voice echoed through the entire auditorium. ¡°I am sorry for my rude behavior!¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33: Wave Champion ¡°I am sorry for my rude behavior!¡± Those words echoed through the entire auditorium, and everybody heard them clearly. The one most surprised by those words was the beautiful girl. It was normal for men to lust over her. Even when they did their best to hide it, she always knew it. Of course, once they faced the girl¡¯s cold and indomitable aura, they would shrink and remain silent. Some would apologize when caught, but they always did it in secrecy away from the eyes of the public, and even then, it was clear they had a hidden agenda. Never before had she encountered someone like Cain who would apologize in public and whose words were full of sincerity. There was no hidden meaning, nor was he trying to get closer to her through them. He sincerely regretted his rude behavior and immediately apologized. ..... A wisp of interest appeared in the girl¡¯s eyes as she saw how Cain straightened his body and turned around. Cain apologized to the woman because he was sure being stared at like a piece of meat must have been aggravating. His father always told him that a true man recognized his mistakes and did his best to fix them. After returning to his seat, Cain felt that the eyes of everybody remained in him, and he allowed some of his bloodline¡¯s wildness to emerge. ¡°What the fuck are you looking at!?¡± Those imposing words and Cain¡¯s savagery made most cadets look away. Of course, some powerful scions remained focused on him, like Zamir, but Cain did not back down. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± A burst ofughter broke the tense atmosphere in the auditorium, and everybody saw how Levi stood up from his seat and approached Cain. ¡°Is this seat taken?¡± Cain was slightly surprised by Levi¡¯s actions, but since there was no reason to say no, he just shook his head. Levi sat down and stretched his hand toward Cain, to which this one responded, and they shook them. The duo seemed about to speak when something that drew surprise in the entire auditorium happened. The duo felt how the cadets¡¯ gazes focused on them, but after a moment, they saw it was actually on the beautiful girl that had just sat at Cain¡¯s left. She did not say a word and just sat there,pletely ignoring the stares of the rest of the cadets. However, she did look at Cain and Levi after a moment. ¡°What, do you two have a problem with me sitting here?¡± Cain and Levi immediately shook their heads. They had no reason to reject her. It was just that they were surprised since they had never spoken before and were sure that the actions of the first had offended her. Before any more chatter ormotion could happen in the auditorium, everybody saw a skinny middle-aged man approach the podium. As soon as he did, a giant virtual screen appeared above him. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that middle-aged man. He could feel an immense power inside that skinny body, much greater than his. ¡°My name is Wink, and I will be your teacher for Wave Mastery. I will start with some basics and exin the main difference between those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and the Essence Evolution Path of Power.¡± Wink had just finished speaking when a noble youth began to shout. ¡°What do you think you are doing? We all took private lessons beforeing here and learned about the basics. What is the point of wasting time on them!?¡± Many other cadets surrounded the scion that shouted, and there was a smug smile on his face. Clearly, he wanted to draw attention, but things didn¡¯t go as he expected. Wink did not show anger, nor did he raise his voice. He only lifted a finger and aimed at the scion. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The scion began to cry the next second, as a bloody hole appeared on his shoulder. Terror, shock, and awe appeared in the eyes of all the cadets as they saw that, or more urately, they did not see it. None of the cadets saw the attack. Their eyes only perceived Wink pointing at the scion¡¯s shoulder before a bloody hole appeared in it. Their hearts grew cold as they imagined what would have happened if the middle-aged man had pointed at the youth¡¯s head. Cain was equally shocked as the other cadets, but he saw how Levi and the cold beauty by his side reacted differently. Levi saw the curiosity in Cain¡¯s eyes and sent a message through his A.I. Chip. [User Levi Inferno wants to establish amunication channel. Does Vessel ept?] Cain immediately epted, and the next second, he heard Levi¡¯s voice in his mind through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°For someone to urately teach Wave Warriors about Wave Mastery, that person could not be in the same rank.¡± Although Levi did not say the words, Cain understood their meaning, and a solemn expression appeared on his face as he stared at Wink. That skinny middle-aged man was a monster that could live for hundreds of years and tear down Old World¡¯s skyscrapers with his bare hands. The reason no one saw that attack was simple. It moved faster than sound. If that middle-aged man wanted, he could kill anyone here with a wave of his hand. ¡®?A Wave Champion!¡¯ Chapter 34 Chapter 34: Four Wave Arts ¡°Those who interrupt me will be disciplined. There will be time for questions at the end of the ss. Until then, remain quiet.¡± Wink spoke with azy voice, but no one dared to utter a single word in his presence. Cain¡¯s eyes could not help but glow as he saw the change in the auditorium. That disy of power was better than any speech. ¡°Now, the basics about the Astral Rebirth Path and Essence Evolution Path of Power.¡± The virtual screen above Wink showed two identical humanoid figures. However, one had Wave emerging from his Rebirth Heart while the other emerged from the Evolution Core. ¡°Astral Wave is known for its brute power and the incredible degree to which it can temper the mortal body. It not only improves your offense and defense but also grants immense stamina and regenerations abilities.¡± The virtual screen focused on the man with a dark purple aura. Everybody saw simtions where this one destroyed huge buildings with his hands and resisted the might of tornadoes and other natural disasters with nothing but his bare body. ¡°Those following this path can fight for much longer than their Essence Evolution counterparts. Wounds that could prove deadly for an Essence Wave Warrior would only leave the Astral Wave Warrior temporarily incapacitated. ..... The Empire Science Academy stated that Astral Wave Cultivators are stronger than Essence Wave Cultivators. Of course, that is during the battlefield, and in a one-on-one battle, things are not so simple.¡± Next, the virtual screen focused on the humanoid with the sky-blue aura. ¡°People who follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power have an easier path than those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. For starters, our talent doesn¡¯t need to depend on our Lineage. We can constantly improve it through several methods, the simplest being the perception and understanding of the elements and natural phenomena.¡± On the virtual screen, the cadets saw how the humanoid stood in the center of a wildfire, and soon, his Essence Wave began to burn with the same intensity while at the same time growing mightier. ¡°Essence Wavecks the physical enhancement and vitality of Astral Wave, but it improves our connection with the Wave in its raw state, allowing us toprehend it. Not to mention that Essence Wave can mutate into different powers and elements with little effort, unlike Astral Wave. There is also the fact that Essence Wave Cultivation can use it to fire long-distance attacks, something highlyplex for Astral Wave Cultivators.¡± That information was something almost every present already knew but was new for Cain. Both Paths of Power had unique qualities, and depending on how you use them, it would determine the battle¡¯s oue. Thinking that an Astral Wave Warrior could defeat an Essence Wave Warrior as long as they were at the same level was extremely naive. Cian saw how the virtual screen above Wink changed for the second time, and now, the humanoids began to fight. They stood one hundred meters apart. When the battle started, the Essence Wave Cultivator immediately began to shoot fireballs while keeping the distance between him and the opponent. The Essence Wave Cultivator initially restrained the Astral Wave Cultivator, forcing this one to dodge the fireballs while shrinking the distance. It was hard at the beginning, and some attacksnded, leaving ugly burn wounds. The Astral Wave Cultivator persevered and reduced the distance to less than three meters. That was nothing, and he could send a blow with ease. However, the Essence Wave Cultivator stumped the ground at thest second, generating arge wall of fire in front of him that rose for more than ten meters. Unfortunately for the Essence Wave Cultivator, the Astral Wave Cultivator lunged past the wall, granting him horrible injuries but also giving him the chance tond a devastating blow. The Essence Wave Cultivator could do nothing, and a punch carrying a horrible powernded square on his chest, sending him flying away while puking blood. ¡°As you can see, the battle¡¯s oue was not determined by their Path of Power but by their tenacity. Had the Astral Wave Cultivator not dared to cross the wall of fire, the Essence Wave Cultivator would have had time to put distance between them and give the final blow.¡± Wink gave the ss a moment to process his words before carrying on. ¡°For those that follow the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, you must keep in your mind the word foundation. As for those that follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power, remember that the key to advance is your perception.¡± After exining the basics, Wink again modified the virtual screen, and four humanoids appeared this time. ¡°Now I will exin the Four Wave Arts. You have alreadye in contact with these arts, and they will apany you forever. Even god-like life forms like Titan must train them. I am talking about Wave Cloak, Wave Burst, Wave Focus, and Wave Transmutation.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35: Wave Cloak Cain¡¯s attention reached a peak as he heard Wink¡¯s description. He already practiced Wave Cloak and Wave Burst in the Military Academy Secret Trial, but his understanding of Wave Focus and Wave Transmutation was almost null. ¡°First, I will start with Wave Cloak. You all understand it as releasing our Wave out of our Sacred Organs before forming a protective mantle around our bodies. Practically everybody who bes a Level 1 Wave Warrior knows how to deploy this art. ording to the Empire Science Academy, the reason for that is a gically specifiedtent memory, simr to the one in birds that allow them to fly.¡± Many in the auditorium could not help but open their eyes as they heard that information. Thest part regarding the gic factor was something some scions from lower Nobles Families were unaware of. The virtual screen above Wink focused on one humanoid, who unleashed Wave Cloak. It manifested as a ming colorless aura. ¡°First of all, the most basic and primordial training of Wave Cloak is to make it evenly distributed around the body and condense it. That is called Synergy Flow.¡± As soon as Wink spoke those words, the Wave Cloak in the humanoid stopped its erratic movements. Slowly, it began to rotate evenly around the body while condensing, reducing its length. ¡°In that state, not only are our Wave defensive capabilities improved, but the amount we needed to maintain Wave Cloak active is lesser, allowing us to fight for more time.¡± ..... After those words, the screen above Wink showed a melee battle between a humanoid that mastered Synergy Flow and one that did not. The victor was obvious, but the fact that the first overwhelmed the other surprised many. ¡°The second training of Wave Cloak is called Free Flow. It allows our Wave to lose its defined state, letting it flow freely. This exercise enables us to push our Wave to its limits, slowly improving its quantity and thickness, despite not having improved our cultivation. Think of it as body training, when once the muscle is pushed to the limit and allowed to recover, it will growrger despite the number of muscle fibers not changing.¡± Unlike before, the screen this time did not change, and everybody saw how Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak manifested. It was sky-blue, and the amount of Essence Wave in it was roughly that of a Level 4 Wave Warrior. It was clear that the middle-aged man was not showing his true power. The one thing that drew the cadets¡¯ attention was how dense and evenly distributed the Essence Wave was. ¡°It is better to show it in person if you want to understand the battle use of Free Flow.¡± Wink said nothing else, and his Wave Cloak lost its defined state, transforming into a fog that covered the entire auditorium. All the cadets frowned since the Essence Wave in that fog state exerted tremendous pressure on them. Simr to the pressure of being at the bottom of a river. Their bodies felt incredibly ufortable, and things only worsened as Wink began unleashing more of his Essence Wave. Soon it reached the point where the cadets had to trigger their Wave Cloak to resist, and that was all they could do. Fighting in that state was impossible. Some of the cadets failed to control their nausea and puked. Luckily small drones woulde and pick it up as soon as it happened. Wink retracted his Essence Wave after a minute. By then, all the cadets had cold sweat running through their backs. They were more than two hundred so-called geniuses, but Wink could have killed them without moving a muscle. That showed the power of a Wave Champion and the might of Free Flow. ¡°Free Flow is also an exercise all of you should master. Not only will it improve your Wave, but its use on the battlefield and against crowds is phenomenal.¡± Wink gave the cadets a few minutes to rest as he saw that some almost fell unconscious. Had he continued for longer, there was a good chance he would have killed them. After ten minutes and seeing that most cadets regained their focus, Wink continued. ¡°Now, I will teach you Directed Flow for the final Wave Cloak exercise. Its essence is enshrouding an object with your Wave, enhancing its offensive and defensive capabilities. Due to its malleability, Essence Wave is much more suitable for it. This ability is key in using Essence Wave Artifacts like swords and daggers, so all Essence Wave Warriors must pay special attention to this exercise. Astral Wave Warriors can not neglect it. Directed Flow has excellent uses, and if you grasp it, there is nothing that would stop you from using melee Wave Artifacts. Of course, you should first master a weapon to the same level as your arms, or else there would be no point in it.¡± The virtual screen above Wink focused on the humanoid with the Wave Cloak again, and everybody saw how a sword appeared in his hand. Slowly the Wave Cloak that was limited to his body expanded to the sword. Next, the virtual screen saw how two humanoids carrying swords fought. One of them used Directed Flow while the other did not. The weapon d in Wave broke the other in less than ten strikes. Wink saw how the might of Directed Flow failed to impress the ss as Free Flow did, so he waved his hand, and a small steel marble appeared in it. He poured his Essence Wave into the steel marble before throwing it against a wall. ¡°BOOM!¡± An explosion that resembled that of a tank cannon echoed through the room. The steel marble encrusted itself in the wall, and massive cracks appeared around it. ¡°If you can pour enough Wave in an object, even a simple steel marble couldpare with a cannonball.¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36: 1000% Wave Burst ¡°As you can see, we Essence Wave Cultivators can achieve the same brute destructive might that Astral Wave Cultivators.¡± When Wink spoke those words, many cadets could not help but show a smile on their faces. They chose the Essence Evolution Path of Power but were still youths, so the idea of unleashing destructive power made their blood burn. ¡°Of course, if an Astral Wave Cultivator managed to master Directed Flow to my same level and injected the same amount of Wave into that steel ball, that person would have pierced the wall. After all, they would havebined their physical might plus the enhanced object.¡± Now it was the time for the other cadets to show smiles. They all understand that to match an Essence Wave Cultivator in Directed Flow was incredibly difficult, but it did not stop them from adopting cocky attitudes. ¡°Now, those are the three basic exercises of Wave Cloak that you all shall practice. Every time you raise the amount of your Wave, you will have to perfect them again, meaning they will apany you forever on your paths of power.¡± Wink gave a couple of minutes for the entire ss to digest the information he had just passed them before the virtual screen above him focused on the second humanoid. ¡°Now I will exin Wave Burst.¡± Unlike when Wink began with Wave Cloak, this time, there was not a single cadet that did not pay full attention to his words from the beginning. ..... ¡°Now, the principle behind Wave Burst is straightforward, you improve the output of Wave, enhancing your Wave Cloak and all that came with it.¡± Everybody saw how the humanoid in the virtual screen deployed Wave Cloak. On the humanoid right side, the cadets also saw a bar signaling the amount of Wave, which was decreasing steadily. Next, the humanoid used Wave Burst to increase the amount of Wave leaving the Sacred Organ. That made the Wave Cloak almost double in size, but the rate at which it depleted nearly tripled. ¡°Wave Burst improves not only our physical might but also the speed at which we can deploy spells and their power. However, as all of you that have used it should know, there are drawbacks.¡± The virtual image on the screen focused on the edge of the bursting Wave Cloak, and the cadets saw how some Wave left and dispersed. ¡°During Wave Burst, it is harder to control our Wave, increasing its depletion due to the higher output and our inability to keep it inside our Wave Cloak.¡± Wink¡¯s words made it clear to everybody why the amount of Wave in the humanoid reduced so fast. All the cadets had used Wave Burst, but none ever felt Wave loss like that. ¡°There is also the physical stress put on our bodies. Our body automatically regtes the might of our Wave Cloak when we unleash it, so it doesn¡¯t exert more pressure than it can safely handle. During Wave Burst, we ignore that limitation, affecting our stamina.¡± Cain could not help but nod as he heard that exnation. He remembered how tired it felt to use Wave Burst and the soreness of his muscles. ¡°Now that I exined the drawbacks of Wave Burst, I will demonstrate its might.¡± Those words pushed the cadets¡¯ attention to their peak. Wink¡¯s demonstrations were visually striking, and they were sure this one would not be different. A Wave Cloak covered Wink¡¯s body, and the amount in it was not impressive at all. ¡°I regted the Wave in my body to be around the same as a newly advanced Level 3 Wave Warrior. Now I will show you 200% Wave Burst.¡± Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak improved its power. It was still far from being shocking, but what happened next showed everybody how mighty Wave Burst was. ¡°400%¡± As soon as Wink uttered those words, the Wave Cloak grew even mightier, and it was far from over. ¡°600%¡± The air inside the auditorium began to move chaotically due to the might of Wink¡¯s bursting Wave Cloak. ¡°800%¡± Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak was so powerful that the tform beneath his feet was trembling. ¡°I have currently unleashed a Wave Cloak that could match that of a Level 4 Wave Warrior who themselves is using a basic Wave Burst.¡± That statement made the eyes of the cadets show some level of shock. Everybody already knew that from Level 3 to Level 4, there was a significant watershed that many could not pass. Wink saw how the entire ss was now full of expectation, and he did not disappoint. ¡°1000%!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± A minor shock wave urred when Wink unleashed 1000% Wave Burst, and cracks appeared beneath his feet. ¡°In this state, I have the power to kill a newly advanced Level 4 Wave Warrior incapable of deploying 200% Wave Burst in a direct battle.¡± Although it would not be inconceivable for a Level 3 Wave Warrior to defeat someone at Level 4, that was if they used sneak attacks and the likes. Winning in a direct battle was impossible. Or at least that was what Cain thought until he saw the might that 1000% Wave Burst could unleash. ¡°The time a Level 3 Wave Warrior could fight in 1000% Wave Burst was extremely short, not to mention their bodies would crumble unless they were training some high-grade auxiliary technique. I must also say how hard it is to surpass 400% Wave Burst. Using the full power of my Wave Cloak, I can barely reach 350% Wave Burst.¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37: Wave Focus Wink gave the ss a few minutes to assimte the new information before carrying on. ¡°Due to the Astral Rebirth Path of Power¡¯s Sacred Organ being the heart, which increases its functions ording to the body¡¯s requirement on its own, it is easier for Astral Wave Cultivator to master Wave Burst.¡± Wink¡¯s exnation made perfect sense for the cadets. The Rebirth Heart had always regted the body¡¯s blood flow, increasing it when needed, so it was not odd for it to increase the output of Wave more efficiently than the Evolution Core. ¡°As for the w regarding our inability to keep all the Wave inside the Wave Cloak during Wave Burst. That is wherebining the arts came into ce.¡± The cadets saw how the virtual screen above Wink showed two humanoids. One was using Wave Burst, while the other trained in Synergy Flow. Next, both figures fused, and the ss saw how the bursting Wave Cloak grew thicker and its edge denser. ¡°By mastering Synergy Flow while using Wave Burst, we can limit the amount of Wave dispersed. Of course, training Synergy Flow while your Wave Cloak is bursting is much harder.¡± ..... Shortly after that, the virtual screen focused on the third humanoid. ¡°Now that we are over with Wave Burst, it is time to tackle Wave Focus. This art¡¯s main principle is focusing our Wave on a single point. If done during Wave Cloak, we will enhance a specific part while diminishing the amount covering the rest of the body.¡± The virtual screen showed how the humanoid used Wave Cloak before increasing the amount in the right fist. That made the Wave covering the rest of the body grow thinner, diminishing the amount of protection it could provide. ¡°That is the most basic use of Wave Focus and one that Astral Wave Cultivators must master as it heavily influences a melee battle. However, you are sorely mistaken if you think Wave Focus is just that.¡± Wink raised his right hand and opened it, showing the palm to the cadets before cutting it with his left index finger. The cut was deep to the point it almost reached the bone. The virtual screen above them showed a magnified version of the palm, making the edges of the cut clear for everybody. ¡°Pay attention to the screen and see the might of Wave Focus.¡± Wink said nothing else before his Essence Wave began to gather in the wound, and not long after, under the awed gaze of the cadets, the cut started to heal with speed visible to the naked eye. It took Wink less than a minute to heal that wound! ¡°I used Wave Focus to speed up the regeneration process by giving the tissue more vitality and hyper-activating the red blood cells.¡± Next, Wink focused his Essence Wave into his eyes and focused on the cadets, making all of them feel that this one could see every corner of their bodies. ¡°If I focus my Wave into my eyes and the optical nerve, my eyesight improves to a level surpassing that of Old World¡¯s telescopes. And the same goes for my other senses such as smell and hearing.¡± The cadets understood the might of Wave Focus after that description and how amazingly useful it was, both in battle and out of it. ¡°Wave Focus can also be used for defense, as we can enhance the amount of Wave in our arms before using them to cover our bodies from an attack. Those in higher cultivation ranks can deploy extremely refined uses of this art, which are incredibly powerful.¡± Wink saw the cadets¡¯ attention had peaked and proceeded to deploy a Level 3 Wave Cloak and 200% Wave Burst. Then under the utterly shocked sight of the cadets, all that Wave focused on his right hand. ¡°If I conjure a fireball using my right hand, it will be several times more potent than if I were to do it without Wave Focus. And a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior would have enough strength tond a blow that could surpass the defenses of someone at Level 5!¡± Silence reigned in the auditorium as the cadets heard Wink¡¯s words. They could not help but wonder how powerful could mastering Wave Focus could make you? Of course, in that state, the rest of their body was defenseless, but did not using traps and ambushes solve that? As long as theynd one blow, it would be game over for the enemy. ¡°That was Wave Focus. There is no difference between the speed of training of Astral and Essence Wave Cultivators regarding this art. It all depends on your individual talent and hard work. Now I will exin thest of the Four Basic Wave Arts, Wave Transmutation.¡± Chapter 38 Chapter 38: Wave Transmutation The virtual screen above Wink focused on thest humanoid. This one first triggered Wave Cloak, then used Wave Burst, and finally employed Wave Focus to concentrate most of his Wave in his right hand before finally shooting a fireball. ¡°That is Wave Transmutation. In a nutshell, it is the conversion of our Wave into something else. It can be simple elemental forces like lightning, fire, water, or even moreplex like gold or poison.¡± Wink raised his hand and focused Essence Wave in it before making fire, water, and even earth appear. ¡°This art ys a fundamental part in the use of spells. Not only does it improve our proficiency in them, but it also diminishes the amount of Wave we need to use them. Of course, although anyone could change their Wave into mes, someone that does it following the principles taught in a technique can show much greater destructive power.¡± The Wave in Wink¡¯s hand transformed once again into a ball of fire, but while the amount of Wave was the same, the power in it was greater. ¡°When ites to proficiency in this art, Essence Wave Cultivators have a much higher innate talent, which can increase even more as our cultivation advances, and our perception develops.¡± Those words did not surprise anyone. Essence Wavecked the enhanced vitality and durability of Astral Wave, but it was more malleable, so it made sense for it to be easier to transmute. ..... ¡°Astral Wave Cultivators usually focus on the element rted to their Lineage since, at least in it, they do not fall behind their counterparts. Some with powerful Lineages can even transmute their Wave at an intuitive level.¡± Cain nodded as he heard that. Among the skills learned after obtaining his Lightning Lupus Lineage, there was Lightning Conversion. Transforming his Astral Wave into lightning was not hard, but he found it highly challenging to do it with any other element. As for things like poison or gold, that was simply impossible for the current Cain. ¡°Those are the Four Basic Wave Arts. As all of you should understand by now, the word basic is not a reference to their power but the fact that everything else emerges from them. They are the essence of spell casting and any battle style.¡± Wink waved his hand after that, and all the cadets received a file through their A.I. Chips. ¡°In that file is all the information I just gave you about Wave Mastery. While you have it at your disposal at all times, sharing it without consent from the Imperial Military Force is a crime. Now put some distance between yourself, and we will train Synergy Flow, Free Flow, and Directed Flow. There are three hours left, and we will use one for each exercise. I will monitor you and advise you when I see the need for it.¡± Cain, Levi, and the cold beauty stood up and moved away before unleashing their Wave Cloaks. The men¡¯s Wave was dark purple, but the woman was sky-blue, meaning she followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Cain did not lose time and immediately focused. ording to Wink¡¯s teachings, Synergy Flow consists in making your Wave dense and evenly distributed. The file mentioned it would help you think of your Wave as a river. It was a wild force you needed to use your mind to bring into order, making it steadily revolve around your body while condensing it. Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak gradually lost its ming state, bing more defined and smaller. Wink advised some cadets and guided those that were having difficulty. Despite his seemingly carefree attitude, he was very diligent in his work. After an hour passed, it was time to exercise Free Flow. Cain found it a little easier than Synergy Flow, as he only needed to focus on making his Astral Wave expand as far as possible. ording to the file, it was good to visualize your Wave Cloak as a pool of water losing its atomic density and transforming into vapor. The auditorium filled with dark purple and sky-blue fog during the next hour as the cadets trained Free Flow. Since they were all Level 2 Wave Warriors, none of them felt difort by the Wave of the others. Finally, it was the turn of the cadets to train in Directed Flow. Everybody got a small steel marble, and the goal was to extend their Wave Cloak into it wlessly. As expected, Essence Wave Cultivators had a much easier time in Directed Flow than Astral Wave Cultivators. Cain managed to extend his Wave Cloak into the steel marble, but he constantly had to focus on it, and a lot of Astral Wave dispersed due to his inability to control it once it left his body. ¡°Ok, that is all for today!¡± Wink¡¯s voice echoed through the auditorium, and all the cadets sat. All those youths were exhausted, but they were also smiling. The cadets felt that their mastery over Wave Cloak had increased significantly. As long as they kept training Synergy Flow, Free Flow, and Directed Flow, their power would increase even if their cultivation did not. Chapter 39 Chapter 39: Beelze Cain, Levi, and the cold beauty had just risen from their seats as Wink left the auditorium when they saw a youth walking toward them. He was a man with ck hair, almost one meter and eighty centimeters tall. It was impressively tall, considering the youth was just fourteen years old. And that was not all, as the scion¡¯s skin was green. Those characteristics would have been considered a disease in the Old World, but the Godyer Humankind thought differently. Clearly, the scion had a powerful bloodline running through his veins. Neither Cain nor Levi recognized the green youth, but they saw a familiar face in one of the people walking behind him. Among the three people following this one, there was Zamir. Cain and Zamir locked eyes, and the second showed a vicious smile for a moment before regaining hisposure. Although Cain did not know what this was about, he got a hint when the green youth did not even bother to look at him and instead focused on Levi and the cold beauty. ..... ¡°I am Lumir Huren, second son of Count Huren. I will advise you two to stay with your own kind.¡± Lumir did not lower his voice, so he soon became the center of attention for the entire auditorium. Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard those words and saw the disdain with which Lumir treated him. Of course, Cain did not care about the green scion taking him into the nobles¡¯ social circle, but the way Lumir spoke made it seem he was not worthy of breathing the same air. Levi only smiled when he heard those words, and the cold beauty remained indifferent. ¡°Oh, and what will happen if I choose to do the opposite.¡± Lumir¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw Levi¡¯s carefree attitude. ¡°You are of noble breed. Mixing up withmoners lowers not only yourself but all of us.¡± Levi¡¯s smile grew wider as he heard those words, but everybody felt how the auditorium temperature began to rise. It was clear those words upset him. ¡°I did not know you could be lower than a piece of shit.¡± Those words surprised not only Lumir but everybody else, since the way Levi put it, all nobles were shit. Lumir also grew furious as he heard Levi¡¯s words, but he did not lose hisposure and instead turned toward the cold beauty. A sh of lust appeared in his eyes, but he hid it quickly. ¡°My Lady, do you share the same thoughts as this heathen?¡± Everybody focused on the cold beauty, including Cain and Levi. The duo knew almost nothing about her, so they could not help but be curious. Having the eyes of more than two hundred people on her did not disturb the cold beauty. She looked at Lumir and showed a pleasant smile. ¡°Status is extremely important, and everyone should focus on it.¡± Cain and Levi were slightly disappointed when they heard that, unlike Lumir, who showed a radiant smile. However, before the green youth could open his mouth again, the cold beauty spoke again. ¡°Of course, I am referring to the status you earned with your own effort and not one passed down to you. Your so-called status is only due to your whorish mother opening her legs and letting your father hump her.¡± Silence reigned for a moment as none of the cadets could believe that such a refined girl like the cold beauty could utter such oundish words. ¡°?Hahaha!¡± ¡°?Hahaha!¡± Cain and Levi began tough with so much strength that it almost made them shed tears. And while they were the only ones that did not bother to hide it, many other cadets in the auditorium giggled. Lumir¡¯s eyes twitched. He came with such grandeur, and the only thing he got was bing aughing stock. ¡°You dare to insult my family. You little wh...¡± Lumir roared with rage, but he was unable to finish his sentence and much less take a step toward the cold beauty as he felt two pairs of eyes focused on his neck and chest. Cain and Levi had stoppedughing, and their eyes were full of killing intent as they targeted Lumir¡¯s neck and heart. Lumir did not doubt that the duo would attack him full of murderous intent if he dared to carry on. He was confident in facing each of them alone, but he might die if Cain and Levi attacked simultaneously without regard for the consequences. Of course, there were more scions behind him. Each was a Level 2 Wave Warrior, but that would mean starting an unprovoked fight and going against the Imperial Military Academy¡¯s rules. ¡°Hmph!¡± Lumir did not dare to bet and just sneered at the trio before walking out of the auditorium. ¡°Oh, my heroes.¡± Cain and Levi could not help but puff up their chests with pride when they heard those wordsing from the cold beauty, but when they turned and saw the expression on her face, it was clear she was mocking them. The duo felt embarrassed for the childish behavior but immediately shook their heads and got over it. ¡°I could have handled that garbage easily, but thanks for having my back either way. My name is Beelze.¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40: Razmun Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard the cold beauty¡¯s name. ¡°Wait, your name is Beelze, like in Beelzebub?¡± Biblical names were not only not strange but pretty standard in the Godyer Humaking due to the name of the First Titan of Godyer Humankind, Adam. Cain himself was a perfect example, but Beelzebub was a demon in the Old World, so he found it odd and was not alone as Levi thought the same. Beelze noticed the weird look the duo gave her, and some irritation appeared on her face. ¡°Stinky geezer.¡± She spoke those words quietly, but Cain and Levi heard it. Clearly, she also did not like the name her father gave her too much. ¡°What. Do you have something to say about my name?¡± ..... Cain and Levi immediately shook their heads as they saw the piercing gaze of Beelze. Even if they were ten times braver, they would not dare to mock the girl¡¯s name. ¡°Anyway, I am Levi, and he is Cain. We should leave.¡± Cain and Beelze nodded, and the trio exited the auditorium. Once outside, they separated. Cain went home while the other two headed to different parts of the Lightning Imperial Fort. On his way home, Cain thought of something and triggered his Wave Cloak before using Wave Focus to direct most of his Astral Wave into his legs. He intended to increase the Astral Wave around his legs to run faster. In theory, that made sense, but as Cain stomped the ground, he found himself jumping more than a meter before falling and rolling. It was not hard for Cain to understand what happened. The sudden rise in the strength of his legs made it so that instead of putting enough force to impulse his body forward, it was high enough to propel him into the air. In essence, Cain had the strength but could not use it properly. ¡®Strength without control is useless on the battlefield.¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind before hearingughs from a distance. Some cadets wereughing about his mishaps, and while it made Cain slightly embarrassed, he did not care too much and just shed back to his home. Once there, he bowed to the altar with his father¡¯s picture, took a quick shower, and ate some food. While he would like to begin cultivating immediately, he was exhausted, so before anything else, he took a nap. An hourter, Cain awoke full of energy. An average human would have needed much more time to recover. However, not only was he a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, but he also possessed a powerful Lineage that granted him vigorous vitality. Cain headed into the living room, took a container with Dark Race¡¯s blood, and continued training the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. The hours passed as Cain trained, and he felt his meridians growing stronger. He only stopped after almost eight hours before going to sleep. Although cultivation was boring, for someone like Cain, who spent month after month working hard the past years while receiving nothing, there was nothing better than feeling his cultivation increase by the hour. Besides, there were few things to do inside the Lightning Imperial Fort, especially for cadets. Cain woke up when the first ray of sunlight appeared. He washed his face and ate something light before marching into the auditorium. Levi was already in the auditorium and sat in the same ce yesterday. Cain headed there and nodded to the red-eyed youth before sitting by his side. A few minutester, Beelze entered the auditorium, and to the dismay and envy of many cadets, she chose to sit by Cain¡¯s side just like before. Cain and Levi nodded to Beelze before closing their eyes. The duo was using the time to cultivate. While many others could consider their behavior rude, Beelze liked it. She was sure that everybody else would barrage her with all sorts of questions. Not because they care about the answer but to get closer and force some kind of rtionship. Compared to that, the duo, whose minds seemed to care only about cultivation, was a breath of fresh air. In the end, the trio sat silent as they enhanced their Wave until the teacher finally arrived. The one that arrived was not Wink but someone else. A short man, not more than one and a half meters tall, with a robust body full of muscles. His long brown beard and bald head made him look like one of the dwarfs of the Old World¡¯s fairy tales, but the truth was that just like Lumir¡¯s green skin, those physical characteristics were an effect of his bloodline. He stood in front of the auditorium and remained silent for a moment as he stared at the cadets. Despite his short stature, he unleashed an imposing aura that made everybody adopt a solemn expression. ¡°My name is Razmun. I will be your teacher for the Dark Race Assassination ss.¡± Chapter 41 Chapter 41: Nether Fiend ¡°My name is Razmun. I will be your teacher for the Dark Race Assassination ss.¡± When Teacher Razmun spoke those words, a solemn aura invaded the entire auditorium. Even Noble Families did not dare to be arrogant when it came to the Dark Races. Razmun nodded as he saw the expression of the cadets. Next, he waved his hand, and the virtual screen above him showed three groups of obscure figures. ¡°As all of you should know by now, when we talk about the Dark Races, we refer to the Infernus Daemon Race, Legio Eldritch Race, and the most dreaded of all, the Atrox Immortus Race.¡± Cain clenched his fist as he heard thatst part. The image of that Atrox still hunted him, and the idea of what would have happened had he not managed to escape terrified him. He did not feel ashamed since, even with all that fear, he remained courageous in the face of danger and refused to sacrifice an innocent person. ¡®Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.¡¯ ..... That was a quote his father mentioned several times to Cain. The one who uttered those words was a great man from the Old World. Cain was not lost in his thoughts for long as Razmun carried on soon after. ¡°To know how to kill someone, you must first understand them. I will begin with the Infernus Daemon Race. When ites to Godyer Humankind, they are the most simr in both physiology and culture.¡± Above Razmun, the screen focused on the first group of obscure figures before they came to light, showing a bulky Abyssal Demon, a petite Hell Devil, and a third figure. Thest ones had silver skin, and on his forehead, there was a third eye. ¡°The Infernus Daemon Race has three main Lineages. The Abyssal Demon, Hell Devil, and Nether Fiend. Each of those Lineages has countless subbranches, but that is not the topic of this ss. If you want to learn about them, you can use your military credits to purchase books from the Empire Science Academy.¡± Cain and many other cadets focused on thest Infernus Daemon Race¡¯s Lineage that Razmun mentioned. They all took part in the Military Academy Secret Trial, so most faced Abyssal Demons or Hell Devils, but none ever encountered a Nether Fiend. Razmun noticed the curiosity of the cadets regarding Nether Fiends, but he made the virtual screen focus on therge man with obsidian skin. ¡°This is an Abyssal Demon. Due to the characteristics of their Lineage, 99.9% percent of them embark on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Regarding their behavior, they are ferocious warriors that usually disdain any form of traps or schemes and would instead embark on a frontal battle.¡± Following that, Razmun began to show different images of the Abyssal Demon¡¯s anatomy. He exined the position of the heart and other vital organs, the best way to cause massive damage to them, and how to defend in case of a counterattack. The exnation was boring and somewhat repetitive, but all the cadets put their full attention into it as it could save their lives in the future. ¡°Now that we are over with the Abyssal Demons let¡¯s begin with the Hell Devils.¡± The virtual screen focused on the petite woman with red skin and small horns. ¡°Hell Devils usually embark on the path most suitable for their Lineage. That is why all those you face will surely be Essence Wave Cultivators. Unlike Abyssal Demons, Hell Devils are fond of schemes, making them hazardous targets. They might feign weakness, only to draw you into a death trap.¡± Just like he did with Abyssal Demons, Razmun exined the anatomy of Hell Devils, their weak points, how tond deadly blows, and the most suitable defenses against them. Once Razmun was over with the Hell Devils, it was finally time to focus on thest of the three main Lineages of the Infernus Daemon Race, the Nether Fiend Race. ¡°When ites to battle strength, the Nether Fiend Lineage is the weakest of the three, but make no mistake, they are dangerous. Their poweres from intelligence and innate talent in professions like Wave Crafters and Rune Masters. The creations at their disposal are incredibly deadly.¡± Razmun¡¯s face showed a level of seriousness even greater than when he spoke about Hell Devils and Abyssal Demons. ¡°You will not usually find them on the battlefield, not because they are cowards, but because they are better at strategy. If you ever storm the enemy¡¯s encampment, do your best to kill as many of them as possible. Believe me when I say that every Nether Fiend kill is worth as much as ten of their counterparts.¡± Cain could not help but show awe as he heard that. Nether Fiends were the weakest regarding battle strength, but their impact on the battlefield made them the most dangerous. Razmun exined the best way tond deadly blows in a Nether Fiend. He was much more detailed in this information than the one rted to Abyssal Demons or Hell Devils and took a lot more time as well. By the time Razmun finished with the Nether Fiends, the ss had ended, and everybody headed back to their rooms. Chapter 42 Chapter 42: New and familiar faces Cain trained in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and was ready to call it a day and go to sleep before the next ss when his body trembled. The youth opened his eyes, and a smile appeared on his face. He had finished the first level and could finally advance with the second, not longer just solidifying his foundation but also improving his cultivation. Although tired, excitement filled Cain¡¯s body andmanded the system to scan him without hesitation. ¡®System, scan me!¡¯ [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer ..... Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.19¨C>0.19 Agility: 0.25¨C>0.25 Vitality: 0.22¨C>0.23 Wave: O.21¨C>0.22] Although there was not a shocking improvement in his stats, Cain expected such a thing. At the lower level, one could not see much difference between techniques, but as his cultivation advanced, those improvements umted and showed an incredible effect. Cain went to bed the next minute with a happy smile. As usual, he woke up with the first ray of sunlight and headed to the auditorium where his ss would take ce. He was just about to enter the building when he noticed Beelze in the distance. She was speaking with a handsome blonde man around twenty years old. The man was striking not only in looks but also had a powerful aura and vibrant vitality. His attire also drew attention, resembling that of a high-ss butler. Suddenly, the man¡¯s eyes grew cold, turning toward Cain. When he saw those eyes, Cain¡¯s entire body trembled. That gaze had the power to freeze his mind, but then a sh of red light appeared in his eyes. Cain did not know what happened, but all the fear vanished, and a sense of absolute certainty appeared in his eyes as he stared back at the man by Beelze¡¯s side. Now, it was time for the blond man to be surprised. There was shock on his face as he saw Cain¡¯s eyes full of determination and absent of any fear. However, before the man could do anything, he turned back toward Beelze and saw the girl¡¯s cold stare. He gave Cain one final nce before nodding toward Beelze and walking away. Cain¡¯s eyes did not leave the man until this one vanished from his view. He then turned to his side and saw that Beelze was already there. ¡°Who is that man?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me that you are jealous?¡± A small smile appeared in Beelze, but she noticed Cain¡¯s stoic expression. ¡°He is very dangerous.¡± When Beelze heard those words and felt the concern in them, her smile became more natural. ¡°You are right. That man is dangerous, but there is no reason to worry. He works for my family.¡± Cain was slightly surprised when he heard that. The fact that Beelze¡¯s family could infiltrate a person in the Imperial Military Academy meant their background was truly impressive. Since Beelze told him the man was no danger and she seemed fine, Cain did not dig anymore. The power of her family was not something that he cared about. ¡°What are you lovebirds doing?¡± Cain and Beelze turned around and saw Levi walking out of the auditorium. The duo only sneered when they heard his words, but the silver metallic structure covering his spine drew their attention. ¡°You got full body armor. It is a High Bronze Wave Artifact?¡± Since Levi did not have it activated, Cain could not see the appearance of the armor, but it seemedposed of silver des. ¡°Haha, even better. It is a Peak Bronze Wave Artifact.¡± Levi was very pleased with his armor, but his good mood did notst long. ¡°You know what they say about people that like to show off their belongings. Are you ovepensating for something else?¡± Beelze did not specify, but Levi and Cain understood what she meant. The first one¡¯s face almost grew red, while the second did his best to contain hisughter. ¡°You...¡± Levi stared dagger at Beelze, but this one only kept smiling. Clearly, the girl was not the forgiving type and was taking revenge on the youth¡¯s previous remark. ¡°Hmph.¡± In the end, Levi only sneered and did not say anything else. Although he seemed angry, he was not a child that would lose control over his emotions for something so trivial. ¡°Anyway, you two better get in. The teacher arrived early, and he is someone you and I know.¡± Cain was curious, and when he walked into the auditorium, he saw a bulky man with scars all over his face. ¡°Oh, Vice-Captain Josef.¡± ¡°I take it that you two had encounters with that man before.¡± Levi and Cain nodded to Beelze¡¯s words, and the second began to rte the events at the end of the Military Academy Secret Trial as they walked toward their seats. Overall, Cain had a good image of this strict, cold, yet fair man. ¡°I see.¡± Beelze nodded toward Cain¡¯s words and said nothing else. She reserved her opinion of Josef for herself. Vice-Captian nced at Cain and Levi but said nothing else and silently waited until the ss finally started. ¡°My name is Josef, and I will be your teacher for the Military Tactics ss.¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43: A bloody lesson ¡°My name is Josef, and I will be your teacher for the Military Tactics ss.¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s voice echoed through the auditorium, and all the cadets paid full attention. Although his aura seemed weaker than that of Wink and Razmun, its ferocity was something he could only gain on the battlefield. ¡°The Imperial Military Force works in military units. These are simr to the Old World, but those at higher ranks not only reached that level due to merits but also brute power.¡± Although the idea of granting military ranks ording to brute power might seem idiotic in the Old World, even the cadets could understand the reasoning behind that. As humans advance in cultivation, it¡¯s not only their bodies and destructive power that grow stronger. Their cognitive ability and speed of thought also improve. There are indeed cases of people with an innate talent for warfare, but most of the time, those with experience and greater intelligence create better ns. Not to mention that a Wave Warrior would find it very hard to give order to a Wave Champion, especially once they are far from the domains of the Godyer Humankind Empire, and the rules are harder to discern. ..... Following that short description, the virtual screen above Vice-Captain Josef showed different military units and the different roles avable such asbat, engineering, medical, and more. Josef was diligent, urately describing how all those moving parts work together and sharing his experiences in the army. All that information was monotone and, unlike Wave Mastery and Dark Race Assassination, failed to make the cadets¡¯ blood burn. However, Cain and many others were paying full attention, as they understood that information could save their lives and help them understand their roles once they entered the battlefield. Once that part of the ss was over, the virtual screen above Vice-Captain Josef changed. ¡°When ites to the battlefield where Wave Champions participate, Wave Warriors beneath Level 4 would only be sending themselves to their death if they step in. That is especially true for those that follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power, as the shock waves would be more than enough to harm your bodies.¡± Soon the cadets saw the picture of what seemed to be a futuristic rifle on the virtual screen. ¡°That is why those at Level 3 and beneath who take abat role will use these Wave Rifles. It is a verymon and practical Wave Artifact used by the Imperial Military Force. It has a power cell that can be charged with Wave and fire a very concentrated energy beam. They have no recoil and can fire up to dozens of shoots per minute.¡± The virtual screen soon showed the cadets the Wave Rifles¡¯ power. It did not take more than five shots to st arge tree to pieces, and a dozen of them could destroy an Old World building in less than a minute. However, those with good battle awareness soon realized the grave problems with the Wave Rifles. ¡°As some of you might already notice, there are ws in the Wave Rifles. The attack pattern is too rigid and depends too much on the soldier¡¯s aim and speed of thought. They have limited use against a battalion of Level 5 Wave Warriors.¡± A smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw the Wave Rifle. It was the same weapon Cain¡¯s father used during his time in the military. ¡°Cannon fooder¡¯s weapon.¡± A youth sitting next to Zamir and Lumir uttered those words as he saw the Wave Riffle. He spoke in a low voice, but everybody could hear him due to the auditorium¡¯s silence. There was a smile on the youth¡¯s face as he did not care that the other would know his thoughts. It made sense since many among the scions saw soldiers that used Wave Rifles that way. Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, and his blood began to burn as his Astral Wave burst. Levi and Beelze were surprised by Cain¡¯s reaction. Although the duo felt the scion¡¯smentary disgusting, their response was far from reaching Cain¡¯s level. The reaction was abination due to Cain¡¯s rage and his bloodline¡¯s emotional instability. And, unlike in previous cases where it happened, the youth did not intend to control it and was ready to attack. However, someone acted faster than Cain. The scion still smiled when someone appeared before him and pped him with so much strength that it sent him flying into a wall. All the cadets were shocked as they saw the unconscious cadet bleeding on the ground. Luckily the scion was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, or else that p would have shattered his skull. Fear appeared in the eyes of the cadets as they turned to the responsible for such a ferocious attack, Vice-Captain Josef. ¡°May this be a lesson for all of your brats. Anyone that dares to mock my brothers and sisters who risk their lives for the safety of the Godyer Humankind will pay the price. And next time, I will not be so merciful.¡± Chapter 44 Chapter 44: First mission (I) A deadly silence reigned in the auditorium as the cadets heard those words. That youth bleeding next to the wall had a strong background, or he could not have sat next to Lumir and Zamir. Yet, it was clear that Vice-Captain Josef did not care at all, and the cadets did not doubt they would suffer the same fate if they uttered disrespectful words. Vice-Captain Josef stared coldly at Lumir and Zamir before turning elsewhere. The cadets followed his eyes and were surprised to see Cain¡¯s bursting Astral Wave Cloak and killing intent. Cain sat in a deste area of the auditorium, and since the cadets were all focused on Vice-Captain Josef, no one besides Levi and Beelze noticed his outburst. When Cain saw the bloody figure of the youth that dared to call people like his father cannon fodder, he calmed down and dispersed his Wave Cloak. Vice-Captain Josef did not say anything about Cain¡¯s actions and calmly walked toward the podium. As for the wounded scion, no one dared to help him. ¡°What I have spoken up to this point is the standard distribution and roles of the Imperial Military Force. Specialized military units fulfill missions where an army¡¯s notoriety would be a disadvantage. I will not give details of these since unless you be a Level 7 Wave Warrior, you will never interact with them.¡± Vice-Captain Josef carried on with the ss as if nothing had happened. It was clear that he did not fear retaliation for his actions. ..... ¡°That was all for today¡¯s ss. For the next one, we will discuss battle formations and information about our allies in the Deus Behemoth Race and the Anima Mechanicus Race.¡± Cain could not help but grow excited as he heard thatst part. The Godyer Humankind was powerful, but they were far from being able to contend against the Infernus Daemon Race, Legio Eldritch Race, and Atrox Immortus Race alone. Once Lumir saw Josef leave the auditorium, he went toward the wounded scion and helped him out, marching immediately to the hospital. Cain noticed that but did not care and left the auditorium with Levi and Beelze. Just as they were about to split apart, the red-eyed youth spoke. ¡°Cain, your Lineage grants you enhanced tracking abilities, right?¡± Although Cain found that question odd, it was not a secret, so he nodded. ¡°Great, I intend to take on a mission, and I need the help of someone like you.¡± Levi naturally knew that Cain would want to know what the mission was about, so he used his A.I. Chip to send a folder with all the information. There were only three sses in the week. Most cadets spent the rest of the days taking advantage of the high Wave density in the Lightning Imperial Fort, but those like Cain and Levi had the strength to leave and carry out missions. Before Cain could analyze the folder, the duo felt a freezing chill. ¡°Oh, I am not invited. Do you think I am too weak?¡± Levi and Cain grew tense as they felt the cold gaze of Beelze. The red-eyed youth raised his hand and immediately exined. ¡°Haha, nothing like that. Actually, I could handle the battleponent of this mission alone, but my tracking abilities are not very good. That is why I asked for Cain¡¯s help.¡± Beelze¡¯s eyes narrowed, and after seeing the duo grow even more nervous, she smiled and walked away. When the duo saw that, they could not help but grow annoyed. Clearly, Beelze did not care about the mission and was just making fun of them. After that minor interruption, Cain finally analyzed the folder and saw the contents of the mission. ¡®It is abination between product recovery and detention or killing. We should not face anyone above Level 3, so Levi is right in that ourbined power is more than enough to handle it.¡¯ Cain considered everything, and after a moment, he nodded. ¡°Ok, I ept. I assume we will use the Merit Ruler to determine the Imperial Military Credits each will get.¡± The Merit Ruler that Cain mentioned was a tool essible in the Imperial Military Network. When a group performed a mission, the ruler could objectively quantify thepletion percentage of each individual. ¡°Of course. We must leave soon, as it will take around seven hours to reach Rouk City. That, plus the time to travel back, would only leave us three days toplete the mission.¡± Levi had already analyzed all the information and had developed a n. ¡°We should leave at midnight. That way, we can rest on the road and arrive at Rouk City as the sunes out.¡± Cain did not have a problem and epted Levi¡¯s proposition. The duo went to their homes to gather their belongings and pack rations for the trip. Chapter 45 Chapter 45: First mission (II) Back in his room, Cain bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and ate a meal before arranging things for the mission. He packed a second set of clothes, his Soldier¡¯s Drugs, and a container with Abyssal Demon¡¯s blood. There was not much else to load in the military backpack since the mission would only take around three days. As he nced at the Soldier¡¯s Drugs, a contemtive expression appeared in Cain. While extremely useful during the Military Academy Secret Trial, he was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior now, and their effect would not be as good as before. After some thinking, Cain used the Imperial Military Academy Network and searched for new drugs, one suitable for his level. It did not take him long to find something useful. [Warrior Pill: Heals non-lethal wounds, improves wakefulness, decreases the sense of fatigue, and increases the ability to concentrate. Fully effective up to Level 5. Warning: Only Wave Warrior above Level 1 can use them without severe side effects. Cost: 25 Imperial Military Credits.] ..... Their effect was impressive, and so was the cost. Cain also found the Soldier Drugs in the Imperial Military Academy Network, and a batch of ten costs only 5 Imperial Military Credits. Although Cain had more than 2000 Imperial Military Credits, that did not mean he could just spend them without care. He was actually saving them as he wanted to buy something that would be useful for his foundation, but there was no point in having wealth and not a life to spend it. Even if the mission did not seem that dangerous, they would still face Wave Warriors, who would want to kill them. So, after some deliberation, Cain bought three Warriors Pills. Instead of waiting for the package to arrive, Cain adopted a meditative position and began training in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Following the cultivation technique, Cain¡¯s meridians grewrger and extended over his chest. Time flew by, and before he knew it, the time to depart arrived. The package with the three Warrior Pills had arrived while Cain trained. He put them in his backpack and left for the south gate. Levi was already there, waiting by the side of a military truck simr to the one Tristan and London used as they picked up the cadets. The red-eyed youth nodded to Cain, and the duo got up in the truck before approaching the gate. Cadets could not simply leave, but once Levi showed the mission code, the soldier in charge opened the gate and let the duo go. The military truck could drive on its own, and since they were on a secure highway, neither Cain nor Levi worried too much about dangers despite the dense forest surrounding them. Godyer Humankind had more than enough power to destroy those forests and pave everything, but there were two main reasons for not following that path. One was the teaching of the Old World about how to live in equilibrium with the environment. There was also a selfishponent as a loss in wildlife corrted with a decline in the Wave¡¯s density. The second reason took into consideration the Wave Beasts. Although the Godyer Humankind had a hostile rtionship with them, it did not reach the point of mutual destruction. If they destroyed the forest and left no one with enough power to protect whatever they built in those ces, powerful Wave Beasts would level any construction as retribution. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as the military truck had left the Lightning Imperial Fort and nced at Levi. The red-eyed youth returned the gaze and nodded. Both Level 2 Wave Warriors send a small amount of Astral Wave into the artifact protecting their spine, and soon every piece of their bodies was covered by armor. Cain¡¯s Nullity Armor was utterly ck, made of hundreds of light scales. A ck ss also covered his eyes, and a membrane refined the air he breathed. It did not hinder his movements and fused with his Light Boots and Kic Gauntlets, leaving no opening. Levi¡¯s armor was shockingly simr to the Level 3 Atrox that Cain saw in the Military Academy Secret Trial. It also covered the entire body, leaving no opening an enemy could take advantage of. ¡°Inferno.¡± ¡°Saint.¡± Their Wave Artifact distorted the duo¡¯s voice as they uttered their code names. They did not know who they would face, and it was best to hide their real identities. Besides, during this mission, they only needed their status as cadets of the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. The duo slept after ensuring everything was fine, and there were no dangers in the surroundings. The military truck had a scanner that would warn them of any threat. Of course, they kept a light sleep and were ready to act in case of any danger. It will take Cain and Levi less than a second to mobilize their Astral Wave. If the attacker were so fast that they could kill them before that, it would not make a difference even if they were fully awake. Chapter 46 Chapter 46: I am Zamir Jarken When the first ray of sunlight appeared, Cain and Levi saw Rouk City in the distance. It had a giant wall around its perimeter, and in the center, there was arge tower. That tower barely reached five hundred meters, nothingpared with the striking ten thousand meters tall Titan Tower of the Lightning Imperial Fort, but it provided energy for the entire city. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as they approached the gate and saw the soldiers stand there with Wave Rifles. Rouk City was a somewhat small city with a poption of nearly one million people. It was under the Lightning Imperial Fort¡¯s sphere of influence. Its defenses were enough to keep its peoplepletely safe from Wave Beasts and other dangers. Of course, there were mighty Wave Beasts that could ovee Roku City¡¯s defenses, but just like humans, those creatures grow brighter as they grow stronger. They are intelligent enough to understand that if they attack the city, the Lightning Imperial Fort will send Wave Champions after them. The military truck stopped outside the gate that led into Rouk City. A soldier approached the passenger seat and froze for a moment as he saw the two people covered in Wave Artifacts. Not only were the duo¡¯s armors visually impressive, but the soldier was smart enough to understand that anyone capable of having something like that could not be simple. ..... ¡°Identification, please.¡± Levi handed the soldier a card with the information about their mission and status as cadets from Copsing Lightning Military Academy. The soldier¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the duo¡¯s status, but he did not dare to look down on them. Even if they were just cadets, there was a great chance they could be powerful scions that chose to enter the military academy. Levi and Cain saw how the soldier stood in silence for a moment as he possibly used his A.I. Chip to pass the information to get the clearance for the duo to enter. There should have been no problem since even if Cain and Levi were not in a Copsing Lightning Military Academy¡¯s mission, they could enter Rouk City. However, out of nowhere, a look of surprise and confusion appeared on the soldier. He did his best to hide it as soon as possible, but Cain and Levi saw it. ¡°Mmm, I am sorry, there has been some disturbance in the city. You two will have to wait for a moment before passing. Don¡¯t leave the military truck for the time being.¡± The soldier handed Levi the card, and before they could ask anything, he walked back to his post. Levi and Cain stared at each other and frowned as they did not know what had happened. If there were a problem with their identities, the soldiers would have arrested them or told them to go away if they were too afraid to do that. However, the soldier just told Cain and Levi to wait. As for the disturbances, it was almost certainly a made-up excuse. All that, plus the fact that the soldier was surprised to hear that he should not just let the duo enter, made it clear that there was something fishy about their mission, and someone was trying to keep things quiet. Cain stared at the soldiers guarding the gate andmanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan them. Surprise appeared on his face as he saw that all the soldiers were Wave Warriors, many at Level 2, and even one who seemed to be the squad¡¯s leader reached Level 3. ¡®What, since when are Wave Warriors somon!?¡¯ Before obtaining the Absolute Life Form System, bing a Wave Warrior was a dream for Cain, yet now he found one at Level 3, working as the guard of a small city¡¯s gate. ¡°Brat, shouldn¡¯t you have gotten smarter after reaching Level 2?¡± Cain was surprised to hear Apex¡¯s voice in his mind. The System Spirit had been quiet thest few days, mainly focusing on his hacking efforts. ¡°Listen, in your old home where the Wave¡¯s density was shockingly low, so only those with great talent and backing could be a Level 3 Wave Warrior, but here is different. Their Wave in the air is much higher, so their cultivation is easier. All those people entered the military academy just like you and learned the cultivation basics. After decades, in a Wave-rich environment, it is not odd for someone with even little talent to be a Level 3 Wave Warrior.¡± Cain calmed down and began to analyze everything with a more critical mind. He saw how the squad¡¯s leader appeared to be a man in his fifties. ¡°Of course, those that cultivate like that have horrible foundations and find it almost impossible to cross bottlenecks. Not to mention the after-effects of their cultivation stagnation.¡± When Cain heard thatst part, he focused on the stats of the squad¡¯s leader. [Scan of targetpleted. ¡ª Name: ??? Race: Godyer Humankind Lineage: Human Path of Power: Essence Evolution ( Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior) ¡ª Stats: Strength:0.13 Agility:0.11 Vitality:0.22 Essence Wave:0.24] The physical stats of the squad¡¯s leader matched those of a Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior with a Human Lineage, but his Wave was too low. A Level 3 Wave Warrior usually had above 0.5 of Wave inside their bodies, yet the squad¡¯s leader had less than half of that. ¡°Theck of advance on his cultivation atrophied his meridians, which led to that state. The other soldiers should be in the same condition, if not worse.¡± Cain nodded and better understood the different types of Wave Warriors. Apex learned all that from hacking the Empire Science Academy. ¡°Of course, even if they are weak, it would be hard for you and the other brat to defeat them since they outnumber you and have those Wave Rifles. Not to mention that things would only grow moreplicated for the two if you use force.¡± A profound light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he heard Apex¡¯s words. In the Military Academy Secret Trial, he used brute power to handle all his problems, but things were not so simple now. Suddenly an idea came to Cain¡¯s mind, and he almostughed as he thought of the implications. Levi attempted to figure out a way beyond this point when he saw how Cain got out of the military truck and walked toward the city¡¯s gate, only for the soldiers to grow alert and raise their Wave Rifles. ¡°Stop right there. Who do you think you are to disobey ourmands!¡± The squad¡¯s leader yelled at Cain as he pointed his Wave Rifle. Cain knew his Nullity Armor¡¯s ability would be able to block most of those st¡¯s power, but he would still end up injured. Nevertheless, he did not lose calm and looked at the soldiers without pure contempt and disdain. ¡°Who do you think you are pointing your punny weapons to? I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken!¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47: Time to shine ¡°Who do you think you are pointing your punny weapons to? I am Zamir Jarken, third son of Count Jarken!¡± When the soldiers at the gate heard those words, they all trembled and lowered their weapons. For a family to be part of the nobility in the Godyer Humankind Empire, they needed more than just powerful backing and military merits. They also required incredible brute power. Although none of those soldiers knew how strong Count Jarken was, he was definitely someone that even Wave Champions, entities capable of moving at the speed of sound, would dread. Even the squad¡¯s leader, who was shouting orders a moment ago, grew nervous. Of course, the idea that the cadets were lying crossed his mind, but he immediately discarded it. He did not believe that someone who was not a scion could wear such impressive Wave Artifact armor. ¡®God dammit. How did I get involved in this? They told me to dy them for at least a couple of hours, but how am I supposed to do that now?¡¯ Just as the squad leader was trying to figure out what to do, the cadet turned around and walked back to the military truck. ..... ¡°Open that gate now! Unless you think you can bear the responsibility of dying me during my mission.¡± Cain¡¯s voice carried a narcissistic tone, simr to the one Zamir used with him when they first met. The moment Cain got in the truck, Levi immediatelymanded the military truck to move forward, forcing the squad¡¯s leader to make a hasty decision, not giving him any time to call for assistance. In the end, the squad leader did not dare to test the duo andmanded for the gate to be open, allowing the military truck to enter the city. Levi immediately headed for the City Hall as soon as they entered the city. ces like Rouk City, with a poption beneath ten million people, were ruled by a group of civil officers, with the mayor at the head. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the city and its people, most of whom were Wave Warriors but suffered from the same meridian atrophy as the soldiers at the gate. Still, he did not lose much thought and focused on the mission. His lies might have easily fooled the soldier at the gates, but it would not be so easy with the mayor. Those civil officers might not have impressive battle power, but most of them were extremely cunning. Levi nced at Cain, and when he saw this one focusing, he chose to remain silent. While using Zamir¡¯s name could end up blowing in their faces, there was nothing he could say since he failed to devise a better strategy. In less than an hour, the duo arrived at the City Hall. It was arge pristine building, with peopleing in and out. After parking the military truck, Cain and Levi head into the building, drawing the attention of many people in their way. They did not speak with anyone and walked as if they owned the ce. Initially, the duo¡¯s approach would have been much smoother, but they had adopted the facade of the arrogant scion and needed to stick to it if they wanted this to work. Just as they were about to barge into the mayor¡¯s office, a woman appeared in front of them. She was around twenty years old and had an attractive figure. ¡°Young Lord Zamir, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vina Serin. I wee you to Rouk City. Had we known someone of your status woulde to our humble city, we would have prepared a proper wee.¡± Vina spoke pleasantly and stretched her body so Cain could get a better look before turning toward Levi. ¡°And who could this gentleman be?¡± Cain was a healthy man and would certainly get aroused if an attractive woman got so close to him. However,pared with the drive Beelze generated when he first met her, this was nothing and could not cause an emotional outburst. ¡°That is not something someone like you should care about. We are going to speak to the mayor.¡± Vina¡¯s gaze changed for an instant as she saw the evident apathy of Cain. She hoped to distract the duo for a moment and stir the conversation away, but things had a rocky start. ¡°I am sorry, Mayor cius is currently in an important meeting and can not be disturbed. I can arrange somepany for the two of you as you wait. I am sure the trip from the Copsing Lightning Military Academy was boring, and you would want to have some fun.¡± ¡®Another dy.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he saw the woman¡¯s scheme. ¡°I was not asking permission.¡± Cain grabbed the woman¡¯s shoulder and moved her out of his way before barging into the mayor¡¯s office along with Levi. As soon as the duo entered the office, their expressions grew solemn. There were already two people inside, one fat man sitting behind a desk, presumably the mayor, and another standing by his side. It was the second man that made them nervous, and once Cain scanned him, he saw that he was a Level 4 Wave Warrior! Cain took a deep breath and pushed his focus to its peak as he smiled. ¡®Time to shine.¡¯ Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Fear and coldness As soon as the fat man noticed the duo barge into his office, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. Mayor cius¡¯ Wave Talent and fear of battle made it he barely reached Level 2, but that was also a testament to his sharp mind. Or else, there is no way he would have be the mayor of a city with almost a million people with such poor personal strength. Cain and Levi¡¯s mission consisted of hunting down a group of criminals that broke into the city¡¯s armory, stole military goods, and killed a guard. All that took ce two days ago, and the criminals had since vanished into the forest beyond the city¡¯s walls. Rouk City had soldiers and a well-structured police force, as one would expect. Still, while they were enough to keep order inside the walls, sending them after the criminals into the forest would result in significant casualties. Not to mention that it could provoke chaos among the city¡¯s poption. The Imperial Military Force handled all problems beyond a city¡¯s scope to avoid unnecessary losses. Those missions helped train their soldiers in other aspects beyond the battlefield, so it was a win-win situation. The fact they were detected and forced to use violence made it clear that the criminals were beneath Level 4, which is why the higher-ups assigned the mission to cadets. As the mayor, cius should have been doing everything in his power to assist the cadets so that they would resolve the crime in the shortest amount of time possible, but anyone could see by now that things were not so simple. Although Cain and Levi looked imposing with their Wave Armors, there was no fear in cius¡¯ eyes. The Godyer Humankind Empire had rules, and even if not, there was still the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior by his side. ..... ¡®Damm brats, how dare they barge into my office like that.¡¯ cius was furious but did not dare his emotions to show themselves and greeted the duo with a cordial smile. ¡®Those Wave Artifact are definitely at the High Bronze grade, with would make sense for scions, but it is odd for someone of the Jarken Family to take a mission like this one. Those of powerful Noble Families usually disdain anything that would require investigation and the likes.¡¯ All those thoughts crossed cius¡¯ mind when the squad leader guarding the gate informed him that Zamir Jarken had marched into the city. Although part of him did not believe the duo, he needed to be careful as the wrath of the count¡¯s son was not something he could endure. That is why he had already crafted a n to search for the truth, and even if the duo were not lying, it would buy him time. Unfortunately for cius, before he could open his mouth, Cain marched toward him and mmed his desk with so much strength that it almost broke it. ¡°How dare you make us wait like that?¡± cius was slightly surprised, but that sudden outburst did not prove anything. However, what happened next changed things. ¡°Less than two months ago, you beg the Jarken County to solve an internal problem, yet now you dare to make me wait. You really know how to repay a favor!¡± Cain spoke with a voice full of certainty and arrogance. Although it was just a small phrase, it immediately changed the attitude of cius and the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior. It was not that they cared about the favor, but the fact that the cadet knew about it meant that he was privy to secret deals between Rouk City and Jarken County. Cain was still furious on the outside, but internally, he was thrilled. After using Zamir¡¯s name, he immediately asked Apex to dig up secret information between Rouk City and Jarken County. The System Spirit focused all the power of [Basic Hacking] tool on that task, and just as the duo got out of the military truck and headed to the City Hall, he got that information. ¡°Every minute you make us wait is another minute those criminals have to run. Are you ready to answer for your sins to my father if we fail our mission!?¡± Even with his voice distorted, Cain made a perfect copy of the tone Zamir used when they first met. cius¡¯ face grew pale as he heard that threat. He could not bare to offend a scion, much less a Godyer Humankind Empire¡¯s Count. ¡°There... there is no need to do that. I had just canceled my previous appointment when I learned that Young Lord hade into my city. Vina will guide you to the crime scene, and I will send a detailed report of the events of that day to your A.I. Chip immediately.¡± cius did not dare to dy and called the woman, who walked into the room shortly with surprise on her face. Cain could see that Vina was confused by the sudden change in cius¡¯ attitude toward the crime, but he did not care. While furious at the mayor¡¯s corruption, he did not have the luxury of time. ¡°Hmph, you should have done that from the beginning. I wonder how someone so ipetent as you got a mayor¡¯s position.¡± Cain left those final words as he and Levi walked away under Vina¡¯s guidance. Despite being insulted, cius only smiled toward Cain. However, rage appeared on his face once the doors to his office were closed. ¡°Has everything been taken care of?¡± ¡°We took care of all the visual evidence and tracks but did notplete the decontamination process. It required a total of seventy-two hours, so we were forced to leave the job half done.¡± The Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior spoke in a solemn tone. A sharp light appeared in cius¡¯ eyes as he heard that. After a few seconds, he took a deep breath of air and rxed. ¡°That should be more than enough. I refuse to believe that a couple of brats could solve it. Still, it is better to be cautious. If they find anything, we will erase any trace of our involvement. I assume you know what to do in that case.¡± cius¡¯ eyes were cold as he uttered those words, just like those of the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior. Chapter 49 Chapter 49: Intelligence Cain and Levi follow Vina to arge building less than ten minutes from City Hall. Two guards were at the entrance but moved away once they saw the woman and allowed the trio to enter. On the outside, the armory resembled a little one-story building, but once they entered, Cain understood that it was an underground facility with many sublevels. The trio took the elevator and went down one floor. As soon as the gates opened, Cain and Levi saw a corridor withrge shelves containing all sorts of boxes. Each of them was tightly closed, and the only designation was a barcode, making it hard for anyone to know what was inside. Vina was about to speak when a loud and cold voice interrupted her. ¡°Leave!¡± Cain did not even bother to turn to the woman as he shouted that order. He and Levi then walked to the ce where the murder took ce. A sh of rage appeared on Vina¡¯s face as she stared at the duo¡¯s back. As Mayor cius¡¯ assistant, she enjoyed quite a bit of power in the city, yet Cain treated her as an annoyance. ..... However, no matter how angry she was, the woman did not dare to defy them. Even if she did not count their background, she was just a Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior, and either could kill her. She returned to the elevator and left the duo alone. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the woman leave. Of course, they were not alone as several cameras were on the walls. He was sure that the fat mayor saw every movement they made. Unfortunately for them, Cain already had a way to handle that. If they were outside, it would have been moreplicated, but since they were inside, Apex could use the [Basic Hacking] tool to trick the cameras, showing made-up footage. ¡°We can speak freely for the time being. I have hacked the cameras, and we will be fine if we don¡¯t move too much.¡± Levi was slightly surprised to hear that, but it all made sense. Like in the Old World, there were hackers in the Godyer Humankind Empire. ¡°So that is how you learn that information about Jarken County. Well done. Since time is short, let¡¯s research the ce and see if we find any clues.¡± ¡°There is no need for that. We will find nothing visible to the naked eye. That fat asshole might seem ipetent on the outside, but he sure is crafty. He definitely erased all visual evidence and tracks.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He would have to be a fool not to see that cius was trying to hide something, but people always make mistakes and might find something if they look carefully. Cain knew that Levi would be doubtful of his analysis, so he proceeded to exin things. ¡°This is not the first time they do this sort of thing. Rouk City can be considered a warehouse for the Lightning Imperial Fort, so it is not odd that many materials are stored here. No matter what type of organization, one can always expect some level of corruption. Some losses from time to time would not raise suspicion as long the culprit hides their tracks and is not too brazen. cius is in the perfect position to do that, and since there have not been incidents reported in the past, it is easy to see that he knew to hide them. Of course, theck of reports could also mean that no one stole anything, but there is no way that greedy ball of grease would not do it.¡± Surprise appeared in Levi¡¯s eyes as he heard all that. He trusted his intelligence and was confident he could arrive at that conclusion given enough time, but never as fast as Cain did. ¡°Then this time was different because...¡± ¡°The folder with the investigation cius sent us is mostly useless. Video surveince did not capture anything, and the witness reports are full of contradictions. The only helpful thing is the information about the victim. He was a man named Mark Junson, a Level 1 Wave Warrior. ording to the schedule, a woman named Karen Finner should have guarded this level that night, but she conveniently reported being sick at thest minute. Therefore no one should have been here, but a human error put Mark Junson on guard duty at this level that night. The higher-ups could turn a blind eye to some goods gone missing, but not the death of a guard. That incident forced cius to report the theft and homicide. Had he not done it, he could have lost his position as mayor.¡± The surprise in Levi¡¯s eyes only grew stronger. Although the Godyer Humankind worshiped brute strength above everything, intelligence was still worthy of respect and admiration. ¡°I must admit that I am impressed. You have a tremendous scheming mind. It makes me wonder just what kind of background you have.¡± Levi smiled. He was curious but was smart enough not to ask about it. Everybody had their secrets, and he was not the exception. When Cain heard thatpliment, an odd smile appeared on his face. Although his father taught him a lot, none of it was rted to investigations and the like. Those skills were rted to his state as a Reincarnator. ¡®I wonder just who I was in my past life?¡¯ That was a question Cain had been pondering from the moment Apex revealed the truth about his dreams. Still, Cain did not lose too much time on unnecessary thoughts and focused again. ¡°Anyway, Mark Junson was in the wrong ce at the wrong time. Investigating him or his acquaintances would be useless.¡± Cain¡¯s voice could sound cold and detached as he spoke about the victim, but he did not find it odd. Why would he be sad about the death of someone he had never met? ¡°Since the fatso handled all visual evidence and tempered everything else, what do we do now?¡± Levi did not have a problem handing Cain the lead in this part of the mission. If the other party excelled in something, why get in the way? Of course, not everybody thought that way and was capable of such maturity. Many would rather do a mediocre job and take all the glory than share the spotlight. Cain¡¯s helmet vanished, showing his face just before his Wave Cloak manifested. He pushed his focus to its peak and used Wave Focus. Levi saw how Cain¡¯s Astral Wave began concentrating around the nose. Even if his wisdom did not reach that of the Reincarnator, he was still smart enough to understand what was happening. ¡®Visual evidence is easy to handle, but particles in the air that form a scent are harder to erase.¡¯ After almost a minute and having used a great amount of his Astral Wave, Cain opened his eyes, and a sharp light appeared in them. ¡°I found it.¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50: Two vs fifteen (I) Mayor cius stood at the gates of Rouk City with arge smile as he waved the military truck leaving. There was a poisonous contempt on that smile, but there was also genuine happiness. After wandering around the armory for almost ten minutes, spending a few hours searching the city, and going through witness statements, Cain and Levi decided to give up and leave. Of course, Mayor cius kept his facade of a fearful civil servant and apanied the duo to the exit. ¡®Hahaha, fucking brats. You came waving your background, yet leave with your tail between your legs.¡¯ Cain and Levi had no idea what cius was thinking, although they could get an idea. But, none of them cared as they readied themselves inside the military truck. Once Cain and Levi were beyond the scope of Rouk City¡¯s surveince, the duo jumped out of the moving vehicle and into the forest. The military truck was racing at almost 400km/h. Still, theynded without problem beneath the cover of the trees. Cain had found the criminals¡¯ scent and could easily track them, but if he hinted that he had a way to solve the crime, there was no way to say what cius would do. That is why he and Levi performed that small show before leaving. ..... Even after the duo jumped out, the military truck kept advancing. Neither Levi nor Cain knew of the reach cius had. While he couldn¡¯t influence the Copsing Lightning Military Academy, there was the chance Rouk City¡¯s mayor could get intel on the vehicle¡¯s coordinates. Due to the central server of the Lightning Imperial Fort storing the military truck¡¯s data, not even Cain could hack it. That is why they would let it move on its own and only call it back after they finish the mission. Cain and Levi did not waste a moment before marching back to Rouk City, now under the camouge of the forest. They moved at a shocking speed, easily surpassing the 100 km/h. They could move much faster if they wanted, but they would grow exhausted. In the Old World, the fastest human alive could reach a speed of approximately 50 km/h. Levi and Cain were Level 2 Astral Wave Warriors, and even without their Wave Cloak, they were more than six times faster. Cain stopped just as the duo was about two-thirds of the way back to Rouk City. His helmet vanished, and a focused expression appeared on his face. ¡°What is happening?¡± Levi knew they needed to return to Rouk City¡¯s edge so Cain could pick up the criminals¡¯ scent and, from there, make their way into their camp. ¡°It seems that luck has finally favored us. I picked up the scent. It seems that garbage is not too far away from here.¡± Levi smiled as he heard that, and then under Cain¡¯s guidance, the duo headed west for around a couple of hours. It was night by the time they approached a cave by the side of arge mountain. The duo stared at each other and nodded before making their best effort to hide their presence and slowly made their way into the cave¡¯s vicinity. It was almost half an hour before Cain and Levi returned to their previous position. Not wasting time, the duo shared the information they collected. ¡°What did you find?¡± Levi could see that Cain¡¯s eyes had a special glow, usually found in those with night vision, so he wanted to know his assessment first. ¡°There are a total of fifteen criminals. All of them are Essence Wave Warriors. Eight at Level 1, five at Level 2, and two at Level 3. Almost all suffer from meridian atrophy, so their battle strength is mediocre. However, one Level 3 is fully capable and has no sign of meridian atrophy.¡± Cain spoke all of it calmly, but he saw the shock in Levi¡¯s face. Although he could have hidden that information, this was a life-and-death situation, and failure was uneptable. Of course, there was no way he would reveal his secrets, and he had already thought of an exnation. ¡°I have a Wave Artifact that helps me measure people¡¯s cultivation and the density of their Wave.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. There are indeed Wave Artifacts with such functions, some even avable in the Imperial Military Academy Network, but they were extremely expensive. He knew that Cain was hiding something but did not dig in. Levi knew that Cain had already shown him enough trust by sharing that information. ¡°Ok. Facing them head-on is not a good idea. We are Astral Wave Warriors, and thanks to our Wave Artifacts, we could overwhelm them if we take them by surprise. It seems they are preparing to leave in arge cargo truck, which I assume has the stolen goods. I will handle the two Level 3 Wave Warriors, and you will take care of the others. I propose we assault them while they are in motion. Taking advantage of themotion, we strike fast and strong, neutralizing as many of them as possible in the shortest amount of time. What do you say?¡± Although Cain would be fighting thirteen Wave Warriors and Levi only two, those at Levels 1 and 2 with atrophied meridians would be unable to ovee his armor¡¯s defenses as long as he kept Wave Burst active. On the other hand, the Level 3 Wave Warriors could do much damage, especially the one that is in peak condition. Cain nodded without hesitation, and then the duo began focusing on their n¡¯s details. Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Two vs fifteen (II) Deep into the night, arge truck began to move out of a cave less than a day away from Rouk City. Despite its size, the vehicle made no noise and silently moved through the forest. Two men were sitting in the cab. One was very old with arge scar over his left eye, while the other resembled a middle-aged man with dark hair. Unlike the elder¡¯s stoic expression, the younger smiled as he watched the trees passing by. ¡°You sure are rxed. It is your fault that we need to move so fast. You could have incapacitated the guard but immediately went for the kill.¡± The older man spoke harshly, but the middle-aged man kept smiling. ¡°Of course that I ended him. Although it was unlikely, he might have caught a glimpse of my face. Unlike you, I don¡¯t intend to waste my life as a lowly criminal. My only goal is to get enough resources to enter Level 4 and get afortable life as a guard in some Noble Family.¡± The middle-aged man spoke mockingly and did not bother to hide his disdain. ¡°Haha, what family would hire someone with your taste as a guard.¡± The old man¡¯s special emphasis on the word taste hinted there was a hidden meaning to it, and the cold reaction of the middle-aged man affirmed it. ¡°Hmph, I never leave evidence, and you should watch your mouth unless you want to be one.¡± A tense atmosphere formed between the duo as the middle-aged man issued that threat, but then, out of nowhere, their eyes widened as they felt a powerful auraing to them. ..... Before the duo could do anything, a man covered in de armor and enveloped in mes reached the truck¡¯s cab. And at the same time, another man with ck scale armor attacked the trailer. Cain used Light Boots¡¯ Burst and Kic Gauntlets¡¯ Kic st to achieve an immense speed and struck the truck¡¯s trailer with such strength that it deformed it. Levi¡¯s body was like a giant fireball that crashed with the cab at more than 400 km/h. The cadets¡¯ military truck could have easily resisted an impact like that, but the criminal¡¯s truck was like a dried branch. With Cain hitting it on the right and Levi on the left, the truck made an ugly sound before splitting in two. The trailer only rolled a few times, but Levi sent the cab holding the two Level 3 Wave Warriors flying away for almost twenty meters. Levi and Cain nced at each other briefly before shing to their targets. The red-eyed youth had already decided to take care of both Level 3 Wave Warriors, and since both of them were in the cab working as lookouts, it made everything easier. Cain was impressed by Levi¡¯s attack. The truck¡¯s cabin must weigh around fifteen tons, so one could imagine the strength behind that lunge for it to fly for more than a dozen meters. Still, Cain did not let his thoughts wander and focused on the battle ahead. He jumped over the trailer and put his hands over its metallic surface before using Lightning Conversion. The Astral Wave on Cain¡¯s bursting Wave Cloak transformed into lightning that soon spread inside the trailer. He did not contain at all and unleashed the full power of his skill while making sure the charge would not disperse in the ground. Although the mission would end with a better score if they managed to trap the criminals alive, neither Cain nor Levi were naive enough to hold back during a life-and-death battle, especially when outnumbered. ¡°?Boom!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as someone sted the trailer¡¯s doors, and six figures shed out from it. It was not a surprise for him that the Level 2 Essence Wave Warriors could make it, but it seemed that one of the eight at Level 1 managed to endure the crash and electric waves. If the rest of the Level 1 Wave Warriors had the strength to fight, they would have left the trailer when the doors were busted open, so Cain stopped sending his lightning and shed to the group. Before any criminal could get over the shock and get used to the dark surroundings, Cain had already appeared among them. He sent a vicious punch to the throat of Level 2 Essence Wave Warrior with the highest stats. The Level 2 Wave Warrior could not even scream, and if it weren¡¯t for his Wave Cloak, that attack would have broken his throat, drowning him in his own blood. ¡®One down, five to go.¡¯ That thought was the only one to cross Cain¡¯s mind as he saw the Essence Wave Warrior falling to the ground. When the other criminals saw that, they immediately triggered Wave Burst to the maximum they could achieve and moved away from Cain. An Essence Wave Warrior would always put some distance when fighting an Astral Wave Warrior. The criminals would then attempt to surround Cain before firing all their spells. Their strategy was good, but they were too slow. Before the five Essence Wave Warriors could move more than twenty meters away, Cain used his Light Boots¡¯ Burst to reach the second strongest criminal. The criminal was able to react this time, forming a cross with his arms before ayer of dense ice covered them. Regr attacks would have required a few seconds to cross that cover, allowing the other criminals time to fire their spells. However, Cain only sneered as his right Kic Gauntlet glowed, allowing him to fire a Kic st point-nk in the ice shield. ¡°Crack!¡± The ice shield shattered, as did the bones in the Level 2 Wave Warrior¡¯s arms before being sent flying away. ¡®Two down.¡¯ Chapter 52 Chapter 52: Two vs fifteen (III) Cain had just sent the Level 2 Wave Warrior with the ice shield flying away as the earth beneath his feet began to liquefy. He was honestly surprised that one of the criminals could do that. The criminal that did it was the only Level 1 Wave Warrior conscious. He had pierced his hands in the ground and used his Essence Wave to control the earth and release the spell beneath Cain¡¯s legs. ¡®His Wave Talent is mediocre, but it seems his mastery over the Four Basic Wave Arts is the strongest of the six.¡¯ Cain had initially thought that the Level 1 Wave Warrior would be the easiest, which is why he focused his attention on the strongest of those at Level 2. Unfortunately, that proved to be a mistake. The other criminals smiled, ready to rain down their spells on him. ¡®I need to be more careful. Well, it is not like I can not ovee it.¡¯ As those thoughts crossed Cain¡¯s mind, his Astral Wave had already filled the Light Boots, allowing him to stomp with so much strength that he was able to ovee the swampy ground. That was not all, as he directed his body toward the Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior. The smile on the criminal¡¯s face vanished, and before he could summon a wall of earth, Cain¡¯s body shed against him. ..... Cain¡¯s weight with his armor surpassed 100 kg, and his Wave Cloak, in a state of almost 200% Wave Burst, exponentially enhanced the hardness of his body. One could imagine the fate of the Level 1 Essence Wave Warrior after colliding with that at a speed of over 200 km/h. Cain sent the man flying over 20 meters, and whether he was still alive or not was hard to say. However, that did not matter to him, and he sent a kick to a middle-aged criminal that was near him. Unfortunately for Cain, a fireball shed on his chest before he could connect the attack. The criminals smiled as they saw that and were sure the attack would incapacitate the ck demon long enough for them to counterattack. Nevertheless, their hopes shattered the next second. That fireball that could have exploded an Old World¡¯s car barely pushed Cain five meters before this one stamped the ground and regained control over his body. That fireball was powerful, and it could have done real damage to any other newly Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, but not only was Cain in a state of Wave Burst, but his Nullity Armor focused on defense. Cain felt a metallic taste on his mouth, and viciousness appeared in his eyes as he shed back to the fray. ¡°Fucking monster, die!¡± One of the criminals shouted in fear as his Wave morphed into five arrows of air and shot toward Cain. Cain did not back down or stop his march. Instead, he dodged the arrows by getting down on all fours and, in that position, continued marching forward. A criminal saw with horror how Cain¡¯s body propelled toward him like a spear. A shoulder collided with his stomach, making him puke blood and thrusting him to the ground, right before a punch almost cracked his skull and sent him into unconsciousness. Cain did not lose his momentum and jumped forward, sending a kick into a criminal that was trying to fire a spear of earth. With that one, he had already incapacitated five criminals. He then turned to thest Level 2 Essence Wave Warrior and dashed toward this one. ¡°Wait, I surrender!¡± The criminal screamed and raised his hands, signaling he no longer wanted to fight but was answering his plea of a fist to the temple. Cain did not contain himself. That punch sent the criminal crashing to the ground, and there was no doubt this one would suffer a severe concussion. ¡°Well done, brat. That garbage was trying to mobilize his Essence Wave quietly and would have surely attacked if you stopped.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice in his mind and nodded. He did not know whether the criminal was willing to surrender or trying to trick him, but there was no way he would lower his guard in a life and death battle just because of some words. He acted the same when he fought the Hell Devil female in the Military Academy Secret Trial. When it came to an enemy, their race made no difference for him. After taking care of the six criminals that managed to escape the trailer and using the [Basic Scan Force Field] to ensure the others were unconscious, he turned toward the battle between Levi and the two Level 3 Essence Wave Warriors. Immediately, Cain adopted a solemn expression as he saw the might of that battle. The old man had arge staff that allowed him to fire earth spells fast, while the middle-aged man had a de bathed in a green wind. On the other hand, mes flowed through Levi¡¯s armor, and explosions would st from his feet, allowing him to move all over the battlefield. Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Victory Levi¡¯s armor had smallcerations and minor indentations, but they were nothing. On the other hand, the two Level 3 Essence Wave Warriors were full of wounds. The old man had the left side of his body thoroughly burned, and the left arm was so twisted that you could see bones through the skin. Levi provoked most of those wounds when he shed against the truck¡¯s cabin and sent it flying away. The middle-aged criminal was luckier, as he was on the opposite side of the sh. Still, Levi had burned half his face and left a fiery fist print in his chest. Unlike the other criminals, the duo not only was at a higher level, but they also had Wave Artifacts that allowed them to fire spells faster and with greater precision and power. Yet, they had barely been able to touch Levi all this time. Levi¡¯s fists and legs would shoot explosions that allowed his offensive power and speed to reach an incredible level. Those were not effects from his Wave Artifacts but a skill that perfectly used the power of his fire Lineage. The middle-aged man saw how Levi shed toward him, and the power of wind burst around his body, allowing him to move back at great speed. That was not all, as a wall of reinforced earth appeared between them. Of course, the responsible for the wall of earth was the old criminal. Although they did not like each other, they were smart enough to understand that working together was the only way they could win. ..... The middle-aged man smiled as the green wind on his Wave Artifact grew more potent, ready to unleash a barrage of wind des. Unfortunately, the duo had already used that trick before. Levi smiled, and instead of pushing through the earth wall, he shed to the side toward the old criminal. Panic appeared on the old criminal¡¯s face as he saw Levi¡¯s imposing figureing toward him. Creating a powerful earth wall took time, which he did not have, so instead, he used his Essence Wave to shoot earth spearheads. Levi raised his guard and gathered most of his Astral Wave in his arms through Wave Focus, allowing him to take the spearheads head-on. The middle-aged man also panicked as he saw Levi getting near the old man, but there was nothing he could do in such little time. In ast desperate act, the old man gathered his Essence Wave around his staff, making this one glow with a brown light, and waved it toward Levi¡¯s head. Essence Wave enhanced the staff, and sharp earth spikes also emerged from it. A direct strike could surpass Levi¡¯s armor defenses. However, before the old man could wave it down, an explosion emerged from Levi¡¯s feet. His staff was still in the air when Levi shed against him, shattering many of his bones. The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the old man flying through the air while puking blood. ¡®I need to run!¡¯ That was the only thought that crossed his mind as he saw hisrade¡¯s fate. To take care of the old man, Levi had gotten far from the middle-aged criminal, giving this one a chance to run, and since he specialized in wind spells, his agility was impressive. Sadly for the middle-aged criminal, a figure emerged from his blind spot and dashed to his back. He had been so focused on Levi that he failed to perceive the sneak attack until it was toote. ¡®DAMMIT!¡¯ There was nothing he could do other than try to mobilize as much of his Essence Wave to his back as fast as possible. Cain¡¯s punchnded point-nk in the middle-aged man and used thest bit of Astral Wave left to fire a Kic st. ¡°AHHH!¡± A cry of agony emerged from the middle-aged criminal as he felt his spine cracking under the Kic st. Had he not mobilized most of his Essence Wave, the attack could have killed him. And things only worsened as the attack sent him flying in Levi¡¯s direction. Still mid-air, the man received a kick from Levi, which cracked his skull and knocked him down. ¡°Well done. Luckily you finished your side fast, or else that man could have escaped.¡± Cain only nodded to Levi¡¯s words. Although they had decided to divide the targets, he would obviouslye to help. Of course, since he took part in the defeat of the Level 3 Wave Warrior, hispletion percentage would increase, distributing more of the mission¡¯s reward toward him. If Levi had been the type of person that would rather fail a mission than lose Imperial Military Credits, Cain¡¯s interference could have been a problem. Without wasting time, the duo began gathering the criminals, and then Cain stared at Levi with an inquiring gaze. Since this mission involved capturing criminals, the Copsing Lightning Military Academy had to give them Sleep Tiaras. A Sleep Tiara was a special type of Wave Artifact that could induce a deep state of unconsciousness. Levi should have obtained it when he took the mission. Levi extended his right hand, and Cain saw how a red ring glowed before several Sleep Tiaras appeared out of nowhere. ¡°Space ring!¡± Cain was surprised to see that Levi had a space ring. That was a Wave Artifact without offensive power but useful in and out of battles. ¡°There is no need to be surprised. For truly powerful Noble Families, these are so normal that they give it to any child.¡± Levi acted like nothing and began to put the Sleep Tiaras on the criminals. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, but he did not attempt to dig for information and helped with the tiaras. The Wave Artifacts began to glow once in ce, using the Wave of the criminals to work. That would have been enough, but Cain and Levi went the extra mile and dislocated the criminals¡¯ arms and knees. Sleep Tiaras could fail, but without working extremities, they could neither fight nor run. Just like that, Cain and Levi went against fifteen Wave Warriors and came out victorious without suffering significant wounds. Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Bitter end After taking care of the criminals, ensuring they could not pose a threat or contact anyone, Cain and Levi removed several metallic containers from the truck¡¯s trailer. Levi scanned the barcodes and confirmed that those were the ones stolen from Rouk City. A smile appeared on the duo¡¯s faces once they confirmed that. Now that Cain and Levi had apprehended the criminals and recovered the stolen goods, their mission was over. They needed to return to the Lightning Imperial Fort and reim their reward. ¡°It will take some time for the military truck to reach this ce, and they will not go anywhere. We should check the cave where they came from.¡± Cain could see the greedy light in Levi¡¯s eyes, and the same thing appeared in his. The criminals were in a hurry to escape and might have left something valuable hidden inside the cave. Although neither Cain nor Levi dared to think of taking something from the containers, the possessions of these criminals were entirely different. Levi¡¯s space ring already contained the staff and sword from the Level 3 Essence Wave Warriors. Levi and Cain hadrge smiles as they shed toward the cave. Even if the chances were small, the idea of great wealth enticed the youths. ..... However, the moment they entered the cave, the smiles of Cain and Levi were reced by utter shock. The cave was mostly empty, except for two bodies. The criminals had thoroughly burned them, leaving nothing but their bones. Cain and Levi had seen their fair share of death, so it was odd for some corpses to affect them that way. Their minds froze because those bodies were small, really small. Cain took a deep breath and attempted to calm himself as he used the [Pseudo-Cellr Analysis] tool on the corpses. Just as the information was about to reach him, he heard Apex¡¯s voice in his mind. ¡°Are you sure you want to know?¡± Apex¡¯s words only made Cain¡¯s suspicions grow, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he nodded. After obtaining the confirmation, the System Spirit no longer interfered. [Scan of targetspleted. ¡ª Both corpses belong to female humans. The bone analysis puts one¡¯s age at ten years and the other at eleven. Severe damage to the pelvic bones on both bodies. Most likely the result of ra...] ¡®Enough!¡¯ Cain shouted in his mind, not letting the Absolute Life Forms System continue. His heart beat faster and faster as a sense of absolute bloodlust invaded his mind. Cain was trying to control himself as the desire to kill burned in his veins. Yet, when he detected a scent in the bodies, his emotions went out of control, clouding his mind. Bloodlust overflowed his eyes as he shed out of the cave. He reached the criminals very fast and immediately detected the one whose scent had impregnated those bodies. Cain appeared next to the unconscious middle-aged Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior and stomped his head. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bones shattering echoed through the forest. The man was still alive, but his face waspletely deformed. Nevertheless, that was far from enough to calm Cain, who raised his leg again, intending to shatter the middle-aged man¡¯s skull with the next stomp. Just as Cain was about to kill the criminal, someone grabbed his shoulder and threw him back. Cain regained control over his body immediately. The bloodlust in his eyes exploded as he saw Levi standing in his way. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain¡¯s killing intent. The feeling he now got from the blue-eyed youth was that of a feral beast. Deep down, Cain did not want to contain that rage. That is why his emotional outburst was so strong as to be willing to go through Levi to kill the middle-aged man. Levi frowned as he saw where things were going. He could win against Cain since he still had around twenty percent of his Astral Wave left. However, the battle would not be easy, and he was certainly not willing to risk it for someone that disgusted him. ¡°Death is too easy. Remember the price people like this garbage pays once convicted.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard Levi¡¯s words, and a cold smile slowly emerged on his face as the bloodlust in his eyes vanished. The Godyer Humankind Empire was a well-developed civilization, and different crimes carried different sentences. Theft and the likes where no one perished would only give you a few years of prison and forcedbor. As for things like what the middle-aged man did to those children, the price for that was something that the Old World would punish with death or at least a life sentence. The Godyer Humaking Empire would not waste resources incarcerating garbage until they died of old age. However, they would neither kill them. Their fate was much, much worse. Cain had forgotten that fact due to the rage that clouded his mind, but once Levi mentioned it, he calmed himself. The desire to kill was still there, but it could not ovee his willpower. rity returned to Cain¡¯s eyes after a few seconds, and he sighed. ¡°Ah, I am sorry for that. I could not...¡± At that point, Cain made a slight pause, and resolution appeared in his eyes as he corrected himself. ¡°I did not want to hold back.¡± Cain knew he had made a mistake by not resisting the emotional outburst but would not use excuses. He would learn from his mistake and ept the consequences. Levi stood silent for a moment before also sighing and shaking his head. ¡°I understand where that came from, so let us pretend nothing happened. After all, I would have done the same if I thought this garbage would not regret being alive.¡± Levi did not criticize Cain. The duo then returned to the cave, took out the corpses, and dug a grave for them near arge tree. In the Godyer Humankind Empire, being buried in the forest where your body would return to the world was considered a good final rest. The military truck reached their location an hourter, and the duo loaded the container along with the criminals before getting in the cabin and setting off. Cain and Levi remained silent the entire way back into the Lightning Imperial Fort. The excitement they felt afterpleting their first mission was over. The only thing either could think about were those two small bodies. Chapter 55 Chapter 55: How to deal with cancer The military truck containing Levi and Cain did not have a problem returning to the Lightning Imperial Fort. After advancing a little deeper into the area restricted to cadets, the duo got down. Levi used his A.I. Chip to give a detailed report about the mission, including the behavior of Mayor cius, along with the state of the stolen goods and criminals. Then, the military truck moved on its own, heading to the Titan Tower, where the higher-ups would check the containers and interrogate the criminals before clearing the mission and sending the duo their reward. ¡°I was thinking of handing over the two Wave Artifacts to the military academy. They will give us half their market value, but since we obtained them during a mission, those Imperial Military Credits would count in the Copsing Lightning Military Academy Ranking. Of course, if you have a better idea, I am listening.¡± Levi exined to Cain his n to handle the staff and sword they got. Since neither was an Essence Wave Warrior, they did not have use for them. Cain could use Apex¡¯s connections in the Godyer Humankind Network to barter the two Wave Artifacts, but in the end, he preferred Levi¡¯s idea. He already had full armor, gauntlets, and boots. Although he could obtain pills, drugs, and cultivation resources through barter, he was not willing to consume shady substances from an unknown origin. ..... ¡°Fine, let¡¯s do it your way.¡± ¡°Good. Merit Ruler will automatically distribute Imperial Military Credits, so we don¡¯t have to worry about it. I will be going now.¡± Levi shook Cain¡¯s hand before departing, leaving the second alone. Cain did not dally and made his way home. Although his face showed little, his mind was in turmoil. No matter how hard he tried, the image of those two bodies did not leave him. Things only grew worse as he pictured the horrible fate they endured before their deaths. ¡®Apex, why did the report sent by Rouk City¡¯s Mayor not mention those children?¡¯ Cain heard the voice of the System Spirit immediately, but it did not give him an answer. ¡°You already know why.¡± Apex¡¯s voice was cold and detached. One could misunderstand that the System Spirit did not care about those children, but the fact that he showed coldness told a lot to Cain. And the System Spirit was also right in that Cain already knew the answer to the question. It was just that he loathed it so much that part of him refused to ept it. ¡®cius could not hide the death of an Essence Wave guard, but there was no problem if he made some children disappear from an orphanage.¡¯ ¡°That is right, that grease ball could have just altered some documents, and it would be like those children never existed.¡± Cain clenched his fists as he kept walking to his residence. The idea of Mayor cius enjoying the pleasure of life while condemning little children to a horrible fate made his blood boil. ¡®What exactly will happen to the criminals?¡¯ Cain had an idea, but Apex would surely be more informed as he spent all his time investigating all aspects of the Godyer Humankind Network. ¡°ording to my understanding, the Imperial Investigation Force is in charge of criminal investigations rted to Wave Cultivators. Among their methods is the ability to read minds, so there is no way that garbage could hide any information. There is a good chance they will find some rtion between the Mayor of Rouk City and criminal activities, but I doubt that will make a difference.¡± ¡®What? Why!? How could they turn a blind eye to something like this!?¡¯ Cain could not believe that the Godyer Humankind Empire could be so rotten as to allow something like what happened to those children to go unpunished. ¡°It is not so simple. cius surely hid his involvement very well, and even if there were suspicions, the Imperial Investigation Force would only act if they found irrefutable evidence. After all, that fat bastard is nothing, but the one above him must have some background. In the end, abination of apprehension andck of evidence will allow cius to get away with it. They will, at most, send a letter of reprimand, trying to scare him into not doing it again. I suppose you could find some constion in knowing that the middle-aged man that harmed those children will be a Tier 0 Criminal along with all the other garbage you captured.¡± ording to the severity of their crimes, the Godyer Humankind Empire ssified people ording to tiers, and bing a Tier 0 Criminal was the worst punishment possible. The Empire modified them with drugs and machinery, transforming them into living puppets useful for dangerous and even suicidal tasks. Such behavior would have drawn outrage in the Old World, but no one would dare to defy the Godyer Humankind Empire for a bunch of killers and rapists. People like that, who would choose to fight for the rights of the lowest type of garbage while the entire race was in a war for survival, were nothing but clowns. Since they did not value the life of their race¡¯s children, they lost the right to call themselves humans. That is the way of the Godyer Humankind! Cain knew that all those criminals would regret having been born. That is why he overcame his desire to kill them on the spot back in the forest. After hearing everything Apex said, Cain began to walk slower and slower until he finally stopped. The guard¡¯s death at the hands of the criminals did not truly bother him. That person was an adult and mature enough to understand the consequences of choosing that sort of job. Yet, children were different. They were innocent and should be protected until they could bear the weight of their decisions. ¡®So, I should just ept the judgment of the higher-ups and pretend I don¡¯t know the part that the bastard had in those little girls¡¯ death?¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes were full of murderous rage, scaring all the cadets walking near him. Apex did not reply immediately, and it was only once Cain¡¯s wrath was about to explode that he spoke. ¡°There are people who behave no differently than cancerous cells. They consume everything good and never have enough.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and his attention focused entirely on the System Spirit. ¡°Only fools and cowards think that you can reason with cancer. There is only one path. Kill it and everything infected by it!¡± Those words full of killing intent calmed Cain, and a cold smile appeared. ¡®Apex, hack into cius¡¯ agenda. I want to know every move he makes and when he is most vulnerable. Also, search the Godyer Humankind Network for a Wave Artifact that could hide my identity and any trace of my presence.¡¯ ¡°I will begin the hacking immediately. As for Wave Artifacts of that kind, some in the form of helmets can hide your appearance from most high-level recording devices and even alter your Astral Wave in some way.¡± Apex was extremely efficient and followed Cain¡¯s instructions without wasting time. ¡®Great. Please inform me when youplete your analysis of cius¡¯ patterns. As for the helmet, if you can, get one red.¡¯ Chapter 56 Chapter 56: Three types Cain returned to his room, and after paying his respect to his father¡¯s altar, he took a quick shower and went to sleep. Although he wanted to train, he needed to rest properly. In the following days, he spent every free moment training the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Using the Dark Race¡¯s blood still proved effective, allowing him to save the hearts for a higher cultivation step, where the amount of Astral Wave needed would be higher. Cain had decided to kill cius, but although taking care of that man in a one-on-one battle would be easy, there was no way a mayor would not have protection. He would likely have to face that Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior he saw in cius¡¯ office, so he needed to grow stronger. He had just woken up on Monday and was ready to march into the auditorium for his Wave Mastery ss when a message arrived through the [A.I. Chip Module] [Saint of Killers, you have been awarded 950 Imperial Military Credits for fulfilling mission C-23. ¡ª Saint of Killers, you have been awarded 520 Imperial Military Credits for handing over Wave Artifacts found during mission C-23.] ..... Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard those messages and saw his Imperial Military Credits skyrocket. Part of the reason he gained so much was an extra reward for the criminals being captured alive. Besides, all missions that involved investigation had a bonus. Although seeing so many Imperial Military Credits was exciting, Cain did not let it go to his head. The mission paid a great deal, but you have to consider that they faced several Wave Warriors, and a wrong step could have meant their death. It did not take long for Cain to reach the auditorium, and he sat alongside Levi and Beelze. The trio made some small talk when Cain suddenly noticed someone. Cain nced to a corner of the auditorium and saw a womanpletely isted. No noble ormoner wanted to be anywhere near her. Beelze and Levi noticed the coldness in Cain¡¯s eyes and turned to the woman. The first showed nothing, but the second released a small killing intent. The woman noticed their gazes but remained calm and kept looking forward. ¡°I assume that the two of you know her.¡± Beelze could see the coldness and killing intent, which incited her curiosity. ¡°Her name is Nira Kilor. I did not see her duringst week¡¯s sses. Part of me thought she had found a way out of the military academy, but it seemed she had been recovering.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes focused on the woman¡¯s right side and saw a new arm where a stump used to be. Recovering a lost extremity was not impossible, but the amount of wealth needed was immense. Not to mention that the stronger your body was, the higher the price. Nira could count herself lucky since she trained the Essence Evolution Path of Power and was only a Level 2 Wave Warrior. ¡°Oh, so that is the infamous Nira Kilor. The one loathed by everybody.¡± Beelze did not have many friends, but even she heard the rumors about the treacherous cadet that sacrificed her friend to escape. ¡°Yes.¡± Cain nodded, but as he saw Nira sitting by herself, he felt odd. Of course, Cain did not feel guilty, sad, or anything else like that. If given a chance, he would have ended the woman. What bothered him was the cold and reserved aura he now felt from Nira. It was unlike her arrogant and impulsive personality in the Military Academy Secret Trial. ¡°She has be dangerous.¡± Cain was surprised to hear Apex¡¯s voice and frowned. ¡®That new arm must have drained a lot of vitality, affecting her cultivation. I¡¯m confident in killing her if we fight.¡¯ ¡°Brat, her battle power is not what makes it dangerous. In most ces, you will find three types of people. There are those like you and the other two brats by your side. You don¡¯t hide your power, and while you don¡¯t seek the spotlight, you neither hide from it. Others like Lumir and Zamir are in constant pursuit of the spotlight, and they tend to overestimate their capacities. You will find many people like that in your path, but they are mostly fools. The third type could be considered the most dangerous. This type is the one that keeps a cold head and maintains a low profile, saving their strength until it is time to strike.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as a sh of enlightenment appeared in them. The trauma had turned Nira from the second type to the third, making her much more dangerous. ¡®I need to do something about her.¡¯ Cain was sure that Nira had not forgotten about him. Sadly, there was little he could do inside the Lightning Imperial Fort. Total silence reigned in the auditorium once Wink appeared. No one would dare to show disrespect to the mighty Wave Champion, who could unleash attacks faster than the speed of sound. ¡°I hope all of you have trained during these few days. Today we will focus only on Wave Burst. We will use the first half to test our Wave output. As for the second half, we willbine Wave Burst with Synergy Flow.¡± Wink said nothing else before making the cadets stand up and train. He would move through the auditorium, giving hints from time to time and fixing ws of anyone having a hard time. As Wink told them, the first half was about improving the amount of Wave they could unleash. Cain¡¯s maximum was a 205% Wave Burst, while that of Levi¡¯s was 211%. Beelze was an Essence Wave Warrior, so she had a more challenging time in that art and only reached 178%. However, she proved to be much more talented than the other Essence Wave Warriors cadets since the second-best only achieved 161% Wave Burst. Wink gave the ss a half-hour break before going to the second half. Using Synergy Flow with a normal Wave Cloak was already hard, but using it with a bursting Wave Cloak pushed everybody¡¯s concentration to the limit. Once the ss ended, every cadet was both physically and mentally exhausted. Cain and Levi were sweating a lot, like everybody else. The duo and all the other males did not have a problem with it, but it was harder for women, as not only did they tend to care more about those things, but the sweat affected their clothes. Many males threw furtive nces at some women, doing their best to hide their lust, and the center of their attention was the one sitting to Cain¡¯s left. Sadly for all of them, Beelze continuously unleashed a cold breeze that kept her body clean. Still, she gave all those that looked at her a piercing gaze. Cain and Levi only shook their heads toward the other cadets. Once the ss was over, the trio returned to their residences. Like that, the second ss of Wave Mastery ended. Chapter 57 Chapter 57: Legio Eldritch Race Like usual, Cain returned to his residence after the ss, where he dedicated all his free time to cultivating. The feeling of growing stronger was better than any game, so he had no problem spending his entire day on that. Cain continued training deep into the night until he finally went to bed and rested for the following day. He woke up with the first ray of sunlight and raced toward the auditorium, where he sat in his usual spot alongside Levi and Beelze. The trio did not have time for small talk as Razmun soon entered the auditorium and reached the podium. The dwarf-like teacher stood silent until the virtual screen manifested above him. ¡°Thest ss focused on the Infernus Daemon Race, and today we will do it on the Legio Eldritch Race.¡± Razmun had just finished talking when the virtual screen showed a group of life forms with appearances resembling thebination of insects and Old World¡¯s dinosaurs. Those creatures had a ferocious appearance, but they were all respectfully surrounding two individuals at the center of the horde. ..... One seems to be a two-and-a-half-meter male with four arms and a red shell covering most of his muscr body, including his face. The second had a smaller and slender body, with a bulging, ridged, elongated head that resembled very much that of an octopus. ¡°When ites to the Legio Eldritch Race, there are two types of warriors, Eldritchs and Drones. The difference between these two groups is whether they have an ego and the ability to cultivate. Eldritchs represented less than ten percent of the entire race poption, but since they are the ones with intelligence and wisdom, they are the leaders. Besides their individual fighting power, they can also control Drones, manipting them as if they were an extension of themselves. Unlike most races, there is a striking difference between their males and females. Males had muscr four-armed bodies, while females had slender bodies and octopus-like heads. The difference does not end in their appearances, as males, while physically stronger, can control fewer Drones simultaneously. On the other hand, females had weaker bodies, but the number of Drones they couldmand was almost three timesrger. Theirck of ego makes Legio Eldritch Race¡¯s Drones fearless killing machines. They will follow themands of their Eldritch master without hesitation. Nevertheless, Drones have a fatal w. Without the control of an Eldritch, they are no different than wild beasts, with some types so savage that they kill each other. In a fight against Legio Eldritch Race members, the best path forward is to kill the Eldritchs instead of wasting time with the Drones. Of course, an Eldritch would not hesitate to sacrifice every Drone in their control to save their lives. There are more types of Eldritchs, like those in charge of generating the Drones, but you will never find them on the battlefield, so we will not waste our time with them.¡± After that exnation, Razmun began to describe the anatomy of every single Drone and that of the Eldritchs. He exined in detail the position of the heart and vital organs. The virtual screen also disyed all sorts of simtions, showing the cadets how to take advantage of their weak points and defend against attacks. Fighting against Eldritchs almost always meant fighting Drones, so unless your battle power could overwhelm the enemy, humans needed to form groups. Razmun also exined in detail the best battle formations against the Legio Eldritch Race. Cain¡¯s focus did not slip for a single second during the ss. As he saw all that, he had to admit that he liked the male Eldritch¡¯s battle style. An overwhelming brute power while manipting Drones to block the enemy¡¯s movements. ¡®Control everything with your mind.¡¯ When that thought appeared, a red light shed through Cain¡¯s eyes, but it vanished instantly. After the ss ended, Cain went back to his residence. He paid respects to his father¡¯s altar, but instead of starting his cultivation immediately, he entered the Imperial Military Academy Network and began to scroll through the missions. Tomorrow would be the Military Tactics ss, and he would be free for the rest of the week, so he was nning his next move. Not much Dark Race¡¯s blood was left, so Cain needed cultivation resources. Although he still had the Dark Race¡¯s hearts, he wanted to save them for Level 3, where they would benefit him the most. In the end, Cain chose a mission that consisted in collecting special herbs used in the creation of drugs. The mission paid little, but it took ce in a Tier 0 Dangers Zone where there would be a great deal of Wave Beast that he could hunt. Although Wave Beast¡¯s hearts would not be as good as Dark Race¡¯s hearts, they would be more than enough for a Level 2 Wave Warrior like Cain. Having secured the mission, Cain began with his cultivation. Chapter 58 Chapter 58: Deus Behemoth Race and Anima Mechanicus Race Cain sat alongside Levi and Beelze as Vice-Captain Josef entered the auditorium and reached the podium. He unleashed a fierce aura, shutting down any noise before starting with the ss. ¡°The Godyer Humankind is strong. Although someone like me would not dare to assume the full might of our power, you should know that a Duke controls each Sector. And there is no one with the title of Duke whose strength is beneath that of a Titan!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. A Titan was someone whose supernatural powers defied logic. They could stand on the surface of the Old World¡¯s sun! The Godyer Humankind Empire controlled the Gaia Continent and had 72 Sectors, meaning there were at least 72 Titans! ¡®Are we that powerful!?¡¯ Although that information was not news for many cadetsing from Noble Families, it came as a shock for someone like Cain. Before Cain could enjoy the feeling for long, Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside his mind. ¡°Hmph, brat, you felt proud of that measly number? If I were a member of the Dark Races, I would be pleased to hear that. It would mean I need to kill 72 individuals to end your entire race. ..... From what I have managed to gather, the poption of the Godsalyer Humankind is more than forty trillion. Despite that massive poption, the number that became Titans is not above one hundred. No matter how you see it, that is pathetic.¡± Cain frowned and clenched his fists as he felt irritated by Apex¡¯s words, but although he did not like it, he had to admit there was truth behind them. There was nothing to be happy about from a sess rate beneath 0,000000001%. ¡®Why do you tell me all this?¡¯ ¡°Simple, so you don¡¯t get toocent. There is nothing wrong with being happy at your race achievements, but only garbage blindly relies on them. You have the Absolute Life Form System fused with your soul, so only your power should matter.¡± A sh of enlightenment crossed Cain¡¯s eyes after hearing Apex¡¯s words. Like every human, the threat of the Dark Races always loomed over his head and was a great source of inspiration to grow stronger. However, when Cain heard there were at least 72 Titans, that pressure intuitively reduced since he knew powerful life forms were protecting the Godyer Humankind Empire. Luckily, Apex acted fast, or else that train of thoughts would have affected him. ¡®Instead of relying on others, rely on yourself. Your power and hard work will never betray you.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes regained their sharp light. Still, he grew a little confused since he now knew Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s words were harmful to the young cadets. Josef solved all of Cain¡¯s doubts the next moment. ¡°Yes, we have 72 Dukes, and the number of Titans might reach 100.¡± Josef let the cadets show a proud smile before speaking again, this time somberly. ¡°But, the number of Dark Races¡¯ Gods easily surpasses the 400!¡± Thosest words shocked everybody, even members of the Noble Families. It made sense that their elders would like to brag about the power of the Godyer Humankind Empire but would not be so open about the power of the Dark Races. Vice-Captain Josef was a seasoned soldier, and it was clear that his understanding of human psychology was not shallow. He would not have made the mistake of taking away a source of motivation for the cadets. ¡°If we were to enter a full-out war against the three Dark Races, the Godyer Humankind would be massacred. Luckily we are not alone. Just like the Inferno Daemon Race, Legio Eldritch Race, and Atrox Immortus Race form a coalition, we have our own with the Deus Behemoth Race and Anima Mechanicus Race.¡± The mood of the cadets improved once they heard that. The dread and fear of hearing that there were currently over 400 Gods clouded their minds, but now they remember the Godyer Humankind was not alone in this war. Vice-Captian Josef waved his hand, and the virtual screen above his head showed two groups of individuals. One wasposed of humanoids with metallic bodies and blue mes in their cristal eyes, while the other was full of dragons, phoenixes, unicorns, and all sorts of mythical creatures. ¡°I will first start with the Anima Mechanicus Race. Despite humans being biological life forms and Animas mechanical, we are considered brother races. The reason for that is that their Ancestor is rted to ours. The Godsalyer Humankind¡¯s Ancestor is Adam, the First Titan. The Anima Mechanicus Race¡¯s Ancestor is no other than the First Titan¡¯s A.I. Chip, which gained sentience and a soul. Members of the Anima Mechanicus Race can only train the Essence Evolution Path of Power, but that does not mean their bodies are weak. They reform them after every advance in their cultivation.¡± Josef made it so that the virtual screen would disy several videos of Animas fighting, and everybody was amazed by their abilities. ¡°Now, let¡¯s talk about the Deus Behemoth Race. They have been in Aether before we even put a foot in Gaia. Some might wonder why they look simr to the Old World¡¯s mythical creatures.¡± Cain and many other cadets nodded. Dragons and phoenixes were part of the Old World¡¯s fables, but they were supposed to be inventions of humans and not an actual race of another dimension. ¡°Schrs have asked themselves that question, and the best exnation was rted to the power of our dreams. In a nutshell, while our bodies could not enter this dimension, we could glimpse it through our dreams. That is how the Deus Behemoth Race became part of our stories and fairy tales.¡± Although that exnation had a lot to desire, the cadets knew that would be the best they would get from Vice-Captain Josef. ¡°The Deus Behemoth Race is extremely arrogant, but they are also direct and loath any form of deception. If a Behemoth gives you their word, you can trust they will keep it. The amount of bloodlines in their race is immense, and those born with powerful ones have an extremely high status. When ites to their bodies, they are incredibly gifted from birth. That is why at least 80% chose to take the Astral Rebirth Path of Power.¡± After giving that brief exnation about the allies of the Godsalyer Humankind against the Dark Races, Vice-Captain Josef gave a lengthy description of the different types of battlefields and how to take advantage of each. Chapter 59 Chapter 59: A great danger The first ray of sunshine appeared in the sky when Cain got into a military truck and left the Lightning Imperial Fort. He spent the previous day preparing and resting before leaving for the Tier 0 Danger Zone, where his mission took ce. Once the military truck crossed the gates and left the fort¡¯s line of sight, he activated his Nullity Armor. After setting the coordinates, he closed his eyes and began meditating, ensuring his body was in peak condition for future battles. Less than half an hour after Cain¡¯s departure, another military truck left the Lightning Imperial Fort. It drove for less than twenty minutes before its sole passenger got out and shed into a nearby forest. The individual was shrouded in shadows, but upon a closer look, it was clear that it was no one else but Nira, the scion that fell in disgrace during the Military Academy Secret Trial. It did not take long for her to reach a small pond deep in the forest where a young man was waiting for her. Admiration and love appeared in Nira¡¯s eyes when she saw the man. ¡°Brother Dimitri!¡± Nira¡¯s eyes almost teared up as she thrust herself into the young man¡¯s arms. ¡°There, there, I am here now.¡± The young man gently caressed Nira¡¯s head. ..... The pressure Nira¡¯s felt the past few weeks were crushing for someone so young, and it was only now that she could finally rx a little. Yet, her sadness did notst long, as poisonous hatred appeared in her eyes. ¡°Brother, let¡¯s go. I know where he will be in the next couple of days. I want to pay him back all the suffering he caused me.¡± When the young man heard that, he frowned. ¡°Little sister. Even if he is amoner, his current status is that of a Copsing Lightning Military Academy cadet. We would be in serious trouble if we killed him and someone found out you were responsible.¡± The young man did not see a problem with ending a life but did not want to leave any evidence behind. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brother. I used a broker to obtain information about his mission and made sure to hide my tracks even then. I also solicited a mission far from his location, and the military truck would drive there before returning on its own, giving me a good enough alibi. Besides, that man also enraged many other scions, like Zamir Jarken, whom I heard is currently going on a mission near him.¡± When the young man heard that analysis, his eyes widened. They have been together all their lives, but he found it hard to reconcile the cold and calctive woman in front of him with his short-tempered and wild little sister. ¡°You have changed.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± Dimitri spoke so low that Nira did not quite hear those words. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go. We will need to go on foot to hide any trace of our presence.¡± Nira nodded to Dimitri, and the duo ran to Cain¡¯s location. ¡ª Cain had no idea of the threat approaching, and his mind focused solely on the mission. After almost five hours of travel, he finally reached the Whisper Forest. In it, there was a Tier 0 Danger Zone with many Wave Beasts between Levels 1 and 3. His mission consisted in gathering Blood Rose and Dark Lilies found across the Whisper Forest. Both of them were useful in the creation of all sorts of drugs. Cain got down from the military truck and got deep into the forest. He hadmanded the Absolute Life Form System to use the [Basic Scan Force Field] to pick up any trace of the herbs. Meanwhile, he used his sense of smell to track down Wave Beasts. After almost three hours of running, he finally prepared for a battle. On the way here, he picked up many herbs and found some Wave Beasts, but they were all at Level 1, so he chose to avoid them. Less than one hundred meters from Cain, there was a packposed of four Level 2 Earth Lions. Cain took out a Warrior Pill and put it inside his mouth, between his checks. He could consume it in case anything unexpected happened. Slowly he approached the pack. Once he was near enough, he activated his Wave Cloak and triggered Wave Burst. The Earth Lions rose from the ground as they felt the burst of Wave near them. Before they could get battle ready, Cain was already next to one of them andnded a punch in its neck. Cain¡¯s right gauntlet glowed as it fired a Kic st, destroying the Earth Lion¡¯s neck and killing the creature instantly. ¡°ROAR!¡± ¡°ROAR!¡± ¡°ROAR!¡± The three Earth Lions roared as they saw theirrade die and lunged toward Cain, full of killing intent. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the massive Wave Beasts charging toward him. Instead of moving back, he used his Light Boots¡¯ Burst to sh forward, bypassing the Earth Lions on his left and right and crashing with the one at the center. The Earth Lion weighed easily over two tons, but the moment it and Cain shed, the winner was the human. Cain¡¯s momentum was higher than that of the Earth Lion, and he used Wave Focus to direct as much of his Astral Wave as possible into his arms, so when the punch and w collided, he came up victorious. ¡°AHH!¡± The Earth Lion screamed in pain as the punch pushed it back with a broken paw. Cain did not let go of the Earth Lion and jumped forward, sending a kick to its head. The beast trembled due to brain trauma and lost consciousness. Cain only needed one more attack to kill the Earth Lion but instead jumped past it, avoiding the two w strikesing at his back. Immediately, Cain turned around and concentrated Astral Wave in his right leg, kicking the unconscious Earth Lion toward one of the two still awake. With one of the Earth Lion temporarily incapacitated, Cain focused his full power on the other. Cain saw a w heading to his head but did not dodge. He used his left arm to block it and the right tond an uppercut on the Earth Lion. The Earth Lion froze as its brain shook inside its skull and could not avoid a ferocious blow to its throat. It could not move nor breathe, and the next punch to its head ended its life. Cain had justnded a blow to the Earth Lion¡¯s temple when he turned to the right and saw thest one lunging toward him. He could not dodge it and was only able to raise his arms before the beast shed with him. The Earth Lion pinned Cain down and attempted to bite his head off. He held onto the beast¡¯s maws with one arm before connecting a Kic st point nk on its neck. ¡°Crack!¡± It was so close that Cain could hear how the Earth Lion¡¯s neck shattered. After that, the Earth Lion¡¯s eyes lost their light and perished. Cain got the creature out of him before immediately dashing to the unconscious Earth Lion and killing it. He then used his hands to open the Wave Beasts¡¯ chests and took out their hearts before storing them in his military backpack. Not wanting to find out whether his battle drew any attention, Cain ran away. Cain kept picking up herbs and getting deeper into the Whisper Forest, finding more powerful Wave Beasts. After two days in the forest, he reached a shallow river and did not advance any further. That was the dividing line that marked the end of the Tier 0 Danger Zone and the beginning of a Tier 1 Danger Zone. Beforeing, Cain had investigated the Whisper Forest and knew he could find Level 4 Wave Beasts beyond that point. It was already night, so he rose to a tree and began to rest before going to sleep when a message startled him. [Warning: Two individuals entered the Basic Scan Force Field range. One of them is Nira Kilor.] Chapter 60 60 Forging his legend [Warning: Two individuals entered the Basic Scan Force Field range. One of them is Nira Kilor.] Cain¡¯s eyes widened, and his heart began beating faster as his body prepared to face the iing threat. [Unknown target is a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior.] That following message from the Absolute Life Form System made Cain¡¯s instincts scream danger. He almost ran away with all his strength. ¡°Calm down!¡± Luckily for Cain, Apex¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, allowing him to focus and not act purely by instinct. ¡°Think, brat. Those two just enter the [Basic Scan Force Field]¡¯s range, implying they are exactly fifty meters away from you. They have not yet attacked, so they are reducing the distance to ensure they can kill you in a single blow. You can use that to your advantage. You will not win this relying on your strength, so the only path ahead is using your mind. Unlike your encounter with the Atrox, you are their sole target, so they will not get distracted. An open fight will mean your death, but your Nullity Armor could endure one full-power attack from that Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior if you take him by surprise.¡± Apex paused at this point before carrying on with a solemn tone. ..... ¡°Cain, no one wille to help you, and you can only depend on yourself to survive this. If you fail, you will be like countless others who fade away, inconsequential. However, if you seed, this experience will be engraved in your body and soul, and you will take your first step to forge your legend. I have already helped you more than I should. From now on, I will remain silent. Good luck, brat.¡± Cain could not help but be surprised to hear that Apex would not offer guidance now that he needed it the most, but he soon understood why. He was the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Vessel. It was not the host or heir but a mere vessel, and if he perished, the system would jump to a new one. After all, there was no way he was the only Reincarnator in the entire universe. The fact that Apex guided him out of his state of panic was already a lot. Cain knew that he failed to keep control, and if not for that voicemanding him to calm down, he would have run, and the Level 4 Wave Warrior would have killed him. Cain took a deep breath and calmed his raging heart as he analyzed all the information at his disposal. ¡®The fact they are so careful meant they could not handle the repercussion of anyone finding they killed me. I can sense neither of their presences, so the Level 4 Wave Warrior must be using a shadow ability simr to that of Nira, but at a higher level.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he thought of thatst point andmunicated with the Absolute Life Form System. ¡®Absolute Life Form System. Can you mark the exact location of the duo?¡¯ Apex, the System Spirit, might not help him during this ordeal, but Cain could still use the full power of the Absolute Life Form System. [System can show targets¡¯ exact locations to Vessel as long they are within the Basic Scan Force Field range. Do you wish for the system to do it?] ¡®Yes.¡¯ [Adding sensory input to Vessel.] Less than a second after hearing those words, two figures appeared at the periphery of Cain¡¯s vision. The duo was slowly making their way toward the tree where he rested. Cain did not make the mistake of looking directly at the duo. ¡®System, is there a jamming signal in the area?¡¯ [No jamming signal has been detected... Upon closer examination, a form of interference is present. All in and out electricmunication must pass through it. Basic Hacking can easily ovee it, but those that put the interference in ce will find out. Vessel wishes to break through it?] ¡®No.¡¯ Cain immediately refused that idea. If he broke through the interference, there was a good chance the duo would attack right away. Not to mention that up to this moment, he had no evidence of the duo doing anything wrong, despite their intentions being as clear as water. Besides, how would he exin the presence of the [Basic Scan Force Field]? ¡®The Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior alone should be enough to kill me, so Nira must havee to see me die.¡¯ After analyzing everything and going through what he learned from the Whisper Forest, a n finally formed in Cain¡¯s mind. Cain adopted a sitting position on the tree¡¯s branch before summoning his Wave Cloak. The cloak of Astral Wave made the duo suspicious, but when they saw how Cain did not activate Wave Burst, Dimitri and Nira rxed. If Cain had discovered their presence, he would have unleashed his Astral Wave¡¯s full power and run as fast as possible. None of them could fathom that a Level 2 Wave Warrior would be so calm after knowing that a Level 4 was less than fifty meters away from him and ready to kill. Cain then used Wave Focus to direct most of his Astral Wave into his legs, leaving his chest full of openings before jumping forward. Dimitri and Nira saw how Cain jumped over the shallow river and onto another tree. Once again, some suspicion appeared in the duo¡¯s eyes as they saw the youth marching into the Tier 1 Danger Zone. However, in the end, Dimitri and Nira conclude that Cain was simply training his Wave. Although they were angry about losing their chance, there was nothing they could do other than follow him. Cain continued advancing deeper into the Whisper Forest, seemingly training Wave Focus, jumping from one tree after another. Dimitri and Nira were growing impatient, not to mention that even for the young man, a Tier 1 Danger Zone was not somewhere he could just y around. It came to the point that Dimitri hastened his speed, diminishing the distance between him at Cain. Right then, Cain straightened his back and looked toward the duo. He did not look directly at them but instead at their general vicinity. Anyone seeing that would think that Cain detected someone but could not pin down their exact location. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Dimitri cursed in his mind. Once he saw Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak bursting at full power, he gathered his Essence Wave in his legs to chase after this one. Dimitri was sure he would catch Cain fast andnd a deadly blow, but to his utter shock, this one did not run away but turned around and jumped toward his location. Although Dimitri was surprised by Cain¡¯s unexpected behavior, there was no fear in his gaze. He was a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior and was sure he could handle a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior in a melee battle. Since Dimitri had mobilized most of his Essence Wave into his legs, it took him a little longer to prepare his attack, which he would fire from a small dagger in his hand. Still, he would have more than enough time tond the attack, but then it happened. While still mid-air, Cain pointed his palm forward and unleashed a blinding light from bursting lightning arcs. Dimitri closed his eyes for a moment but still managed to fire his attack in Cain¡¯s direction, unleashing a barrage of shadow des. The Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior was sure part of his attacknded but still prepared to receive Cain¡¯s charge. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Nevertheless, what Dimitri received was not a physical blow but a cry of help, and once he looked back, he saw Cain holding the back of Nira¡¯s neck. There was a deep cut on Cain¡¯s left leg, ribs, and shoulder, but his eyes were full of killing intent as he clenched his hand around Nira¡¯s neck. ¡°YOU DARE!¡± Dimitri roared in rage, but what answered was Cain using his free hand to grab Nira¡¯s right arm and pulling with so much strength that he tore it out. ¡°?AHHHH!¡± Nira¡¯s scream of extreme agony and Cain¡¯s savagery froze Dimitri. ¡°Take one step closer, and I shatter her spine!¡± Chapter 61 61 Level ¡°Take one step closer, and I shatter her spine!¡± Dimitri was about to jump forward, taking advantage of the chaotic situation to attempt to save Nira, but it was clear that Cain would not hesitate for even a second to kill the woman if he did that. ¡°AHHH!¡± Nira could not stop screaming as the pain of having her newly regrown arm torn off was just too much for her. Her mind could barely process what was happening, much less mobilize her Essence Wave and fight back. ¡°Calm down, just calm down!¡± Dimitri shouted as he saw Cain¡¯s savagism and could not decide what to do next. He had never faced a situation like this and simply did not know what to do. ¡°Do I not look calm?¡± Cain said those words as he threw Nira¡¯s right arm to the ground and used lightning to cauterize the wound, stopping her from bleeding out. Cain¡¯s eyes were so cold that anyone that saw them would not think they belonged to a fourteen-year-old man but an ancient monster who had bathed in the blood of countless enemies. Deep inside, a red dot of light was growing stronger by the second. Dimitri did not even bother to learn more about Cain when he discovered this one was amoner. In his mind, someone like that could never be a threat to a genius like him, but he had lostplete control of the situation. ¡°Hear me out...¡± Dimitri attempted to talk his way out of this predicament, but Cain interrupted him. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I will gouge her eyes if I see you following me.¡± Cain¡¯s voice was absolutely calm, making the apprehension in Dimitri¡¯s heart only increase. He then jumped into arge tree¡¯s branch before shing deep into the Whisper Forest. ..... Cain advanced at a shocking speed despite the deep wounds on his body and having to carry Nira with him. He could resist thosergecerations that reached to the bone so well because of the Warrior Pill he consumed before all this ordeal even began. Although there was no sign of Dimitri, and the [Basic Scan Force Field] did not detect this one, there was no doubt in Cain¡¯s mind that the man was following them. That did not bother Cain since he was counting on that. Cain was not advancing randomly in the Whisper Forest. There was a ce that the reports about the Tier 1 Danger Zone marked as a particrly dangerous ce, and he headed to it. In less than ten minutes, Cain reached arge mountain, and his eyes noticed arge cave. [System has sessfully hacked into target¡¯s A.I. Chip, preventing anymunication with the exterior] That message from the Absolute Life Form System appeared just in time, making a smile appear on Cain¡¯s face. He was sure Dimitri would not ask for help, but there was no way to say what Nira would do in her current state. From the moment Cain captured the woman, he used [Basic Hacking] to stop anymunication, and now the effect would remain even if she left the [Basic Scan Force Field]¡¯s range. Now that he shut down themunications, Cain carried on with the next phase of his n. First, he gouged one of Nira¡¯s eyes, making her screams of agony reach a whole new level. Anyone seeing that would think that Cain was torturing the woman out of pleasure, but nothing could be further from the truth. Cain generated that gory and gruesome scene to affect Dimitri¡¯s mind, which in turn provoked a w in the shadow ability of this one. His eyes narrowed as he detected the young man¡¯s scent roughly seventy meters to his right. ¡°You want to be a hero?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was full of mockery as he punched Nira¡¯s spine, not killing her but generating so much damage that she could no longer control her body. ¡°Then be a hero!¡± Those were thest words Cain said before throwing Nira into the cave and running away in the opposite direction of Dimitri. As soon as Cain threw Nira away, Dimitri¡¯s figure became visible. His eyes were burning with fury, and there was nothing he wanted more than to hunt the one responsible for harming his beloved sister. ¡°ROAR!¡± Unfortunately for Dimitri, a feral roar put his dream of revenge on hold. He turned to the origin and saw that it came from deep inside the cave where Cain threw Nira. Dimitri unleashed the full power of his Essence Wave, and he shed toward Nira as fast as he could while dark armor covered his body. His eyes narrowed as he saw a figure lunging toward his sister, and he would not be able to reach her in time. He waved his dagger, unleashing two streams of shadows, one of them turned into dark des that shed with the beast while the other covered Nira¡¯s body and hid her presence. The creature received the shadow des point-nk, leaving severalcerations, and now it had lost its first target. Still, it did not hesitate before jumping out of the cave and charging toward Dimitri. It was a Wave Beast that resembled a two-and-a-half-meter-tall hyena with fur made of metal. Dimitri¡¯s Shadow des that almost killed Cain only left minorcerations in the creature, proving its outstanding defenses. Dimitri¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the Wave Beast and recognized it as a Metal Hyena. By the amount of Life Wave in the creature, he assumed it was at Level 5. Although he wanted to save Nira, if he entered the cave and fought the Metal Hyena in such a reduced space, he could very well die. ¡®I need to kill this beast if I want to retrieve Nira.¡¯ Dimitri¡¯s eyes narrowed as he sent another wave of Shadow des toward the Metal Hyena. He lured the Wave Beast away from the cave into a forest, where he would have an easier time fighting it. Two eyes looked at the battle from the darkness, waiting for the right time. Chapter 62 62 Killing a Level 4 Wave Warrior The battle between Dimitri and the Metal Hyena destroyed the trees around them. One was a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior, while the other was a Level 5 Wave Beast. Each of their full-power attacks couldpare with the destructive power of an Old World tank, so it was easy to imagine the coteral damage they generated. Although the flora and earth of Aether were much more resilient than those of the Old World, this was just a Tier 1 Danger Zone. Dimitri had the upper hand thanks to his spells, skills, and Wave Artifacts but the Metal Hyena was still a challenging enemy. While impressive in terms of cloaking power, his abilities had no outstanding offensive power. That, plus the Metal Hyena¡¯s robust defenses, prevented Dimitri from performing deadly blows, transforming this into a battle of attrition. Dimitri¡¯s battle style focused on using shadows to hide his presence and confuse the enemy, firing barrages of Shadow des, and generating Shadow Whips that would hinder the enemy¡¯s movements. The Metal Hyena had immense strength, so the Shadow Whips could barely hinder its movements for a few moments, but it was enough for Dimitri to put distance between them whenever the battle seemed to turn into a melee encounter. Dimitri had just fired arge Shadow de that left a deep cut on the Metal Hyena¡¯s shoulder when the hair of this one rose as if they were thousands of metal needles. Dimitri knew the name of the Wave Beast, so it was logical that he would also know the racial ability of the Metal Hyena. ..... The Wave Beast could charge his Life Wave into its fur, increasing its hardness and sharpness before shooting them with immense power and speed. Dimitri had just fired a potent attack and would not be able to dodge those metal needles. He could only raise his arms before directing most of his Essence Wave into the frontal portion of his body to protect himself. On their own, each of those metal needles had little power, but together they could pose a deadly threat for even a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior. If it wasn¡¯t for Dimitri¡¯s armor and him using Wave Focus to enhance his defenses, the damage those attacks caused could have proven deadly, forcing him to run away. The Metal Hyena used all its power in that attack, as its instincts warned it that the battle would soon turn deadly if it did not turn the tables soon. Although the Metal Hyena felt a dangerous auraing from Dimitri when it first saw this one, its bestial nature got the best of it when it noticed someone charging into its territory. Now it reached the point where its life was on the line. A small smile appeared on Dimitri¡¯s face when he saw the barrage of metal needles about to turn off. There was not much Life Wave in the Metal Hyena, and he prepared to fire a killing strike next. Sadly for the Essence Wave Cultivator, just as the barrage of metal needles was about to finish, someone charged to his back. Dimitri¡¯s eyes widened with pain as Cain¡¯s entire body shed on his back. Due to him using most of his Essence Wave to protect the front, the attack almost shattered his spine and thrust him forward toward the Wave Beast. Things only worsened for Dimitri since the Metal Hyena saw the opportunity and lunged toward him with its maws open. Dimitri could only move his head, avoiding the Metal Hyena from shattering his skull, but the maws still closed down on his right shoulder, crippling his arm. ¡°AHHH!¡± Dimitri screamed in pain as the Metal Hyena¡¯s teeth pierced his armor and began to destroy the muscles and bones. In desperation, he started firing Shadow des from his left hand. The dagger was on Dimitri¡¯s right hand, so he could not use it, and without the Wave Artifact amplification, the Shadow des lost a significant portion of their power. Still, they began to worsen the Metal Hyena¡¯s wounds. There was still a chance Dimitri could survive if he could endure until the Metal Hyena sumbed to its injuries. Sadly for the Essence Wave Warrior, thatst glimmer of hope vanished once Cainnded a blow on the back of his head. Dimitri¡¯s mind stopped working for a second due to the massive brain trauma, generating instability in his Wave Cloak. Without the enhanced defenses granted by the Wave Cloak, Dimitri¡¯s body could not resist the power behind the Metal Hyena¡¯s maws. Cain saw how the Metal Hyena¡¯s maws shattered Dimitri¡¯s body, generating a fatal wound. After making sure the Level 4 Essence Wave Cultivator did not send any message through the A.I. Chip, he ran away from the battlefield. He and the Metal Hyena had fought together against the Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior, but there was no doubt in Cain¡¯s mind that the creature would turn on him once he finished with its current prey. ¡ª Nira was still inside the cave, and her face was full of utter terror and desperation. She could not move her body due to Cain destroying her spine. The only reason she could hold a sliver of sanity despite all that happened was the belief that her brother woulde to save her. Footsteps echoed inside the cave, making Nira turn her head toward the entrance. She expected to see her brother, but the only thing visible in that darkness were two eyes that glowed with red light. ¡°You... impossible...¡± Nira could not see his face, but she knew to whom those eyes belonged. Cain walked toward Nira before kneeling to her side. Wounds covered his body, and his face was pale due to the loss of blood, but despite all that, he showed a terrifying calmness. If Cain had shown rage or madness, Nira would not have been so scared. But the calmness in those red eyes terrified her to a primal level. It was like the fear a rabbit would feel in a wolf¡¯s presence. One was prey and the other predator. They were just different types of life forms. ¡°I can...¡± Nira could not even beg for her life before Cain pped the top of her head and killed her. Chapter 63 63 Obtaning a space ring As he stared at Nira¡¯s corpse, Cain stood up and found the situation odd. He could not stop trembling the first time he reaped a human life with his own hands, but now his heart and mind were in a state of absolute calmness. However, as the red light in his eyes began to fade away, all that calmness vanished, and his heartbeat began to rise incredibly fast. That affected his ability to think and worsened his injuries, as he had already lost a lot of blood. ¡°Calm down. You won, and now is the time to reap the benefit.¡± Luckily for Cain, he once again heard Apex¡¯s voice inside his mind. ¡°You are speaking again.¡± ¡°Of course I am. Actually, I am a little impressed by your scheming mind. You manage to force a fight, but instead of escaping, you return to give the final blow, getting rid of future problems. Well done, brat.¡± Apex spoke with a serene and rhythmic tone that helped Cain calm his heart and mind. ¡°Anyway, you not only got rid of two threats but also entered the cave of a Level 5 Wave Beast and found some hidden treasures.¡± The words hidden treasures made Cain¡¯s eyes widen with greed, excitement, and also confusion. ..... ¡°What do you mean by treasure?¡± ¡°Haha, brat, the reason the Metal Hyena protected this ce so much was precisely due to those treasures I am talking about. The beast hid them, but it was easy for the [Basic Scan Force Field] to detect them. Take them fast and leave before something unexpected happens.¡± Cain did not waste time, and using the [Basic Scan Force Field], he found the treasures that Apex mentioned, looted anything of wealth in Nira that the Wave Beast might not devour, and left the cave while hiding his tracks. Although Cain was already sick with the Whisper Forest, he did not leave but instead traveled back to where the Metal Hyena and Dimitri had fought. He had left less than twenty minutes ago, but the Wave Beast had ripped Dimitri¡¯s armor to pieces and devoured most of the corpse. Just like humans saw Wave Beasts as an excellent source of nutrients, there was nothing a Wave Beast enjoyed more than the flesh of Wave Cultivators. The Metal Hyena consumed more and more of the corpse, but it was clear it was something bothering it, so after devouring the entire heart and most of the inner organs, it ran back to its cave. Cain was sure that the beast would be enraged once it saw that he had stolen its treasure, but he did not care too much. Once the Metal Hyena was out of sight, he shed toward Dimitri¡¯s bloody corpse. Cain was sure that the Wave Beasts would do a much better job handling the corpses of Dimitri and Nira than he, but those beasts would not eat the Wave Artifacts of the duo, so he needed to take care of them. Nira was surprisingly poor, with Cain only finding a small bracelet that seemed to enhance the firing power of her spells, which she never had the chance to use. After some thought, Cain spected that the woman had spent almost all her wealth paying for her arm¡¯s regeneration, leaving her only with a weak Wave Artifact. On the other hand, Cain found a lot more on Dimitri¡¯s corpse. He took out the metallic object attached to the corpse¡¯s spine, a dagger, and to his immense delight, a space ring. After ensuring he had everything, Cain packed things into his backpack before running away as fast as he could. Although using the space ring would have been nice, he still needed to test it and ensure everything was right. ¡°ROAR!¡± Cain had run for less than five minutes when a ferocious roar echoed throughout the Whisper Forest. It was clear that the Metal Hyena found out his treasures were gone. Although that roar pushed Cain to move even faster, it also drew a smile on his face. There was no way he could have entered the cave of a Level 5 Wave Beast on his own, but he found a way. In essence, he turned a deadly ambush into a massive lucky chance! Cain kept running for almost ten hours and only stopped once his body began to fail. He could still run, but that could drain everyst bit of energy left in him, which could prove deadly. Before he could no longer remain conscious due to exhaustion, Cain rose to a tree¡¯s branch and began to consume Wave Beast¡¯s hearts while using Wave Focus to direct his Astral Wave to his wounds to enhance their healing. After almost one and a half hours, Cain could no longer endure and fell asleep. The [Basic Scan Force Field] would warn him in case of any danger, so he was able to rx a little. More than twelve hours passed by the time Cain woke. All his body hurt as the analgesic effect of the Warrior Pill was gone, but luckily thecerations on his body were no longer bleeding. Despite all that sleep, Cain still felt tired since everything that happened took a significant toll on his body and mind, but there was no time to waste. First was the space ring he took from Dimitri¡¯s corpse. ¡®Apex.¡¯ ¡°I already analyzed it when you were sleeping. Dimitri¡¯s A.I. Chip had branded it, which was not a problem since it was easy to override. What was a little troublesome was the failsafe that would have sent the information of any new A. I. Chip that interfered with the space ring. Luckily, I found it and used the [Basic Hacking] tool to handle it. You can now use it without worry.¡± Apex spoke with a calm voice, but his abilities were something it would have shocked most hackers of the Godyer Humankind Empire. Not that the System Spirit really cared about the opinion of a bunch of humans. ¡°Great!¡± Cain shouted as he put the space ring on his hand and branded it with the [A.I. Chip Module]. Chapter 64 64 Blood Refinement Art ¡°Great!¡± Cain shouted as he put the space ring on his hand and branded it with the [A.I. Chip Module]. As soon as Cain branded the space ring, the [A.I. Chip Module] generated a virtual image that showed the Wave Artifact¡¯s interior. It was not empty as it contained many Wave Beast¡¯s hearts, some healing drugs, and finally, a small gray crystal the size of a palm. When Cain saw the gray crystal, surprise appeared in his eyes. ¡°That is a wave crystal. Even if it is one from the lowest grade, it is still amazing!¡± Cain¡¯s excitement was understandable as wave crystals were indeed incredibly useful. Most people in the Godsalyer Humankind Empire that failed to ascend to the true ranks of Wave Cultivators use paper money as currency. Still, for those who became Wave Champion, that was meaningless. There are two main currencies in the Godyer Humankind. One was the Imperial Military Credits backed by the empire; the other was wave crystals. As long as the Godyer Humankind Empire stood firm, the Imperial Military Credits would have value, but one could say that wave crystals are even more valuable as they have worth on their own. Wave crystals are mined in unique locations known as wave mines. Each of them had an incredibly pure, thick, and refined Life Wave, making cultivations dozens of times faster than even the one you would achieve by consuming Wave Beast¡¯s hearts. ..... Of course, that was under the premise you could take full advantage of the wave crystal, meaning that the amount of Wave you consumed during cultivation was equal to the upper levels of the Wave Warrior stage. ¡°That brat must have wanted to use the wave crystal after reaching Level 5, enhancing his foundation all the way to Level 7. Even if he had a strong background, getting hold of it would not have been easy, as this crystal should have cost around 10.000 Imperial Military Credits. Well, now he is dead, and all his belongings are yours.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard Apex¡¯s words, and a sh of enlightenment crossed his eyes. ¡°I stole his destiny.¡± ¡°Haha, that is right, brat. Belongings are part of someone¡¯s destiny; you are essentially stealing their destiny by killing and stealing. Of course, that is a very crude way of looking at things.¡± Cain nodded as his understanding of destiny grew slightly. He did not lose time andmanded the Absolute Life Form System to show him his current Destiny Force. [Destiny Force: 87.2] Once again, Cain was shocked, and the smile on his face grew immensely. The fact that he obtained those by killing two humans did not bother him in the slightest since the duo came with nefarious intentions after him. There was enough Destiny Force to use [Basic Gic Suppression] and get rid of the emotional instability of his bloodline, but after some thought, Cain chose against it. For some reason, despite all the chaos and dangers Cain faced, he somehow managed to retain calm every second, so instead of using his Destiny Force, he chose to save it in case he really needed it. ¡°Did killing Dimitri and Nira get me more than 60 points of Destiny Force?¡± Cain¡¯s previous Destiny Force was slightly over 20 points, so the fact the duo got him so much was surprising. ¡°It is not so simple. All the events that led to your conquest over the duo, stealing their belongings and the Level 5 Wave Beast¡¯s treasures, generated that Destiny Force. Even I find it hard to quantify destiny. You just need to understand that the higher your achievements, the more Destiny Force you will get.¡± Apex¡¯s words made it clear that destiny was an ephemeral force even for an entity like him, making Cain wonder just who the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s Creator was. Cain did not waste time before taking some medicines from the space ring, applying them to his wounds, and directly consuming some. Once Cain made sure he treated his wounds to the best of his current capabilities, he began to order things. First, he stored all the Wave Artifacts he stole from Dimitri and Nira in the Wave Ring and the Wave Beast¡¯s hearts in his backpack. Although it would have been possible to store the entire military backpack in the space ring, that could draw suspicion, and it was better to keep it in the open in case of anything. After that, Cain analyzed the treasures he obtained from the Level 5 Metal Hyena¡¯s cave. They were a fruit the size of fists and a golden skull with some tissue. ¡°What are they?¡± Cain asked Apex, and this one did not disappoint. ¡°I used the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] tool on the fruit, which seemed to be a Fire Heart. It is especially useful for Astral Wave Cultivators with fire-oriented bloodlines, capable of increasing vitality and enhancing foundation. Fully grown, they are worth even more than the wave crystal you obtain from Dimitri, but since you took it before it fully matured, it lost much of its power.¡± Cain released a small sight once he heard that. It was a shame that the Fire Heart lost most of its power, but there was no way he could just leave it there. By the time he returned with the strength to defeat the Metal Hyena, this one would have already eaten the fruit. ¡°I understand the Fire Heart, but why did you make me bring this skull?¡± Cain could feel that the golden skull must have belonged to a powerful Wave Cultivator that perished a long time ago due to the radiation this one released. While that energy would have been very beneficial at its peak, it seemed many years passed after the death of the Wave Cultivator, and most of it was gone. As for how the corpse of someone with this power found itself in the cave of a Level 5 Wave Beast, that was something Cain did not know. ¡°I asked you to get the skull to obtain the information in its A.I. Chip.¡± ¡°What!? How is that possible? After your death, your A.I. Chip deletes all its information and self-destructs, so it should only be a useless piece of metal, even if it is still there.¡± A.I. Chips could record every movement and action you take, so it made sense that it would erase itself the moment the host perished. ¡°The A.I. Chip should have self-destructed but did not, possibly due to a malfunction. Most of the data was erased, with no record of the corpse¡¯s personal life, but there is arge file that is exceptionally useful for you.¡± Cain could not control his excitement as he heard that since if Apex gave it good remarks, it should be terrific. ¡°I recovered part of an auxiliary technique called Blood Refinement Art. Although I don¡¯t know its full power, you can train it even after surpassing the Wave Champion rank.¡± Chapter 65 65 Problems arrived ¡°I recovered part of an auxiliary technique called Blood Refinement Art. Although I don¡¯t know its full power, you can train it even after surpassing the Wave Champion rank.¡± It wasmon knowledge that the higher the level cap of a technique, the mightier it was. Even if it was just an auxiliary technique, the Blood Refinement Art might be better than the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Cain did not lose time and reviewed the information already stored in the [A.I. Chip Module]. [Blood Refinement Art: Auxiliary technique meant to boost the body¡¯s physical capabilities. Useful for Astral Wave Cultivators. Absorb the enemy¡¯s blood to refine and temper your own body. The stronger the enemy, the more valuable the blood obtained. Four levels in total. First level: Focus on thoroughly tempering your flesh and muscles. It can increase your chances of achieving a high percentage of marrow washing. Second Level: Focus on increasing your blood vitality and the generation of blood energy. Your cultivation must have reached the Wave Champion rank to enter this level.] After that brief description, there was arge file with the essence of the technique. ¡°Apex, what about the rest of the information?¡± Cain could not help but ask. ording to the description, there were four levels, but in the [A.I. Chip Module], there were only two. ..... ¡°The information about the third level is somewhat corrupted. I will try to retrieve and fix the missing pieces with the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] and [Basic Virtual Simtion]. As for the fourth level, that ispletely gone.¡± Although Apex¡¯s words disappointed Cain a little, instead of focusing on what he did not have, he focused on what he had. His body was still tired, so he concentrated on understanding enough to begin practicing the Blood Refinement Art. The amount of information was immense. Just the part about the first level took Cain more than ten hours toprehend the basics. After that, Cain stood up, picked the scent of a Wave Beast, and went after it. In less than ten minutes, he had the beast in his line of sight. Luckily it was alone and just a Level 2 Wave Beast, so Cain dashed at it from its blind spot and punched its neck before triggering Kic st. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of bone cracking echoed before the Wave Beast could even know what happened, and the light on its eyes vanished. Cain did not wait a second before burying his hand in the Wave Beast¡¯s body. He did not try to take out the heart, instead mobilized his Astral Wave ording to the information in the Blood Refinement Art. It did not look long for the Wave Beast¡¯s corpse to tremble as all its blood was refined and sent into Cain¡¯s flesh and muscles. In less than ten minutes, the corpse had lost all its blood. Cain took his hand off the corpse and could not help but frown. He felt the energy nurturing his flesh and blood all the time, but he also knew that he lost a lot of blood due to hisck of proficiency during the purification. There were many ways to improve the effectiveness of the Blood Refinement Art, but Cain reached the correct answer immediately. ¡®If I improve myprehension of the Blood Refinement Art, I will lose less blood during the purification, and the greater the effect of the energy would be in my flesh and blood.¡¯ ¡°Well thought, brat. That is the right path. Others would have considered shortcuts like buying blood of stronger beasts, but in the end, that would cripple your training in the Blood Refinement Art.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice in his brain and showed a smile before nodding. Hard work would create a good foundation, which was always better than short-term gains. Before the Blood Refinement Art, Cain wanted nothing more than to leave the Whisper Forest, but now the Tier 0 Danger Zone was like a paradise for him. It was not until Sunday that Cain left the Whisper Forest, got on his military truck, and returned to Lightning Imperial Fort. Once he was back inside the Copsing Lightning Military Academy, Cain left all the herbs inside the military truck and sent this one on its path. Since the mission only involved recollecting herbs, there was no need for Cain to deliver them himself. The military truck would go to the deposit, where drones would take care of the menial work. Cain returned to his residence, bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and went to sleep. He only woke up when the rays of sunshine appeared through his window, and the first thing he received was a message from the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. [Saint of Killers, you have been awarded 208 Imperial Military Credits for fulfilling the mission D-23] The Imperial Military Credits that Cain obtained from this mission were less than a quarter of what he received from the one he took with Levi. Of course, that made sense since the previous one involved investigation and fighting Wave Cultivators. Cain did not care about the Imperial Military Credits, as what he obtained from this trip was something money could not buy. The experience of surviving this ordeal was something that would apany him for the rest of his life. Arge smile was on Cain¡¯s face as he went to the auditorium for the Wave Mastery ss. He was one of thest to arrive and sat between Levy and Beelze. Cain greeted the duo before ncing around the auditorium and seeing how all the cadets were very chatty. ¡°What is happening?¡± Cain did not hide his curiosity and asked Levi about all the conversation. ¡°Oh, have you not heard? There is a rumor that two Level 7 Wave Warriors from the Kilor Family came to the military academy. At first, it did not matter since they could havee for multiple reasons, but now there is no sign of Nira, so maybe things are not so simple after all.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that, and all the bliss he was enjoying faded. Chapter 66 66 Stronger bond ¡®What the hell! Not only did they send someone to investigate incredibly fast, but they even sent two Level 7 Wave Warriors.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes widened, and his emotion went into turmoil. He knew the Kilor Family would investigate Nira and her brother¡¯s demise but did not expect them to be so fast. ¡°Focus!¡± Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind, and immediately all signs of distress on his face vanished. The worst thing he could do right now was to act suspicious, as that would focus the investigation on him. Even if there was no concrete evidence, if the Kilor Family grew too suspicious, there was no way they would not act in the darkness to find out the truth. Cain believed in himself, but he was not so arrogant as to think he could face two Level 7 Wave Warriors with his current power. The best path forward was taking things one step at a time and not rushing things. Although Cain managed to hide his shock from almost everybody else in the auditorium, two people saw everything. A meaningful light appeared in Levi¡¯s eyes as he stared at Cain and began to speak with this one through his A.I. Chip. ¡°My mother used to read me fairy tales when I was little. I still remember one about a righteous king and a tyrant. They did not like each other, but there was a pact of non-aggression between them and their forces.¡± Cain was confused by Levi¡¯s words but did not interrupt and let this one carry on with his tale. ..... ¡°One day, a knight from the righteous king went to explore a mine, and a servant from the tyrant ambushed him. The knight was brilliant and managed to kill his enemy, but things did not end there. Even if the knight acted in self-defense and did not break the pact of non-aggression, the tyrant would not ept that.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he figured out the hidden message between those words. The righteous king was no other than the Imperial Military Force, and the tyrant was the Kilor Family. ¡°The righteous king was known for protecting his people, and as long the knight proved innocent, he would not hand him over. Unfortunately, the tyrant was an excellent liar, and even if that did not work, this one was famous for getting rid of annoyances in the dark. I don¡¯t remember very well how the story carries on. Do you think the knight was smart enough to erase any sign of his presence?¡± Levi stared at Cain for a moment, and both nodded as they reached a silent agreement. ¡°Of course, the knight did it. He ensured the servant could notmunicate with the outside and handled the corpse so no one could find a trace of his presence.¡± The duo smiled after that, and none of them carried on. Cain already said plenty; anything else would not benefit any of them. Nevertheless, as they were about to change the subject, Beelze sent an invitation to the duo so they could talk through their A.I. Chips. Cain and Levi looked at Beelze¡¯s calm expression and epted her invitation. Both expected many things, but the woman took them by surprise. ¡°Are you guys talking about Cain¡¯s involvement in the disappearance of that trash name Nira?¡± Cain frowned as he heard that message. Unlike Levi, Beelze¡¯s words were too direct, and no matter his answer, they could put him in trouble. Beelze was not bothered by Cain¡¯s irritation and carried on as if nothing significant had happened. ¡°If the enemy is one of the Level 7 Wave Warriors, you can count me out as I will not help you.¡± Cain did not say a word and just nodded. Although he showed nothing on the outside, his attitude toward the woman took a sharp turn. Or at least, that was until he heard what Beelze said next. ¡°However, if the oneing at you is a Wave Champion, I would not mind giving you a hand.¡± Cain and Levi were confused and surprised by Beelze¡¯s words. She had just told them to forget about her if they encountered a Wave Warrior but that they could ask for her help if the enemy was a Wave Champion. ¡°Don¡¯t you have things backward?¡± Levi could not help but ask the woman. ¡°Hmph, you are talented Astral Wave Warriors with powerful Lineages, fully equipped with Wave Artifacts, and under the protection of the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. If, with all that, you can not handle a couple of Wave Warriors, then you are trash, and I am not friends with those. However, if an old geezer wants to use their age against you two, I will not mind showing them the might of my background.¡± Beelze spoke with a righteous aura, and her dignified expression made it seem like she wanted to show might. Cain and Levi almostughed as they saw all that, but neither of them did, as Beelze¡¯s cold gaze terrified them. In the end, the duo just nodded before smiling. Although Beelze¡¯s mentality was a little odd, neither Cain nor Levi found no problem with it. Time was precious, and thinking of forming friendships only with those that could apany you on your journey was not wrong. That conversation between the trio was short but strengthened their bond. None of them spoke again a few minutester as Wink entered the auditorium, and they were not the only ones to be quiet as none of the cadets dared to disturb the Wave Champion¡¯s ss. ¡°Today, we will concentrate on Wave Focus. You will form couples. One will use the art for offense, while the other will use it for defense. We will take a break every hour, and then you will exchange roles.¡± The cadets did not waste time and began to form teams. Cain and Levi were together, and Beelze coupled with another female cadet. By the time the first hour went by, all the cadets were exhausted, and there was still a lot of ss left. Chapter 67 67 Answer When Cain returned to his residence, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar before falling exhausted to the ground. His breathing was rough, and he was having difficulty not passing out. The training of Wave Focus not only made him deplete every iota of Astral Wave inside his body but also put his mind under immense stress. It took all of Cain¡¯s strength to wash his body and eat a meal before plummeting into his bed and falling asleep. Cain woke up in the middle of the night, and the first thing he did was eat again, but this time he devoured a Wave Beast¡¯s heart. As he engulfed it, he alsomunicated with Apex. ¡°Apex, did you finish the investigation?¡± Cain was sure he covered his tracks, but there was a chance people would find out or at least suspect his involvement in the demise of Nira and her brother. He wanted to be ready for that day, so he asked Apex to investigate the Kilor Family. ¡°Yes, I did. Since the Kilor Family is a Noble Family, I could not find information about them open to the public. Luckily, it only has a Viscount title, so it was pretty easy to hack my way into their records. The Kilor Family is a Noble Family more than two hundred years old. Their fiefdom is in the Copsing Lightning Sector and has more than twenty million people. It has three Wave Champions, with the Patriarch being James Kilor. The other two are Rick Kilor and Unur Kilor, the son and cousin of the Patriarch, respectively. ..... Their family is known for practicing the Silent Shadow Cultivation Technique, and they are very good at assassination and ambushes. ording to recent information, James Kilor moved away from the Family Head position due to his old age and handed over the role to his son Rick Kilor. Unlike his father, Rick Kilor is still in the prime of his life at only 89 years old. Since he is a Wave Champion, and his lifespan reached 300 years old, his body is far from starting to decline.¡± Apex began with a broad description, giving Cain an idea of who he would be dealing with before going into details. ¡°Rick Kilor has sired many children over his life like most nobles. Nira is one of them, but there is no sign the man does care about her. She entered the Copsing Lightning Military Academy to make a name for herself in the military, not that it worked. If you had only killed Nira, then maybe Rick Kilor would not even bother to investigate. The problem was her brother. Dimitri Kilor was a talented Wave Cultivator that entered the Copsing Lightning University. He and Nira had a close rtionship since they shared the same mother. That is why he did not hesitate to leave the university for a few days to help her deal with you. Rick Kilor had many hopes for Dominic to be his sessor and had poured plenty of resources into this one.¡± Apex¡¯s briefing ended there, but it gave Cain a lot to think about. ¡°I see. After being unable tomunicate with Dimitri, Rick Kilor must have used his full power tounch an investigation. The Level 7 Wave Warriors figured out Dimitri came to see his sister. Since their fiefdom is in the Copsing Lightning Sector, it is no wonder they reached this ce so fast. Now that they confirmed that both are missing, they will look at Nira¡¯s life inside the military academy, and my name will surelye out.¡± Cain frowned, and aplicated expression appeared on his face. He did not know how to handle those two Level 7 Wave Warriors. ¡°Actually, you don¡¯t need to be so worried.¡± Cain was surprised when he heard Apex¡¯s words and immediately refuted them. ¡°What!? How could I not worry? Even if they can not find evidence, there is no way a Noble Family would just ignore some of their scions dying at the hands of a Level 2 Astral Wave Warriormoner.¡± ¡°That is exactly why you should not worry so much. The moment those two members of the Kilor Family read your profile, they will discard you as a suspect. After all, who would think a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior without any background could kill a Level 4 Wave Warrior?¡± Apex reasoning made Cain¡¯s eyes widen as enlightenment appeared in them. He smiled as he understood that hisck of power and background was helpful this time. ¡°Their wed logic and the military academy will work as a shield for the time being. I n to join the Imperial Military Force, so even if they were to suspect at some point in the future, they could not be so brazen with their methods.¡± Cain made a slight pause at that point when coldness appeared in his eyes. ¡°Still, all that would just grant a frail veil of protection. I need to be strong, so strong that even Rick Kilor would fear me. By then, I could admit that I killed Dimitri and Nira, and no one would dare to say anything about it.¡± ¡°Hahaha, that is right, brat. It is not wrong to hide when your enemy is too strong, but you cannot do that forever. The only way to truly fix things is to grow so powerful that even if they knew what you did, they could do nothing other than hope you will not kill them too.¡± Apex was clearly pleased that Cain concluded that power was the answer to his problem, not hiding and just waiting until the enemy found out what he did. There were still a couple of hours until the ss started, so Cain began cultivating. Although Cain could still practice the Blood Refinement Art without fresh corpses, the effect would be minimal. Instead, he focused all his time on the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. He had already decided to take on a mission involving Wave Beasts and would use that opportunity to train his auxiliary technique. Chapter 68 68 Atrox¡¯s assassination Cain, Levi, and Beelze were in the auditorium as Razmun headed to the podium to begin his ss. There was a solemn expression on Razmun¡¯s face as he stared at the cadets and waved his hand, making the virtual screen above him show two figures. The figures belong to a man and a female with de-like armor covering their bodies. It was a sight that drew coldness in the cadets¡¯ hearts. Razmun remained silent for a moment as he wanted the pressure of those images to affect the cadets. ¡°ording to ancient records, when Adam, the first Emperor of Godyer Humankind, became a Titan, his power was so immense that none of the Gods from the Infernus Daemon Race or Legio Eldritch Race could face him. They could only run or die beneath his might!¡± The cadets were a little surprised to see how the ss started, but none dared to lose focus. ¡°It was a time of glory. Our Godyer Humankind could have conquered not only the Gaia Continent but also part of the As Continent located north of our domains. However, when the Dark Races found themselves cornered, the Atrox Overlord made his move. That man traveled a distance you would find almost impossible toprehend and fought against our Emperor. Their battle was so destructive that it shattered the sky and sank part of the As Continent!¡± Some cadets could not help but clench their fists as they imagined how glorious that battle was. ..... ¡°Although our Emperor was known as an absolute powerhouse and maybe the strongest entity in the entire Aether World, our forces returned to the Gaia Continent after that battle.¡± Razmun saw the surprise in the cadets as he uttered those words, and he understood their feelings. For the Godyer Humankind, the First Titan was a divine figure. Learning our forces pull back from the As Continent after a battle against the Atrox Overlord came as a shock. ¡°Our Emperor did not defeat the Atrox Overlord, but that did not mean he lost. The price for victory was too high, and the Godyer Humankind was too young and could not afford it. I narrate this story so you can understand how mighty the Atrox Immortus Race¡¯s Overlord was.¡± Razmun nodded after seeing that the cadets understood his message, and only then did he begin with the ss¡¯s core. ¡°Today¡¯s ss will focus solely on the Atrox Immortus Race. Unlike us, their fertility is much lower, but they transformed that weakness into a strength. Due to their low number, each member of the Atrox Immortus Race had a much higher number of resources at their disposal. From a young age, they have a bio-armor that grows with them. Their poption is roughly 1/1000 of ours, but the number of them that embark on cultivation and choose the battlefield path is also 1000 times higher than ours. One point that all should remember very well is that like Devils are crafty, and Demons are wild, Atroxs also have a tendency.¡± Some of the cadets could not help but tremble as they heard that. Every one of the people present was aware of what type of tendency the Atrox Immortus Race had. If the Godyer Humankind was greedy, then the Atrox Immortus Race was cruel. ¡°I can see that all of you are aware. The members of the Atrox Immortus Race are known for their immense cruelty against their enemies. If they capture an enemy alive, they will submit that person to unbelievable pain. Schrs had studied the reason for their sadistic tendencies for a long time and concluded that it was part of their culture. Just like we humans would feel greed if faced with treasures, Atroxs felt the desire to torture all those they consider enemies.¡± Although some of the cadets showed disdain as they heard the Atrox Immortus Race¡¯s sadistic culture, Cain did not find it that odd. Humankind was known for its desire to punish criminals with harsh sentences in the Old World and even arranged chambers for people to see their executions. The Atrox Immortus Race is more open about it and with an innate predisposition. Of course, Cain would not defend the culture and mentality of one of the Dark Races. After that description of Atrox Immortus Race¡¯s culture, Razmun waved his hands, making the virtual screen show the two figures without their bio-armor. Atroxs had the basic male and female biological configurations. Their skin was simr to gray leather, and there was no hair on their bodies. ¡°I will now exin their weak points and how to reach them, along with the best battle formation to face members of the Atrox Immortus Race.¡± Razmun exined all forms of facing members of the Atrox Immortus Race in the next few hours. He was incredibly detailed and answered all the doubts of the cadets. Cain, Levi, and Beelze left the auditorium. Thest one spoke just as they were about to leave for their residences. ¡°Cain, I have a mission and would like you to apany me.¡± Bliss would have filled the heart of any other male cadet at the chance of taking a mission with such a beautiful woman, but Cain was not like the others. ¡°I am sorry, but I already have a mission in mind.¡± ¡°Oh, are you sure you want to take a mission on your own and not with me?¡± Beelze showed a beautiful smile as she uttered those words, but it froze the next second. ¡°Yes, I am sure.¡± Levi almost began tough as he heard Cain¡¯s answer and saw Beelze¡¯s frozen expression. However, when the woman red at him, he hid his smile and walked away. He knew better than to bother her. After ring at Levi, Beelze turned toward Cain and smiled again. She liked that he would not blindly ept everything just because of her beauty. ¡°If possible, I want to know what mission you will take.¡± Cain did not have a problem revealing that information, so he told Beelze. ¡°A herb collection mission. However, my true goal is to hunt Wave Beasts, as I need their fresh corpses to train.¡± Beelze did not find anything odd with Cain¡¯s goal since a myriad of techniques required Wave Beasts¡¯ corpses. ¡°If that is indeed what you are after, then we can still work together. My mission involves finding a deserter hidden deep in a Tier 1 Danger Zone. I am sure there will be plenty of Wave Beasts in our path. What do you say?¡± Beelze did not rush Cain to answer, but she would not insist and was ready to look for someone else if this one refused. Cain considered everything for a moment before nodding. Working together would reveal some of his possessions, like the space ring he kept hidden and his Blood Refinement Art, but Beelze knew he killed Dimitri and Nira, so there was no real danger. ¡°I will work with you.¡± ¡°Good, we will leave tomorrow as soon as the Military Tactics ss ends.¡± Chapter 69 69 Improvement Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s Military Tactic ss went as usual. He taught the cadets several battle formations and showed videos where the human armies won and lost. In each case, he exined each scenario in detail, and more importantly, he gave guidance based on his experience handling unexpected threats and changes on the battlefield. Those were insights that no book could give, and all the cadets gave it their full attention since it could save their life in the future. As soon as the ss ended, Cain and Beelze said goodbye to Levi before getting into a military truck and leaving the Lightning Imperial Fort. Just like during his mission with Levi, once the military truck left the fort¡¯s range, Cain nced at Beelze, and both activated their armors. Scales formed both armors, but while Cain¡¯s was ck, that of Beelze was sky-blue. ¡°Saint.¡± ¡°Lotus.¡± The Wave Artifacts distorted Cain and Beelze¡¯s voices as they uttered their code names. After that, they both went silent and focused on maintaining themselves at peak conditions. This trip was not a date but a mission where they would hunt a murderer. Cain had already familiarized himself with the mission¡¯s details. They were after a soldier who traveled to a nearby city named Korin City as part of a squad dispatched from the Lightning Imperial Fort tasked with erasing some gangs. ..... The deserter in question was the squad leader, a young Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior named Sr Jones. He fulfilled his mission and killed the gangs¡¯ leaders, but he raped and killed a few of the gangs¡¯ female henchmen. Although the Godyer Humankind Empire was not known for its leniency toward criminals, acts like those of Sr Jones were not permitted and punishable by branding you as a Tier 0 Criminal. The fact that the man was part of the military only worsened his case since the Godyer Humankind Empire would not let anyone defile the Imperial Military Force¡¯s name, especially its soldiers. Once Sr Hones found that his acts woulde to light, he fled from Korin City and headed deep into the forest that contained a Tier 1 Danger Zone. Cain and Beelze¡¯s mission did not involve apprehending Sr but only finding out his whereabouts. They were not the only ones since this was an open mission, and other teams made of cadets or even soldiers could participate. Of all the information that Cain obtained for the mission, one thing bothered him. ording to Sr Jones¡¯ personal file, the man was somewhat unruly but did not seem capable of such heinous acts. There was the chance someone used Sr Jones as a scapegoat, but Cain doubted something like that would happen. After all, there should be no one in Korin City that could have the type of background needed to incriminate a Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior. ¡®I should not waste my time with useless assumptions. I will follow my heart if something unexpected happens.¡¯ Cain nced at Beelze as the military truck led them to Korin City, and hemanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan him and her. He scanned himself to have an urate measurement of his power. As for doing it with Beelze, there was no ill will behind that, but he also wanted to know just how strong she was as they would fight together. [Scanning Vessel ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.19¨C>0.26 Agility: 0.25¨C>0.32 Vitality: 0.23¨C>0.33 Wave: 0.22¨C>0.28] Cain was a little surprised by the rise of his stats, especially those of strength and vitality. However, it made sense after taking into consideration the Blood Refinement Art. [Scanning target. ¡ª Name: Beelze Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ?? Wave Talent: ?? ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.15 Agility: 0.19 Vitality: 0.31 Wave: 0.56] Beelze¡¯s strength and agility were typical of an Essence Wave Warrior with a Lineage, but her vitality and Wave were surprisingly high. Cain was sure that, just like him, Beelze trained a high-level cultivation method that allowed her to have arger reservoir of Wave and an auxiliary technique to improve her vitality. That did not surprise Cain at all. After all, it was evident that Beelze came from a strong background. Once Cain learned Beelze¡¯s weak and strong points and knew how to help her during a battle best, he focused again on his cultivation. It did not take long for the duo to reach Korin City. Unlike Cain¡¯s experience with Roku City, this time, everything went smoothly. He and Beelze did not even have to enter Korin City as the Mayor¡¯s assistant waited for them with all the evidence and some of Sr¡¯s blood and clothes at the city¡¯s gates. Korin City¡¯s Mayor¡¯s efficiency improved everything for the duo as time was of the essence. After thanking the assistant for the evidence, they entered the forest and advanced in the direction where the city¡¯s guards saw Sr escaping. Cain and Beelze ignored the Wave Beasts on their path since not only were the beasts too weak to be of any value, but there were only a few hours left of daylight, and they should take advantage of them. Cain was in the lead since his body was stronger and his armor more suitable for defense in case of a surprise attack. He was following Sr¡¯s scent that he learned from the clothes the Mayor¡¯s assistant gave. Srmitted his crimes on Monday and escaped the night of the same day, so his scent was clear and strong, making Cain¡¯s job very easy. The duo had run for less than three hours when the sun went down and night arrived. Cain had night vision, but that did not mean he could see as well as during the day. As for Beelze, her armor helped her in that aspect, but her sight was even worse than Cain¡¯s. In that condition, running deeper into the forest at full speed was not wise, but that did not mean they could only wait. Cain¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he caught the scent of a pack of Wave Beasts. He made a sign to Beelze, and the duo went after it. Chapter 70 70 Fighting a pack A few hundred kilometers from Korin City, a forest contained a Tier 1 Danger Zone full of Wave Beast. There was a pack of five Earth Lions in it, and they were devouring corpses of other Wave Beasts when something happened. ¡°Crack!¡± The sound of the ground cracking echoed through the forest as a male humanoid figure stamped and propelled his body with immense momentum toward the pack. The man emerged from a blind spot and was able to reach the pack before the Earth Lions could get battle ready. He got near one of the Level 2 Wave Beasts beforending a blow on its body and triggering a st, shattering the beast¡¯s ribs and lungs. He had just neutralized one of the Earth Lions when the rest of the beasts lunged at him. Without hesitation, he moved back, dodging the ws that sought to dismember him. It was easy for him to dodge the Level 2 Earth Lions, but there was one among the pack that reached Level 3 and managed to keep up with his speed. He saw how the Level 3 Earth Lion dashed forward and was about to lunge toward him with its maws open, but his gaze had no fear or concern. Just as the Level 3 Earth Lion was about to reach the man, six fifty-centimeter-long ice spears emerged from the distance and crashed on its body. ¡°Ahhh!¡± The Earth Lion howled in pain due to the projectiles. The ice spears did not kill it due to its resilient body but managed to interrupt its attack and push it away from the man. Seeing the ice spears thrust its leader away disoriented the rest of the pack, something the man took full advantage of, shing toward them andnding a direct blow on one of the Level 2 Earth Lions, triggering another st that killed the beast. ..... ¡°Roar!¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Thest two Level 2 Earth Lions roared as they saw theirrade die and attacked the man ferociously. Unlike before, the man did not run but dashed forward, entering a melee battle with the Wave Beasts. The Level 3 Earth Lion stood up, full of rage, as it gazed in the direction from where the projectiles emerged. The ice spears pierced its body, but they only managed to prate around twenty centimeters, so they did not threaten its life. It was ready to sh forward when it felt a burst of Wave, this time from the opposite direction. Clearly, the assant had moved around the forest, changing their position to take full advantage of the darkness and that their enemy did not know their location. A single ice spear almost four timesrger than before shed toward the Level 3 Earth Lion. The projectile this time was much more powerful butcked somewhat in terms of speed. The Level 3 Earth Lion prepared to dodge it when the spears piercing its body exploded into a freezing fog that paralyzed it and hindered its sight. There was nothing the beast could do as the giant ice spearnded right between its eyes, destroying its entire head. Less than two minutes after the death of the Level 3 Earth Lions, the man killed the other two Wave Beasts. Once all the Wave Beast were killed, the hidden shooter emerged from the darkness. Beelze¡¯s body emitted a cold aura, and the gauntlets covering her hands glowed with blue light, each with a thirty-centimeter-long ice de. Cain saw how Beelze got near the Level 3 Earth Lion and removed the beast¡¯s heart. Since she killed the Wave Beast, he had nothing to say about it and instead went ahead with his training. He buried his hands into the fresh corpses and began to practice the Blood Refinement Art. Beelze¡¯s eyes narrowed as she saw how Cain mummified the Wave Beast¡¯s corpse in just a few minutes before doing the same with the other three. Once Cain finished with the four Level 2 Earth Lions, he turned to the one at Level 3. Although Beelze took the beast¡¯s heart which contained the highest purity of blood, there was still a lot left in the rest of the body. ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have use for the corpse, so go ahead.¡± The corpse did not belong to him, so Cain asked for permission, and Beelze gave it immediately. Cain devoured until thest drop of blood in the Level 3 Earth Lion before the duo left the zone and continued their hunting. It continued the entire night, killing Wave Beasts and slowly advancing through the forest. Beezle and Cain were Level 2 Wave Warriors, so spending a day without sleep was not a big deal and could not affect them. When the first ray of sunlight appeared, the duo stopped their hunting and again advanced at full speed. They used the time to replenish their Wave, ensuring they were full of energy in case of anything. After another two hundred kilometers, Cain and Beelze reached a swamp. The area affected Cain¡¯s sense of smell, but he could still perceive the general direction in which Sr went. The scent became really strong after a few more hours, meaning Sr was not far away, but since it became night, Cain and Beelze chose to stop their march. Together, they were not afraid of a Level 4 Wave Warrior, but that did not mean they could take the enemy lightly, so they decided to rest and continue their chase the next day after resting properly. Since it was a fact that the enemy was close, they would sleep in turns. Despite having the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool, Cain went ahead with the n. A Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior could cover fifty meters in a second, which is why Cain would not let his guard down. ¡°You take the first turn. By the way, if you try anything...¡± Beelze did not finish her sentence, but she put her hand on a small branch and froze it before shattering it. Cain instinctively crossed his legs and nodded with strength. Not even if he was ten times braver would he dare to test Beelze. Chapter 71 71 Immaturity Beelze had been sleeping for almost two hours when she felt a hand covering her mouth. Her eyes opened, and a sh of killing intent appeared in them. It did not matter the friendship that formed between her and Cain. She would never allow anyone to abuse her. However, when Beelze saw Cain¡¯s eyes, there was no lust in them, only an intense sense of worry and a wisp of dread. She immediately understood that things were not as simple as they seemed and focused. The first impulse in Beelze¡¯s mind was to use the A.I. Chip tomunicate with Cain, but she understood that there must be a reason why the young man did not do that. Cain nodded once he saw Beelze remained calm and took his hand out of her mouth. He pointed to the distance, to a shallow swamp. Beelze¡¯s eyes widened, and the same worry that Cain showed appeared in her eyes. Near the shallow swamp were two older men, one of them was bald and with arge body, while the other had gray hair and a skinnyplexion. The reason for the duo¡¯s worry was that despite the distance, they could feel a sharp aura from them, meaning that their cultivation was, without a doubt, above Level 4! It would take everything of Cain and Beelze to face a single Level 4 Wave Warrior, assuming this one did not have Wave Artifacts. However, the two men were not only above that level, but the metallic structure covering their spines made it clear they had powerful armor. There was no way Cain and Beelze could defeat the duo; to make things worse, they had no idea why they would show themselves in a ce like this. Although the mission to hunt Sr Jones was open to cadets and soldiers, there was no way something like this would draw the attention of people at the duo¡¯s level. ..... Cain and Beelze remained silent as they stared at the men. There were around three hundred meters between them, so they should be safe from detection. Still, neither cadet used their A.I. Chip, as there was no way to say if the men had some artifact capable of detecting electromaic waves. Curiosity burned in the eyes of Cain and Beelze. Things grew odder as a man rose from the shallow swamp near the two old men. The duo immediately recognized that person as their target, Sr Jones. Sr showed no fear at the two old men and even had a cocky smile on his face as he looked at them and began to speak. Unfortunately, due to the distance, neither Cain nor Beelze could hear what they were talking about. Cain and Beelze looked at each other. Neither understood what was happening. Why would the two older men show such deterrence to Sr, a Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior with no background that the Imperial Lightning Fort considered a criminal? Cain¡¯s mind was extremely sharp, but even he could not clearly understand what was happening since there were simply too many missing pieces. The one clear thing was that Sr Jones¡¯ background was not as simple as the Imperial Lightning Fort made them believe. Under the protection of the two old men, Sr could leave this Tier 1 Danger Zone without a problem. Even if Cain and Beelze could inform of this right now, it would be a while before someone with enough power to ovee the trio arrived at this location. The only way forward was to get away from this ce and head back into the Imperial Lightning Fort. They could then inform of what they saw and let the higher-ups decide what to do. Suddenly the scranny old man talking with Sr made his Essence Wave burst and raise a hand, generating a small tornado in it! The pupils of Cain and Beelze narrowed as they saw that and were ready to push their Wave to the limit and run with everything they had. However, they did not do it, as the scranny old man shot the tornado in the opposite direction. The tornado destroyed some of the trees in its path, but the two figures that dashed from the branches and began to run at full speed were the old man¡¯s true goal. Cain could barely discern them, but they were clearly soldiers by their clothes. They were a man and a woman, and by the might of their Wave Cloaks, neither had reached Level 4. The soldiers attempted to escape, but they were too slow. The man ran for a few seconds before a barrage of wind des descended from the sky and cut his body to pieces. Utter sorrow appeared in the female soldier¡¯s eyes as she saw herrade¡¯s fate, but she did not have time to worry for others as the bald old man appeared in front of her. The one that went after the female soldier was an Astral Wave Warrior, and he was about to destroy the woman¡¯s head when a voice echoed through the forest. ¡°Do not kill her!¡± The one that shouted those words was Sr Jones, and there was a vicious light in his eyes. The old Astral Wave Warrior noticed the intention of Sr, and instead of a punch, he sent a palm strike forward. The attack sent the female soldier crashing against a tree, making her puke blood, but she was still alive. Sr showed a lustful smile as he saw the wounded female soldier and began to walk toward her location. He did not hurry up as he wanted to see the look of horror on the woman¡¯s face once she understood her fate. It was all part of his twisted game. Cain¡¯s eyes widened with shock as he saw what had just happened. Even if he had wanted to help soldiers, there was no way he could have covered the distance before the man perished. Cain took a deep breath and forced himself to take control of his emotion as he focused on the woman. He knew what Sr would do to her, and it made his blood burn as a furious killing intent began to grow inside him. ¡®I can not allow it!¡¯ Everything inside Cain told him he needed to help that woman, as he could not allow something like that to happen on his watch. The desire was so strong in Cain¡¯s mind that he almost jumped forward when a hand grabbed his shoulder. He turned to the side and saw Beelze looking at him with cold and emotionless eyes. While Cain¡¯s eyes burned with fury, killing intent, and a sense of justice, Beelze¡¯s were cold and saw the picture from an entirely pragmatic point of view. Beelze did not say a word, but the meaning in her eyes was unmistakable. shing forward would only mean death; even if Cain was fine with it, her life was also on the line here. Cain knew that trying to help that woman would most likely end in his death, but the idea of letting Sr carry on with that depraved act made him sick. Rage, hatred, and finally, disappointment appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he nodded. He was not alone, and even if he was willing to bet his life, he did not have the right to gamble Beelze¡¯s as well. Beelze nodded as she saw Cain calm down and nced at the trio in the distance. She signaled Cain that they should get to the ground and leave now that Sr and the other two were distracted. Cain followed Beelze¡¯s guide and quietly descended from the tree before running away. He could not believe they had just left and done nothing to stop Sr. A sense of impotence assaulted his heart, and he clenched his fists so hard they began to bleed. They had run for less than thirty seconds when Beelze¡¯s Wave Cloak emerged. She gathered a tremendous amount of Essence Wave before firing a cluster of shining ice to the sky, right above where Sr and the two old men should be. Cain was surprised by Beelze¡¯s actions and saw how the cluster burst into a glowing sphere of ice that illuminated the sky. That would draw a lot of attention to Sr¡¯s location, forcing this one to move, and there was no way he could do it while carrying a wounded woman. The female soldier would definitely die, but thanks to Beelze¡¯s actions, she would at least do it with dignity and not have herst moments of life as the toy of some depraved bastard. Cain did not hide the admiration he felt for Beelze, but along with it, there was a sense of shame. His immaturity put him and Beelze in great danger, and if not for the old men focused on the soldiers, they might have detected his killing intent and gone after them. There was nothing that Cain could do right now other than to learn from this mistake, but the look in his eyes made it clear this was not something he would get over easily. Chapter 72 72 Answer (I) Cain and Beelze made their way out of the forest without much problem. Even if Sr and the two old men knew of their presence, they would not risk chasing after them. No matter how high Sr¡¯s background might be, it could not be higher than that of the Imperial Military Force, so he had to be careful since he was a wanted man. The duo went to their military truck and headed back to the Imperial Lightning Fort. Neither Cain nor Beelze uttered a word in the entire journey. Once they were back in the city, they split apart. Beelze would inform the higher-ups what happened. While they technically fulfilled their mission since they reported Sr¡¯s location, it would be a while before they got a reward. As Cain saw Beelze go away, he could not help but sigh. Although the woman did not say a word, he knew she was angry with him and did not me her. He was selfish and risked both of their lives. Cain returned to his residence, bowed to his father¡¯s altar, and took a shower. Once he was out, he adopted a meditative position and attempted to cultivate. Unlike previous asions, Cain felt that his Wave was like mud, and it was incredibly hard to draw it into his body and make it revolve around it. He could not focus as, in this moment of silence, the picture of the two soldiers appeared in his mind repeatedly. To cultivate, you don¡¯t only need a powerful body in optimal conditions but also a clear mind. It was not odd that a traumatic event would haunt a genius¡¯ mind and halt their progress. Some ancient texts from the Dark Races called that state Heart Nightmare. Cain¡¯s rational mind understood that there was nothing he could have done to save them, but that did not make the annoying feeling in his mind go away. ..... From the moment he began to understand the world around him, his father engraved a sense of justice in his heart, so just running away and leaving someone who needed help was not something he could ignore. ¡°You should get used to it. The world is not a fairy tale. You will not be able to save everybody, and there will be times when the ones lost are not random strangers but people you care about.¡± Apex offered those few words before going silent. This mental blockade was a trial that Cain needed to surpass and was just as important as his fight in the Whisper Forest against Dimitri and Nira. After three hours, Cain¡¯s face began to twist as rage flooded his heart, and then his Wave burst with power as he began to m the floor with his bare fists. ¡°DAMMIT!¡± Cain shouted with rage. The frustration in his heart finally exploded. Cadets¡¯ residences could resist attacks from high-level Wave Warriors, so instead of harming the floor, Cain¡¯s fist ended up being hurt. Cain struck again and again with so much strength that his fists started the bleed, but it seemed he did not realize it and kept going. Only when a sh of red light appeared in his eyes did his emotions get under control, and he finally stopped mming the floor. Cain¡¯s breathing was rough due to the wild release of his Astral Wave. He saw his bleeding hands, but there was no sign of pain on his face, and he just cleaned them up before beginning to train in martial arts. Carrying on with his cultivation would be futile, and since martial arts had a soothing effect on his mind, Cain decided to focus on them. Monday finally came, and Cain headed for the auditorium. Bags beneath his eyes made it clear he had not slept well over the past few days. Cain reached the auditorium just as the ss was about to start and nodded to Beelze and Levi before sitting down. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain¡¯s condition, and he nced at Beelze with a questioning gaze, but the woman just shook her head. Although he still had questions, the ss had already started, and he did not dare to interrupt Wink. Today¡¯s ss was about achieving synergy between the Four Wave Arts, which was essential in determining the battle power of a Wave Cultivator. Every cadet paid full attention to the ss except for one. Cain was doing his best to remain focused, but the days had only worsened the pressure on his mind, so he could not help but get distracted. None of the cadets noticed Cain¡¯s absent-mindedness, but it did not escape from Wink¡¯s sight. ¡°You!¡± Wink¡¯s voice echoed through the auditorium, and everybody focused on the target. Cain¡¯s eyes widened, and his entire body grew tense as he felt a dangerous beast focus on him. He took a deep breath before rising from his seat. ¡°Yes, Teacher Wink?¡± ¡°Hmph, at least you have some manners. Anyway, since you are so distracted, I take it that you already understood all I was saying. I needed someone to do a practical demonstration, and you just volunteered. Come here.¡± Cain did not say a word and only nodded before walking toward Wink. Many of the cadets threw him mocking smiles, but he ignored them. The harsh light in Wink¡¯s eyes grew a little weaker as he saw Cain¡¯s attitude. Of course, that did not mean he would go easy on this one. In the military, insubordination andck of focus were not allowed as that would mean the death of many, not just yours. Wink took a deep breath as his Essence Wave grew incredibly weaker until it matched Cain¡¯s Astral Wave in quantity. ¡°I have sealed my Essence Wave to equal yours, and I will also restrict my battle skills. We will begin a melee fight, and I will show everybody just how mighty the Four Wave Arts are, as they will allow me to defeat you.¡± For all the cadets, it was an unwritten rule that no Essence Wave Warrior could defeat an Astral Wave Warrior in a melee fight, but Wink was ready to shatter that perception. ¡°Although I am an Essence Wave Cultivator, my body has already gone through multiple stages of tempering, so you will not be able to hurt me even without my Wave Cloak¡¯s protection. Attack me with all you have; as long as you connect a direct blow, you will win.¡± Wink did not say anything more before his Wave Cloak emerged, and he made it burst. Although it would have been easy for him to push it to an outrageous level, he limited himself to a 400% Wave Burst, the standard for a genius. Cain adopted a severe expression as he saw Wink¡¯s Wave Cloak, which was not only bursting with great power but highly concentrated. He took a deep breath before unleashing his Wave Cloak and immediately made it burst. It became clear to everybody how far apart Wink and Cain were in terms of mastery over the Four Wave Arts. Not only was Cain¡¯s Wave Burst weaker, but he also had a more challenging time keeping his Wave Cloak¡¯s form. Wink stood straight, not adopting any battle stance whatsoever, increasing the pressure he generated over Cain. Cain did his best to develop a battle strategy, but he could not find any opening. In the end, the only path was the simplest, a direct sh forward, taking advantage of his superior strength and Astral Wave. Cain directed as much Astral Wave as he could into his right fist before sending a punch toward Wink¡¯s chest. That punch carried great strength, but Wink managed to stop it with his palm. He not only did not move a single step but not even his stance changed. Wink gathered a significant amount of Essence Wave on his palm and morphed it, granting it a sponge-like consistency, significantly weakening the power of Cain¡¯s punch. Cain was shocked by that feeling. The fact that the Four Wave Arts could allow an Essence Wave Warrior to stop an Astral Wave Warrior¡¯s punch was shocking. Of course, it was near-impossible for a Level 2 Wave Warrior to disy that level of mastery over the Four Wave Arts. Cain continued attacking, throwing punches and kicks with all his power, but Wink blocked all of them with his palm without any effort. As the battle continued, a sense of impotence began to assault Cain. The feeling of weakness and futility reminded him of what happened with those soldiers. Rage started to emerge in his heart again, making his attack clumsier. Wink could see Cain¡¯sck of control and shook his head. Someone that could not keep calm had no room on the battlefield. His eyes grew cold as the cadet jumped forward and threw another punch. All of Wink¡¯s Essence Wave focused on his palm, and once it collided with Cain¡¯s punch, it sent him flying away with so much strength that he shed with the auditorium¡¯s wall, hitting the back of his head. ¡°?Boom!¡± Wink sighed as he saw that. He got a little carried away as Cain¡¯s behavior reminded him of many people he met in the army who did not understand that it was not just their life on the line. Still, he was not cruel and understood that Cain was still young and could improve. Just as Wink was about to call Levi to help the unconscious Cain, he saw the cadet beginning to stand up. ¡°Oh, you can still stand up? I guess you have a hard head, right ki...¡± Wink¡¯s voice froze when he saw Cain¡¯s eyes. Cain¡¯s eyescked focus, hinting he wasn¡¯t fully conscious, but there was a red light in them, unleashing a monstrous coldness that shocked even the Wave Champion! Chapter 73 73 Answer (II) Silence reigned in the auditorium as all the cadets felt a coldness assaulting their hearts. Those with weak wills could not even look at Cain¡¯s eyes, as that red light in his eyes terrified them. However, that silence did not remain long as a st echoed the next second when Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak emerged, bursting with immense power. The Wave output surpassed Wink¡¯s from the beginning and kept growing stronger. ¡®450%, 500%. What! His Wave Burst has already reached 600% and is still rising!¡¯ Wink¡¯s eyes widened as he calcted Cain¡¯s Wave Burst percentage. Cain¡¯s talent could be considered among the best of the ss, but it was very far from what Wink was seeing now, not to mention that red light rose along with the power. It was not only an incredible level of Wave Burst that Cain was showing, but his Wave Cloak remained steady, showing an extreme proficiency in Synergy Flow. The higher the Wave output, the harder it would be to control it, but even when Cain¡¯s Wave Burst reached 800%, the Wave Cloak showed no sign of instability or leakage. A st of dense air sted in every direction once Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak reached 1000% Wave Burst! None of the cadets said a word, as they could not even process what was happening. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with a red light, and he showed a level of proficiency over the Four Wave Arts that seemed to surpass that of Wink. Cain¡¯s eyes were still not fully focused and seemed to be in automatic mode, but that did not affect his movements. In a second, all of his Wave concentrated in his right fist, reaching a might that could destroy a Level 3 Wave Warrior with a single strike! ..... ¡®It¡¯s not only Wave Cloak and Wave Burst that reached a shocking level, but also Wave Focus. What is happening with this boy!?¡¯ Wink was full of curiosity, which is why he let things y out. Even if Cain began to act wild, he still could immobilize this one without a problem. ¡°?Boom!¡± A small st echoed through the auditorium when Cain stroked the wall behind him. While that attack had great strength, it was not enough to harm the structure. It made sense. After all, the building could endure the might of Wave Champions, and no matter how much strength Cain had gathered in his fist, it did not reach that level. Wink and the other cadets did not understand Cain¡¯s goal with that attack, but this one was unable to exin. He looked around the auditorium before walking to the closest bench. The cadet near the bench was terrified and moved away, but Cain did not care, and with that fist that contained all of his Wave, he shattered it. Unlike the auditorium¡¯s walls, the bench and chairs were ordinary and could not endure the might of Cain¡¯s fist. The confusion in their eyes of everybody only grew as they saw Cain destroying the bench before bending. The cadets and Wink could only see his back, so they did not know what he was doing, but once he rose, his hands were full of pieces of steel. All of Cain¡¯s actions became clear the next second as he turned toward Wink and shot one of those steel pieces. Wink immediately put his hand on the path of the steel piece. There was a tremendous amount of Essence Wave with a sponge-like consistency in his palm, so the object should not even touch his skin. However, as the steel piece reached his palm, a sense of utter awe assaulted Wink. His Essence Wave diminished a significant amount of the steel piece¡¯s momentum, but this one still managed to reach his flesh! Of course, there was no damage, as Wink¡¯s body was just too powerful for something like that to harm him, but that did not diminish the shock that assaulted his heart. Before Wink could get over the shock, Cain shot another piece of steel toward him. Like before, he managed to block it, reducing most of its power with his Essence Wave but was unable to stop it from reaching the flesh. Cain began to walk toward Wink as he shot more and more of those pieces of steel. After blocking the teenth piece of steel, Wink finally understood the reason behind their power. ¡®He used Direct Flow to cover the steel pieces with his Astral Wave before using Wave Transmutation to grant it lightning properties. What kind of monstrous talent is that!¡¯ Wink¡¯s shock and awe have already reached an unprecedented level. Direct Flow and Wave Transmutation were arts that Astral Wave Cultivators found very hard to perform independently, much less simultaneously. Still, Cain was doing it as if they were as normal as breathing. The closer Cain got to Wink, the faster he shot the steel pieces. However, Wink still managed to block them with nothing more than his palms. Wink might have sealed his Essence Wave and restricted his martial arts, but his speed of thought was still working unhindered. Cain¡¯s attacks moved in slow motion for a Wave Champion like him, so it was easy to block them. Cain¡¯s face showed no facial expression from the moment he stood up, and that did not change for the fact that Wink blocked every one of his shots. Once there was less than a meter of distance between them, his Wave Burst grew even stronger, and he shot one steel piece from each hand before shing forward. Wink had just used both palms to block the steel pieces when Cain appeared in front of him and sent a right punch to his face. If that punchnded, even if it did no damage, he would lose ording to his rules. Cain saw how Wink managed to grab his right wrist, stopping his fist, but then he shot a new piece of steel that he had hidden between his fingers. Wink¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that, and he moved his head to dodge the steel piece, putting it in the path of Cain¡¯s left fist. Like before, he grabbed the arm¡¯s wrist, stopping the attack, and again, Cain shot a hidden piece of steel toward his head. Wink easily dodged that second sneak attack since he expected it, but then it happened. Cain¡¯s head moved forward, getting extremely close to his, and he saw it. Cain¡¯s lips split apart, showing a final piece of steel between his teeth. This one had much more Astral Wave infused in it, and arcs of lightning surrounded it, hinting at its extremely piercing power. He shot that hazardous project straight toward Wink¡¯s right eye! Wink¡¯s instincts began to scream danger. Even if he was a Wave Champion with an extremely powerful body, there was no way his eye could resist that attack! Redirecting all of his current Essence Wave to his eyelid would still not be enough, as that steel piece could pierce it. ¡®DAMMIT!¡¯ Wink could not help but curse in his mind before hastily breaking the seal over his Essence Wave and making it explode with the full power of someone at the Wave Champion rank. An immense amount of Essence Wave sted out of Wink¡¯s body, sending Cain flying away. Cain shed with the ceiling before falling to the ground, and this time he seemed to have been thoroughly knocked out. When the cadets stared at Wink, they could not believe what they saw. Wink¡¯s right eyelid was bleeding! A Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior made a Wave Champion bleed. No one would believe such a thing to be possible, yet it happened. Wink was doing his best to remain calm, but his heart still beat like crazy. Had he not released the full power of his Essence Wave, that steel piece would have destroyed his right eye and possibly reached all the way to his brain. ¡®He never intended to win bynding a direct blow. Everything he did from the moment he stood up was done with the sole purpose of killing me!¡¯ A sh of dread appeared in Wink¡¯s eyes as he stared at the unconscious Cain. Someone so young, with such monstrous talent, scheming mind, and ruthless heart, was destined to be a horrible monster. As the dread vanished and his heartbeat began to slow down, a vicious smile appeared on Wink¡¯s face, one that he had never shown to the cadets before. The cadets were surprised by Wink¡¯s change. Before, he gave them the feeling of a great beast in slumber, but now he resembled a monster ready to jump into a killing frenzy. That was a sight of Wink that only those that had fought by his side had seen. ¡®This brat, if he manages to survive the tribtions in his path, will be a true monster. Excellent!¡¯ The reason for Wink¡¯s murderous aura was the picture he had of Cain butchering members of the Dark Races. There was no more beautiful scenery for a soldier of the Imperial Military Force than that. Chapter 74 74 Answer (III) Cain opened his eyes, and there was confusion in them as he attempted to remember what had just happened when a horrible pain assaulted him. It was as if someone had just split his brain in two. ¡°AAAHHH!¡± Cain grabbed his head with an expression of utter agony. ¡°What the hell!¡± The pain almost made him pass out again, but luckily it did notst long. After a few seconds, it was gone, and he heard a voice. ¡°Are you fine?¡± Hearing a voice at any time was not odd for Cain due to Apex¡¯s presence, but the one speaking was a woman. He stood up and saw that he was in his residence, and Levi and Beelze were with him. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Cain was perplexed about the entire situation. Thest thing he remembered was his training with Wink, but after that, everything became blurry. There were memories, but it was like trying to remember an old dream. Levi and Beelze looked at each other before nodding. The first one adopted a solemn expression as he began to speak. ¡°After you ck out, we offered to bring you to your residence. As for what happened before that.¡± Levi paused before sending a video to Cain through his A.I. Chip. Cain was full of questions, so he did not hesitate before opening the video. Shock immediately appeared in his eyes as he saw the power and skills he disyed in that semi-unconscious state. ..... It was just too outrageous, and not just his domain over the Four Waves Arts, but his scheming mind and tactics reached an incredible level. ¡°This is really me?¡± Even though the video clearly showed him, Cain found it hard to fathom the one fighting against Wink with the current him. ¡°You are not the only one surprised. Your actions shocked the entire ss, including us. We were wondering if you had some secret skill, but by your expression, it seemed that you didn¡¯t know what had just happened.¡± Beelze spoke calmly, not hiding her curiosity about Cain¡¯s condition or interest in that state. Neither she nor Levi would pressure Cain to obtain information about that state, but that did not mean they would pretend they did not care or were interested. Honesty was the main pir of any true friendship. Cain stared at the duo for a few moments before sighing. ¡°In the past, there had been times when my mind became extremely clear, granting me absolute control over my emotions, heightening my senses, and improving my control over my Astral Wave. In all of them, I was conscious, and my skills never reached such an outrageous level as disyed in the video.¡± Levi and Beelze showed a small smile when they heard that, and their posture became much friendlier. The information Cain gave them would grant them nothing, but it was proof of their trust in each other. ¡°You should be careful from now on. Many envious people would think that you have some secret treasure or ability due to your actions, and they could target you.¡± Beelze¡¯s voice grew cold as she spoke those words, and her attitude affected the other two. Being a monstrous genius andcking background was never a goodbination. It would not be that odd if some Noble Families attempted to kidnap Cain to look for the secret behind his abilities. Cain frowned as he heard that, since from now on, he could not simply leave the Imperial Lightning Fort. Theck of power again restrained his movements, just like with Sr Jones. However, unlike before, when he felt a crushing pressure assaulting his mind, enlightenment appeared in his eyes, and he smiled. ¡®Hahaha, how did I not see it before? It is simple. I just need to grow stronger.¡¯ A sh of red light crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he found the answer to all the problems that had been assaulting him. POWER. It might sound simple, but it was not. Of course, the idea of solving his problems with raw power crossed Cain¡¯s mind before, but he never truly entertained it since it was not something he could achieve by just wanting it. However, in that video, he deployed a battle power that could have allowed him to face a Level 5 Wave Warrior. That meant he had the strength and potential to solve his problems with his fists. The blockade in Cain¡¯s mind shattered after that, and he felt an inner peace that rxed his entire body. Levi and Beelze had no idea what was happening in Cain¡¯s mind, but they noticed the sh of red light in his eyes and how his entire demeanor changed. It had a calm surface, but a force was ready to burst beneath it. ¡°Since you are fine, we should be leaving.¡± Beelze stood up as she said that, but then her eyes caught the sight of a small altar. She and Levi had been in the room for almost an hour, but they were entirely focused on Cain and did not have the time to look around. The man had green eyes and ck hair, just like Cain, but that was where the simrities ended. Beelze even noticed physical characteristics that made her narrow her eyes. ¡°Is that your father?¡± Cain noticed Beelze¡¯s expression as she asked that question, and he smiled. ¡°Yes, that man is my father, the only one I have. That will always be true even if we do not share blood.¡± Cain stood and went to the altar before perming a deep bow. ¡°I am an orphan. ording to what my father told me, he found me in a forest near a battlefield. From that moment, he cared for me and raised me to be the man I am today.¡± Levi and Beelze were a little surprised to find out the almost mythical origin of Cain. After that, the duo did leave for their residences, leaving Cain alone. Once he was alone again, Cain adopted a severe expression. The way he behaved in the video was incredible and showed immense power, but while Cain would not hesitate to kill someone on a battlefield, he would not do it in mere training. If Wink had acted a little slower, that piece of steel would have pierced into his brain. Even a Wave Champion could not endure such a traumatic injury. ¡°Apex, did you or the Absolute Life Form System have anything to do with that behavior?¡± Apex¡¯s attitude toward Cain had always been one of superiority, but this time he did not dally or y games. The stronger you were, the more importance you gave your ego and personality. ¡°The Absolute Life Form System can not act without yourmands. Although I have the power to kill you, I can not directly affect your personality. The cause for your state during that video was neither of us.¡± Cain nodded as he understood there was no reason for Apex to lie to him, not to mention that the actions disyed in the video were not exactly wise. No matter how exceptional his talent was, had Cain killed Wink, nothing good would have happened. ¡°Then what just happened?¡± Cain had always been curious about the odd state he entered when pushed to his limits. Since they had never affected his personality, he did not worry too much, but things had changed. ¡°I have been doing some research from the moment that first happened during your encounter with the Atrox. While I have found records in the Empire Science Academy containing some clues, the information that could give us a clearer answer is out of reach for the current [Basic Hacking] tool.¡± Cain could only sigh as he heard that. There was not much he could do if things were like that. He would just have to wait for the [A.I. Chip Module] to grow stronger or find another way to get that information. For the time being, Cain focused on the things he could control, like his cultivation. Now that his mind had finally regained its peace, he could train withplete calm. Cain felt his Astral Wave revolving around his body even faster than before, nurturing every cell of his body and increasing his energy pool. After a few hours, he stopped cultivating, ate arge meal, took a long shower, and sleptfortably. The next day, like usual, Cain went to the auditorium for his ss, but he noticed how many people kept looking at him on the way. It was clear that yesterday¡¯s events had already spread around the military academy. Cain simply ignored their nces. None of them had the power to do anything to him, and even if they had, none would dare to attack him inside the Imperial Lightning Fort. As Cain was about to reach the auditorium, he noticed Levi in the distance. He got closer to this one and immediately noticed something odd. Levi¡¯s head had no hair left, and his skin looked smooth like a baby¡¯s. Although those characteristics could draw someughs, Cain was actually amazed. ¡°You went through marrow washing?¡± Chapter 75 75 Pir of Mind (I) ¡°You went through marrow washing?¡± Cain did not hide his amazement as he realized Levi¡¯s aplishment. What Cain referred to as marrow washing was a process in which a Wave Warrior expelled the body¡¯s impurities. Not just that umted in the skin but those that reach the marrow. It was an excruciating process but also a tremendous lucky chance, especially for Astral Wave Warriors. Astral Wave Cultivators need to pay special focus to their foundation, and in the Wave Warrior rank, marrow washing yed an essential part in it. ¡°Hahaha, that is right. I entered Level 3 yesterday during the night, and that rush of Astral Wave running through my body allowed me to go through marrow washing.¡± Levi¡¯s face showed immense pride as he uttered those words. It made sense; after all, the sooner you begin to experience marrow washing, the greater your future cultivation prospects will be. Even talented individuals find it hard to experience marrow washing before Level 4. The fact that Levi experienced it just as he entered Level 3 meant that he would almost definitely be a Level 7 Wave Warrior and would not have a hard time bing a Wave Champion. Cain was not surprised that Levi managed to enter Level 3, as this one already stood very close to that level once they left the secret trial. Cain and Levi did not waste time and entered the auditorium. Many cadets were already seated, and the duo immediately became the center of attention. The cadets¡¯ gazes carried many emotions. Some were curious, others amazed, but many also showed envy and jealousy. Cain and Levi ignored those gazes and went to their usual seats, where Beelze was already waiting. ..... Whispers filled the auditorium for a few minutes, but once Razmun arrived, everybody became silent. The dwarf-like teacher stared at Cain for a moment once he reached the podium but did not dally for long and began the ss. ¡°Today¡¯s ss will focus on the use of poison. Since the physiology of the Dark Races varies, some toxins are incredibly effective against some while doing almost nothing against others.¡± Razmun¡¯s ss about poison was not very exciting, but all the cadets understood its value. As for the notion that using those methods was not honorable, that was a foolish and naive way to look at things, and war swallowed all those that thought that way. Once the ss ended, Cain returned to his residence and did the usual. He paid respect to his father¡¯s altar, trained, ate, showered, and slept until the next day. Once Cain woke up, he went to the auditorium to attend Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s Military Tactic ss. ¡°We will focus today¡¯s ss on the use of destructive methods to break apart the enemy¡¯s chain ofmand.¡± Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s strict aura did not change as he began to impart his knowledge to the cadets. The chain ofmand was critical on any battlefield, and any w could cause thousands of deaths. Learning how to disrupt it was imperative, and every cadet knew it. Cain, Levi, and Beelze paid full attention to the ss. Once it was over, the trio left the auditorium. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Before the trio could disperse, Levi spoke to the two of them. ¡°I am going to the Pirs of Trial and wanted to know if you two would like to apany me.¡± The Pirs of Trial was not a foreign concept for Cain since it was in the information given to him by the military academy regarding the Imperial Lightning Fort. They were special facilities with trials that members of the military could take. The pirs were not in the cadet section of the Imperial Lightning Fort but in the central part, where soldiers resided. Cadets could test their abilities in the Pirs of Trial, and there was even a ranking designed for them, but unless you reached Level 3, going there was inviting mockery. ¡°Actually, I was already nning to go to the pirs,¡± Beelze allowed a wisp of her aura to reach the duo, allowing them to see that she had also achieved Level 3. Levi and Beelze turned to Cain to see what he would do. Although his strength was too weak to achieve anything in the pirs, there was no problem in checking them out, so he agreed. The trio went to the gate that connected the cadet section and the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once they reached it, they found a familiar face. The one guarding the gate was an old man with a skinny body, the same one Vice-Captain Josef addressed as Sir Oliver when Cain and Levi took part in the secret trial. Oliver opened his eyes once he saw the trio arrive, and a small smile appeared. Cain, Levi, and Beelze felt those eyes could pierce into their souls. Even Wink could not make them feel that way. ¡°You two reached Level 3 and want to use the Pirs of Trial. Aaaa, the youth.¡± Oliver said nothing more before waving his hand and opening the giant gate. The trio gave a respectful bow to the man and were about to cross the gate when they heard him speak again. This time his target was not Levi or Beelze but Cain. ¡°You are too weak for the Pir of Strength, Pir of Destruction, Pir of Resilience, and Pir of Speed. However, I advise you to take the Pir of Mind.¡± Cain was a little surprised by the advice and was full of questions, but Oliver closed his eyes the next second. In the end, he just nodded and carried on. As soon as the trio crossed the gate, they detected many powerful auras. Unlike in the cadet¡¯s section, where you would find it almost impossible to see Level 3 Wave Warriors, they weremon in this ce. The trio did draw attention, as Levi¡¯s sign of marrow washing and Beelze¡¯s beauty were odd, even for those soldiers. However, the trio stayed focused and went straight to the Pirs of Trial. It did not take long for the trio to arrive at the pirs, as they were purposely ced close to the cadet¡¯s section. It made sense since they were one of the few facilities cadets could use in the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Cain was amazed by the Pirs of Trial. Each of them was a gigantic structure that rose for hundreds of meters, purely ck and equal in every sense except for the words engraved on their surface. Each pir had written the type of trial they performed in glowing words, and beneath them were two lists. One list was the Soldier Ranking, and the other was the Cadet Ranking. ¡°Ok, I will go first. I will use the Pir of Strength. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Levi showed a confident smile as he walked to the massive ck pir. There was no queue, as multiple people could use the Pir of Strength simultaneously. Levi just put his hand over the pir¡¯s surface before vanishing. There was no way for Cain and Beelze to see what Levi did inside the Pir of Strength, but they could have an idea of just how well he did by looking at the Cadet Ranking. The Cadet Ranking had ten ces, and at the bottom, there was the name Ster Wrath with the description Mid Level 3 Strength by its side. Most of the names were cadets of previous generations, and since they managed to engrave their names in the ranking, they were incredibly talented. Even the N¡ã10 position was a great honor, and it would also grant them a reward in the form of military credits. After ten minutes, a change happened in the ranking. The name Ster Wrath vanished, only to be reced by Blood Inferno, and the legend by its side had Late Level 3 Strength. There was always a great number of people paying attention to the ranking in the Pirs of Strength, so seeing a change in it drew a lot of attention, even if it was in the Cadet Ranking. Levi exited the pir a few minutester, and everybody focused on him. He just smiled as he got back to Beelze and Cain. Beelze did not say a word before going to the Pir of Destruction. That trial focused on the destructive power that a Wave Warrior could achieve. Just like with Levi, once Beelze touched the pir, she vanished. Cain and Levi focused on the Cadet Ranking of the Pir of Destruction, and after a few minutes, they saw how the N¡ã10 position also changed. Beelze managed to take that spot, and the pir ssified her destructive power as Late Rank 3. Levi¡¯s smile froze as he saw Beelze walking toward him. He had shown such bravado just now, and she achieved the same. Cain only smiled as he saw the duo exchange challenging nces and walk toward the Pir of Mind. He put his hands over it and vanished. Chapter 76 76 Pir of Mind (II) The moment Cain was teleported into the Pir of Mind, a message arrived at his [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Cadet, prepare yourself. The Trial of Mind will begin in two minutes. The trial will submit you to increasing levels of mental pain, measuring your willpower. The test willst until you ask for the trial to stop or fall unconscious. The more youst, the higher your ranking will be. We advise you to end the trial once you feel you can no longer endure it, as passing out could lead to some minor brain trauma.¡± Cain nodded once he heard the robotic voice and adopted a meditative position before emptying his mind and calming his heart. As he waited, he went through his understanding of willpower. It was a very abstract concept in the Old World, but now that the Godyer Humankind¡¯s knowledge reached such an immense level that even embarked on the soul, many schrs have studied it. Of course, the level of information that Cain could ess was too shallow, and he only knew two important facts. One was willpower being part of an individual¡¯s soul, and the other was that cultivation had an enriching effect on it. Wave Cultivators did not suffer from ailments like post-traumatic syndrome and the like because their cultivation improved their willpower, allowing them to cope better with war trauma. Cain began to feel mental pressure after two minutes, just like the message said. However, it was so weak that he barely detected it. ..... ¡®I guess it starts really slow in case a Level 1 Wave Warrior would be so dumb as to test the pirs.¡¯ Cain did not overthink the slow starting point and remained focused. However, after half an hour, Cain felt almost no real pain. For a moment, he thought that the Pir of Mind had malfunctioned. Only when the hour mark arrived did Cain begin to feel real pain. It was not too severe but enough to make him frown. As time went by, the pain kept growing stronger until the point it truly pushed him to his limits. Cain had no way of knowing just what level he had reached, but he did not want to quit. At least, he hoped to gain a mark that would put him at Level 3. Ten minutester, when Cain¡¯s time inside the Pir of Mind almost reached two hours, he could no longer endure it. ¡°Stop!¡± The pain assaulting his mind vanished as soon as Cain uttered those words. He was pale and cold sweat soaked his body. Cain fell to the ground as he felt he had no energy left. His body was in perfect condition, but if his mind could not operate it, then there was not much he could do. ¡°Apex, exactly how long did I spend inside the trial?¡± ¡°One hour and fifty-seven minutes.¡± Cain could not help but show an odd expression. Levi and Beelze took around ten minutes in each trial and reached Late Level 3. ¡®Although the Pir of Mind should be different from the others, since I was inside for so long, maybe I reached Level 4.¡¯ A smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he thought of that. Once he could finally stand up properly, he sent themand, and the Pir of Mind teleported him outside. The first thing that received Cain¡¯s sight after the teleporting was a massive crowd. Hundreds of soldiers were waiting outside the Pir of Mind, and he became the sole focus of their eyes. Cain could see the shock in their gazes and did not understand what was happening. Levi and Beelze immediately appeared by his side, and the duo¡¯s expressions were no different than the soldiers. An idea came to Cain¡¯s mind, and he turned to the Cadet Ranking to see just what level he had reached. As he saw the position of Saint of Killer in the ranking, he could almost not believe it. N¡ã1 Saint of Killers. However, that was far from enough to cause so much shock. Everybody looked at Cain as if he was a monster because of the legend next to the title. Late Wave Champion Willpower. ¡®WHAT!¡¯ Cain could not believe what the Pir of Mind¡¯s Cadet Ranking had written. Even if the cultivation was not primordial in determining your willpower, it was still a coreponent. Finding a Level 9 Wave Warrior with willpower at the Early Wave Champion would raise massive havoc. So one could imagine how surprised people would feel with a Level 2 Wave Warrior that reached the Late Wave Champion. The only reason Cain could think for his incredible level of willpower was his identity as a Reincarnator or the fact that the Absolute Life Form System had fused with his soul. Unfortunately, he did not have time to focus on an answer as he was in grave danger. Having a high ranking should be great for him, but it was too high and would definitely draw envy. Cain did not have a background that could act as a deterrent, and while his name did not technically appear in the Cadet Ranking, it could not belong to anyone else but him. Suddenly, Cain¡¯s instincts began to scream danger as a handsome soldier with blonde hair and a tall body walked toward him. ¡°Cadet, your actions inside the Pir of Mind raised too many suspicions. Do not resist ande with me!¡± The man spoke those words with a righteous expression as if he was some hero of justice. The actions of the blond man caused many soldiers to frown, as they were curious about Cain¡¯s feat, but none dared to defy him. Cain could see the greed hidden in the blonde man¡¯s eyes and knew nothing good would wait for him if he went with this one. Asking for help did not seem like a choice, as that man had some level of background by the way the other soldiers acted around him. ¡®Apex!¡¯ The System Spirit knew what Cain wanted and immediately used the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] tool on the blond man. [Scan of targetpleted: ¡ª Name: ??? Race: Godyer Humankind Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 7 Wave Warrior)] ¡®He looks so young and is already a Level 7 Wave Warrior. Just what kind of talent is that!¡¯ Cain clenched his fist as the Absolute Life Form System showed him that information. There was no way he could face a Level 7 Wave Warrior. Of course, even if the opponent had so much power he could never defeat him, Cain would not just surrender. No matter how futile it might be, he would fight. Levi and Beelze did not move from Cain¡¯s side. There was no fear in their eyes as they faced the blond man. Although even together, the trio had no way of defeating this one, they could at least make things hard enough so the higher-ups in the Imperial Lightning Fort could not simply turn a blind eye to what happened here today. Seeing the defiance in the trio made the blond man¡¯s eyes show coldness and a sh of killing intent. Yet, soon a smile emerged, as he was sure he could defeat them without muchmotion. Unfortunately for the blond man, a sky-blue fog flooded the terrain before he could get close to Cain. It affected all the soldiers but generated a vacuum around the three cadets. When Cain saw that fog, he remembered Wink¡¯s Free Flow. However, this one had greater control and power, pressuring all the soldiers while avoiding harming him, Levi, and Beelze. ¡°Who was the one that dared to question the Pir of Mind!¡± Everybody focused in the distance and saw an old man walking toward them. His body seemed very weak, yet he was the origin of the sky-blue fog that restrained all the soldiers. Cain immediately recognized that old man as Oliver, who advised him to attempt the Pir of Mind. Oliver walked until he was right in front of the soldiers and focused on the blond man doing his best to stand straight. ¡°You were the one that insinuated that a Level 2 Wave Warrior could trick the Pir of Mind?¡± The blond man was not even able to give an answer before all of the sky-blue fog concentrated on him, pushing him to the ground while coughing blood. Oliver nced at the blond man for a moment before turning toward Cain, Levi, and Beelze. ¡°I think you three fulfilled the purpose of your trip here. Return to the cadet¡¯s section. No one would dare to stop you now.¡± Cain, Levi, and Beelze stared at the old man for a moment before giving a deep bow and walking away. Things would have been much harder had it not been for Oliver¡¯s arrival, so they were truly thankful. Cain was full of questions for the old man since it seemed this one knew something like this would happen. But now, it was not the time. Just as the trio was leaving, Cain heard Oliver¡¯s voice in his mind. ¡°Brat, I wille to visit you at night. There is someone very interested in meeting you.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He turned toward Oliver and nodded before continuing to walk. Chapter 77 77 Lord Zarak When Cain, Levi, and Beelze returned to the cadet¡¯s section of the Imperial Lightning Fort, they took a deep breath and finally rxed. The trip to the Pirs of Trial was supposed to be fun, but it turned into a dreadful one. Cain showed an odd smile as he remembered the legend written in the Cadet Ranking. He had willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion, meaning his talent in that aspect was overwhelming. Unfortunately, monstrous willpower would not offer any form of protection to the envious people that wanted to dissect him to know the secret behind his abilities. As the pressure of the world came crashing down on Cain, he remembered a phrase his father had told him. ¡®There is no way to change the past. ept it with serenity, and find the courage within yourself to mold the future ording to your will.¡¯ Cain clenched his fist, and a red light appeared in his eyes as he pushed all doubts and fears away. No matter what, he would take everything the world sent him and rise above all his tribtions. ¡°You are not alone. We are with you.¡± Beelze uttered those words as she put a hand over Cain¡¯s right shoulder. ¡°That is right. As long as we grow powerful enough, even a Wave Champion would not dare to mess with us.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes glowed with determination as he patted Cain¡¯s left shoulder. Cain could not help but show a radiant smile as he saw the duo. True friendship is very hard to get; once you obtain it, you must cherish it with all your heart. ¡°Thank you both. I should rest. I will not take any mission for the time being. Although it would hurt my credits, it is better to be safe.¡± Cain did not mind theck of credits as he already had plenty, but the missions were also a great way to train. ..... ¡°Indeed, you should not take missions, but I don¡¯t think you would need to worry about credits for the time being. After all, you took first ce.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard Levi¡¯s words. Indeed, entering the Cadet Ranking would grant military credits, and the higher you were, the more you would obtain. ¡®System, show me my military credits.¡¯ The Absolute Life Form System followed Cain¡¯smand, and soon he learned just how many military credits were in his possession. [Vessel¡¯s military credits: 29340. ¡ª The Imperial Lightning Fort sent twenty-five thousand military credits to Vessel twenty-two minutes ago.] Cain could hardly believe what he saw. Twenty-five thousand military credits were more than most cadets would gain in their entire journey in the military academy. Just as a framework, some Wave Champion¡¯s cultivation techniques cost less than twenty thousand military credits. ¡°It is almost thirty thousand.¡± Levi and Beelze were surprised by that number, and an odd expression appeared on their faces the next second. ¡°Good luck with your riches.¡± ¡°Yeah, we won¡¯t entertain your filthy rich grace.¡± The duo left but not before uttering those mocking words to Cain. Cain almostughed when he saw the duo¡¯sic behavior and shook his head before returning to his residence. He bowed to his father¡¯s altar before focusing. ¡°Apex, are you or the system the reason for my abnormal willpower?¡± ¡°My presence and that of the Absolute Life Form System do have some effect on your willpower and mind, but the real reason should be your identity as a Reincarnator. Your soul and mind are special since you are an entity that managed to endure the purging force of the Eternal River of the Afterlife, so it makes sense for your willpower to be outrageous.¡± Cain nodded since Apex¡¯s words made sense. There was no way the soul of something that managed to reincarnate would be simple. There were many things Cain could do right now, such as training or searching through the Imperial Military Academy Network for treasures to assist his cultivation, but he did not. Instead, he closed his eyes and calmly meditated. It was already midnight when Cain opened his eyes and walked toward the door before opening it. Oliver stood on the other side with a smile as he stared at the young cadet. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Would it make a difference if I say no?¡± Oliver was surprised to hear Cain say that with such a carefree attitude. He smiled before shaking his head. Cain nodded, and the duo left the residences. Once they were outside the building, Oliver grabbed Cain¡¯s clothes, and before he could say anything, they rose into the sky. Cain was shocked to see that. Although flying did not seem that impressive considering all the strength powerful Wave Cultivators could unleash, it was still an amazing feat. He focused on Oliver and saw how this one slightly kicked the air with his feet, allowing him to move in a three-dimensional frame. Although Cain would have liked to analyze that skill in more detail, Oliver shed through the sky at an incredible speed once they were high enough. The duo left the cadet¡¯s section in less than a minute and crossed into the main part of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once there, Oliver continued flying, and Cain¡¯s eyes widened as they saw the direction they were heading. ¡°The Titan Tower!¡± Cain was shocked to see their destination. Although the tower had more than the Titan, anyone who could reside in it was a powerhouse capable of destroying entire cities. Most of them focused solely on their cultivation, and while they marched into war, they only took part in battlefields containing millions of soldiers and were considered trump cards. Oliver remained silent the entire trip and only spoke once they reached the Titan Tower. ¡°The one you are about to meet is my Master, Lord Zarak. Just answer truthfully, as there is no way to hide anything from him.¡± Cain could feel the respect and awe in Oliver¡¯s voice as he spoke about Lord Zarak, making it clear just how imposing that person was. The duo descended to the ground and entered the Titan Tower through the main gate. There was no one in there, only arge hall. Oliver and Cain walk forward until they reach a teleportation matrix. It glowed before making the duo vanish. The teleportation forced Cain to close his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself in a massive room. The wall to his right had hundreds of skulls belonging to different creatures, and on the left were all kinds of broken weapons. The skulls and weapons unleashed an aura that made Cain feel immense pressure. However, they were nothingpared to the middle-aged man sitting on arge throne at the end of the room. The man had blue hair, arge body roughly two meters tall, and wore a red martial robe that perfectly fit his muscrplexion. He stood there with his eyes closed, but the pressure of his existence made the surroundings tremble. ¡®Lord Zarak.¡¯ It was clear to Cain that the imposing man was Oliver¡¯s Master. Lord Zarak slowly opened his eyes, and when Cain saw them, he was shocked. ¡®He is blind.¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind when a blue light emerged from Zarak¡¯s eyes, and he felt an immense pressure on his mind. It was so powerful that he immediately fell to his knees and almost passed out. Luckily for Cain, the pain faded again in less than a second. He was gasping for air on the ground when a terrifying realization struck him. ¡®That man could kill me with just his gaze!¡¯ Whatever Zarak did, it did not involve Wave and struck directly into Cain¡¯s mind. ¡°So your willpower truly equals that of a Late Wave Champion. Interesting.¡± That voice echoed through the room, making Cain feel they were spoken directly to his ear. ¡®That was a test. Had I cheated on the Pir of Mind, who knows what could have happened?¡¯ Although Cain did not enjoy being put on trial, he did not let his emotions get out of control and calmly stood up. Anyone else would have vowed in the presence of someone with so much power, but Cain remained straight. What kind of man would he be if he lowered himself with a man that almost killed him? Despite Zr¡¯s eyes being those of a blind man, it was clear he had perfect awareness of his surroundings. When he saw Cain¡¯s refusal to vow in his presence, a smile appeared on his face. ¡°Good, you have an unwavering spirit. By the way, I would not lower myself by killing a mere Level 2 Wave Warrior. If you had cheated somehow in the Pir of Mind, I would only have sent you to prison.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that, and after a moment, he performed a small vow out of respect for such a warrior of the Godyer Humankind. ¡°I am very busy and like to get straight to the point. I made Oliver bring you here since you are one in a billion. You are a life form born with a Sacred Organ other than the Evolution Core and the Rebirth Heart.¡± Chapter 78 78 Ego Eternal Path of Power Cain was shocked to hear those words. The Sacred Organs were the most incredible gift humankind possessed and were what made them rise above beasts and other lower life forms. The Essence Evolution Core and the Astral Rebirth Heart allowed a simple mortal to rise to a level where they could unleash the same power as a weapon of mass destruction. ess to a third Sacred Organ could only be considered a divine lucky chance, especially if it could achieve synergy with the other two. Cain focused and made sure to engrave every word of Zarak in his mind. ¡°Before I tell you about the third Sacred Organ, I would like to know your understanding of willpower and its importance in cultivation.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was calm, but there was solemnity in it, making it clear just how important that question was. Cain did not answer immediately and took a moment to review all the information he had gained up to this point. Only after five minutes did he speak. ¡°Willpower is rted to our mental fortitude and born of the hardship and tribtions a man experiences through his life. It can improve our ability to endure spiritual and mental attacks. And from a certain point of view, it is necessary to endure the long and solitary journey through cultivation.¡± Cain¡¯s words made sense and were what most cultivators believe regarding willpower. A practical force for defense against mental attacks and which would make the cultivation path easier. ¡°WRONG!¡± Zarak shouted with so much strength that it almost burst Cain¡¯s eardrums. Cain felt his surroundings tremble, and Zarak¡¯s power again shocked him. There was no Wave fluctuation, yet those sound waves almost made him pass out. ..... ¡°Your answer is extremely wed. If willpower only helped us defend against mental attacks and persevere through our cultivation journey, why would we waste so many resources to create the Pir of Mind?¡± Zarak took a deep breath as he raised his right hand, and the next second, a massive sphere of Astral Wave emerged on top of it. Cain was shocked to see the massive sphere of Astral Wave and was sure that if Zarak fired it at him, there would not be a single trace of his body left. ¡°Focus!¡± Zarak shouted that word before his eyes glowed with blue light again. The next second, that sphere of Astral Wave transmuted into raging water streams, and immediately after that, it became a zing fireball. It began to change between the five elements at a shocking speed, but that was far from all. Zarak¡¯s eyes glowed with even greater blue light before that massive sphere morphed into a mighty serpent dragon that shed through the room. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the level of control that Zarak¡¯s had over his Wave, especially over the Wave Art that Astral Rebirth Cultivators found most difficult of all, Wave Transmutation. Suddenly a sense of enlightenment appeared in Cain as he saw that the mightier Zarak¡¯s control over his Astral Wave became, the more blue light appeared in the eyes of this one. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as his Wave Cloak emerged and began to burst with incredible might, instantly reaching 450% Wave Burst and rising faster and faster. Oliver¡¯s eyes widened as they saw Cain¡¯s actions, and not even the mighty Zarak could hide his shock. With that simple demonstration, the cadet figured out one of the key secrets behind the importance of willpower. The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes vanished after a few seconds, leaving his Wave Cloak in disarray and reducing the might of his Wave Burst. A sharp pain assaulted his mind, but that did not stop him from smiling as he finally figured it out. ¡°Willpower can be considered an energy wave born from the soul and can grant you overwhelming control over your Wave!¡± The force that saved his life when he faced the Atrox inside the secret trial, allowed him to ovee Dimitri and Nira¡¯s scheme, and granted shocking mastery over the Four Wave Arts was his willpower! ¡°Hahahaha, not only are you incredibly talented, but your mind is also extremely keen, and with a simple demonstration, you figured it out. You are right. Willpower can allow you to disy an incredible mastery over the Four Wave Arts, which would trante into a massive boost in battle power.¡± Zarak smiled as he uttered those words and was pleased with Cain¡¯s capabilities. ¡°However, that is just the beginning.¡± Zarak made the serpent dragon disappear before raising a single finger and generating a small sphere of Astral Wave. Cain focused on the sphere and saw it had so little Astral Wave that he could easily form one. The small sphere of Astral Wave morphed into a fireball. It had so little power that even a Level 1 Wave Warrior could take it head-on. However, everything changed once Zarak¡¯s eyes glowed, and that blue light began to fuse into that tiny fireball. That fireball burst with immense power, and just the heatwaves it unleashed forced Cain to trigger his Wave Cloak. ¡°I can infuse my willpower into the Astral Wave to strengthen any spell or ability. If his willpower is strong enough, a Level 2 Wave Warrior could easily shoot a fireball that could kill a Level 7 Wave Warrior.¡± Zarak made the sphere disappear after a second before taking a deep breath. ¡°Up to this point, I have shown you how your willpower can help your Wave show greater power, but whates next involves a radical change.¡± Cain felt how every trace of Zarak¡¯s Wave vanished, and the blue light in his eyes reached its zenith. Zarak opened his palm before slowly beginning to close it. ¡°RUMBLE!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as the entire room began to tremble as if an invisible force was crushing it. It did not take long for cracks to form in the walls. They were in the Titan Tower, a structure that, in theory, should be able to endure the destructive power of a nuclear bomb. Yet, Zarak generated cracks on it by simply closing his fist. ¡°If your willpower is strong enough, it can affect the world around you, allowing you to disy a power that could crush a Peak Wave Champion to a pulp!¡± Cain could not hide the awe assaulting his heart. There was no reason for Zarak to lie to him, which meant that if he developed his willpower to a certain point, he would be able to achieve that same level of destructive might. Zarak rxed his fist, and the room stopped trembling. His face grew a little pale, making it clear that achieving that level of might by only relying on his willpower was not simple. ¡°I have shown you the might of willpower, and now I will exin how to train it.¡± Zarak sent a stream of Astral Wave that formed a giant brain with ming pathways that crossed every corner of it. ¡°Everything revolves around the third Sacred Organ. I am talking about the one in our brain, the Ego Eternal Matrix. With it, we have ess to the Ego Eternal Path of Power.¡± Cain could see that those ming pathways were intertwined with the brain to such a point that it was impossible to split them apart without destroying both of them. ¡°In theory, every human has ess to the Ego Eternal Matrix, but to activate it, one needs to achieve willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion. Almost everybody needs the help of their Essence Evolution Path of Power or Astral Rebirth Path of Power to improve their willpower to reach that level.¡± Cain listened to Zarak¡¯s words attentively, as he knew they were crucial for his future cultivation. ¡°However, unique cases like yours exist where the Ego Eternal Matrix is activated from birth. That meant that the energy wave unleashed from your willpower was at the Late Wave Champion level from the beginning. For those that train the Ego Eternal Path of Power, the strength of our willpower takes the name of Ego Wave. Our eyes usually glow with a strange light when we use it.¡± Cain saw Zarak and Oliver¡¯s eyes glowed with blue light, making him remember the red light that appeared in his from time to time. ¡°Although your Ego Eternal Matrix is activated, you have yet to enter the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. That is why your Ego Wave acts erratically, and when you use it for too long, your brain is hurt.¡± Zarak waved his hand, making a crystal card appear before throwing it toward Cain. Cain focused on the crystal card and found out it had overwhelming information. ¡°In it, you will find the basis for the Ego Eternal Matrix and Ego Eternal Path of Power. Once you enter the First Realm, I will take you as a core discipline.¡± Thrill filled Cain¡¯s heart when he heard that. Having a powerful master was always a good thing. ¡°For those who focus on the Ego Eternal Path of Power as our primary source of strength, tribtions are not just important but fundamental in our growth. I already spread the news that you are under my protection, so no powerhouse would dare to put his hands on you. Of course, that will only protect you from attacks in the open. You will have to depend on your own strength for the rest.¡± After those final words, Zarak signaled for Cain and Oliver to leave. The duo performed a deep bow toward Zarak before walking back to the teleportation formation. Zarak¡¯s eyes glowed, and a sh of blue light reached Cain¡¯s body before this one vanished. A meaningful gaze appeared on his face before he returned to his cultivation. Chapter 79 79 Dragon Blood Grass Cain and Oliver left the Titan Tower and returned to the cadet¡¯s residences. Both of them remained silent the entire trip, which was fine for Cain as many things were going through his mind. It was after they were back at Cain¡¯s residence that Oliver spoke again. ¡°Lord Zarak is an extremely important character in the Empire, and bing his student is a great lucky chance. That is all I can say about that. Good luck, young man.¡± Oliver rose to the sky and vanished after that. A meaningful light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he analyzed Oliver¡¯s words and entered his residence. Less than an hour had passed since he left, so nothing had changed. ¡°Apex, have you found any record of Zarak?¡± Cain was not someone that blindly trusted people. While having a powerful master would be good for him, following someone without knowing anything about them could lead to disaster. ¡°Unfortunately, no. Whoever that man is, there is not a single public record of him, so he is very reclusive and powerful.¡± Cain expected such an answer and nodded. There was still some time to sleep, so he began analyzing the crystal card Zarak gave him. There was a systematic approach to the Ego Eternal Path of Power in that crystal card. The first line he read made it perfectly clear how essential willpower was for those who trained on that path. ¡°Willpower is your limiter. No matter how high your talent or how fast your Ego Wave increases, without strong willpower, you will never thrive in the Ego Eternal Path of Power.¡± ..... It was not hard for Cain to understand the meaning of those words. He could ess the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power at such low cultivation because his Ego Eternal Matrix was activated, granting him willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion from birth. If Cain does not increase his willpower beyond that point without external help, he will be stuck in the First Realm until his cultivation in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power surpasses the Wave Champion rank, improving his willpower. Nevertheless, taking that path would drive his Ego Eternal Path of Power to a supplementary role. ording to the information in Zarak¡¯s crystal card, most Wave Cultivators use the Ego Eternal Path of Power as a supplementary one, not having ess to it before reaching the Middle or Late Wave Champion rank. You would have lost most of your potential if you essed the First Realm at that point. ¡®Wink must be one of the Wave Cultivators that doesn¡¯t take the Ego Eternal Path of Power as a primary power source. He should not even be aware of the Ego Eternal Matrix, or else he would not have been baffled by my use of Ego Wave during the training.¡¯ Cain spent the next five hours going through the information in the crystal card, and even then, he only scratched the surface, but the most important part for him was how to ess the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm. There were two requirements, the most simple yet hardest being the activations of the Ego Eternal Matrix. One must develop willpower through hardship and pain until the energy wave it generated could match that of a Late Wave Champion. Your cultivation in either the Essence Evolution Path of Power or the Astral Rebirth Path of Power would immensely help develop your willpower. Nevertheless, if you overly rely on them, your Ego Eternal Path of Power will never be more than a side path. Cain was incredibly lucky since he was born with his Ego Eternal Matrix activated from birth, most likely due to his identity as a Reincarnator. However, the second requirement had nothing to do with luck and all with self-realization. You must detach yourself from all outside perceptions and find your true nature. Most people see themselves as reasonable and fair, but that is because they live in a world with rules,ws, and cultures that stop them from allowing their true nature to flourish. What would you be if nothing stopped you from following your deepest heart¡¯s desire? After understanding that, Cain put the crystal card away. He knew there was no way he would reach the level of enlightenment needed to enter the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm by simply meditating. As Zarak said, tribtions are fundamental in the growth of those who want to have the Ego Eternal Path of Power as a primary source of strength. ¡®I need to take on missions that push me to my limits. However, I must not be careless either. The first thing should be improving my battle power.¡¯ Cain used the militarywork to search for two things. One was a skill that could improve his speed, and another a treasure that could improve his cultivation. It did not take him long to find what he was looking for. [Lightning Armament: Transmutate your Astral Wave into lightning that can cover your body. It also uses lightning to stimte your nervous system to improve your reaction speed. -A total of three levels -Useful up to the Early Wave Champion rank Cost: 2500 Imperial Military Credits.] Cain was very pleased with Lightning Armament. Although costly, it was among the best skills for Wave Warrior as it improved speed, offense, and defense. Although Cain already had Lightning Conversion, a skill that helped transmute his Astral Wave to lightning, it was too rigid and could only cover the body¡¯s outeryer. If Cain were to use it to affect his nervous system, he would end up severely harmed. Lightning Armament was the skill that would improve his speed. As for treasure that would assist his cultivation, that was much more expensive. [Dragon Blood Grass: Herb nurtured by the blood of a dragon. It has immense blood vitality and blood energy. Excellent for tempering the body of those that follow Astral Rebirth Path of Power and has a high chance of triggering marrow washing. -Due to the calm nature of its energy, anyone above Level 1 Wave Warrior can use it. -Normally used for Level 7 Wave Warriors to improve their chances to advance into the Wave Champion rank. Cost: 25.000 Imperial Military Credits] The Dragon Blood Grass was a single-use item, yet it cost more than ten times what Lightning Armament, but Cain did not find it odd. Cultivation was the base of all strength, and something that could help you rise from a Wave Warrior to a Wave Champion was bound to be costly. Of course, Cain did not intend to buy it just to keep it locked until he could advance to the Wave Champion rank. He would use it now, hopefully triggering his marrow washing, and improving his strength and talent. It did not take long for a drone carrying a crystal card and a small chest to arrive at his residence after Cain paid for the articles. Cain took the crystal card and branded it, transferring all the information into his [A.I. Chip Module]. Thanks to his Lineage improving his talent regarding lightning, it was not hard for him to learn Lightning Armament¡¯s first level, allowing lightning to cover his legs and affect his nervous system, improving his reaction speed. There was still a long way before Cain mastered the first skill level, but his current proficiency improved his speed by at least twenty percent. Although he wanted to keep training and take a look at the Dragon Blood Grass, it was already toote, and he was exhausted. Only after a long sleep and waking up refreshed and full of energy did Cain pick up the small chest and open it. As soon as he did that, a strong smell of blood inundated his residence, and he saw three slivers of red grass. Originally Cain intended to consume the slivers of grass immediately, but when he detected the blood energy flooding the room, an idea came to his mind. Cain made sure to shut down his room tightly, so no iota of the blood energying from the red grass could escape before adopting a meditative position and using the Blood Refinement Art. Arge smile appeared in Cain as he felt how the blood energy in the room was entering his body under the Blood Refinement Art¡¯s guidance and began to nurture his flesh and blood. Just the residual energy that the Dragon Blood Grass naturally released proved to be better than what Cain would obtain from using the hearts of Level 3 Wave Beasts! Cain kept practicing the Blood Refinement Art for over neen hours until he finally consumed all the residual energy released from the Dragon Blood Grass. There was a feeling in Cain¡¯s heart that if he consumed just one of the slivers of grass, a massive change would happen to him, and without hesitation, he did it. The moment that sliver of red grass entered Cain¡¯s mouth, he felt a wave of blood energy reaching every corner of his body. Chapter 80 80 8% marrow washing Cain did not waste a second before circting his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique to handle the sudden rush of energy that flooded his entire body. He was doing his best, but there was simply too much energy, and he could not use it fast enough. It made sense that Cain would face such a problem. After all, the Dragon Blood Grass was a cultivation resource meant for Level 7 Wave Warriors. Those were individuals with much higher energy consumption than someone at Level 2. If Cain did not do something fast, a significant amount of the energy flooding his body would begin to disperse. That was something he could not ept. Using the Blood Refinement Art could help Cain handle that excess energy, but he was already focusing all his mental capacities on the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. Determination appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he took a deep breath and focused on his brain, trying to perceive the Ego Eternal Matrix. Although he was still far from achieving real control over his Ego Wave, now that he knew its location and principles, Cain found it much easier to use its power. Of course, since he had yet to reach the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm, there would be side effects, but that was not something that worried him. After a few seconds, a red light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes, and everything around him became slower. His speed of thought and cognitive abilities rose to a new level, allowing him to achieve what a typical Level 2 Wave Warrior could never do. Cain made his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique revolve at an even higher speed, driving even more energy into his Rebirth Heart, pushing his cultivation higher. At the same time, the Blood Refinement Art took all the excess energy, allowing Cain to temper his flesh and blood. With both top-tier techniques working in conjunction, not even an iota of the Dragon Blood Grass¡¯ energy went to waste. Cain felt how the energy reached deeper and deeper into his bones, all the way to the marrow. For Cain, it was as if hundreds of tiny needles pierced his bones. It povoked excruciating pain, making the process harder, but he kept focus and revolved both techniques with even greater force. ..... A ck and foul substance soon emerged through Cain¡¯s pores. The pollution entered his body through the air he breathed from the sky and the food he consumed from the ground, and now he was finally beginning the process of purging it. Seeing the ck substance leave his body only pushed Cain¡¯s determination higher. Blood leaked from his ears and nose due to mental stress, but he refused to take things slower. ording to the information in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, marrow washing was ssified ording to percentages. It was impossible to eliminate all the body¡¯s pollution in the first one, so a Wave Warrior must go through it multiple times. That is why the sooner you begin, the better your cultivation prospects will be. If a Wave Warrior achieved a wless Marrow State, meaning they hadpletely purged all pollution from their body, they would have built a foundation capable of driving their cultivation to the Peak Wave Champion rank without a problem. However, the wless Marrow State was incredibly difficult to achieve, with geniuses from powerful Noble Families finding it almost impossible to obtain without great lucky chances. The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes would vanish from time to time as he stopped using the Ego Wave. The mental distress was too great, forcing him to shut it down for a few moments before triggering it again, or else he would pass out from the pain. That meant there would be small windows of time when the Blood Refinement Art stopped working, but the energy loss was minimal. If it were up to Cain, nothing would be lost, but he could not achieve perfection in every task. He was not a divine existence after all. Finally, after an hour of excruciating pain and feeling that his head would split in two, Cain consumed all the Dragon Blood Grass¡¯ energy and could rest. Cain wanted nothing more than to jump into his bed and go to sleep, but his enhanced sense of smell could not tolerate the ck substance spread all over his body. He dashed to the bathroom and began to wash his body. It took him over an hour to clean every spot. When he looked into the mirror after that, he almost found it hard to recognize the person in it. All his hair was gone, and his skin was like a newborn¡¯s. Although somewhatical, Cain could not stop smiling, as the feeling of freshness in his body was overwhelmingly rxing. As soon as Cain¡¯s body touched the bed, he fell asleep. The mental and physical pressure was too much, and he needed to rest before anything else. Cain slept for more than ten hours, a very long time considering that thanks to the strength of his body, he needed less than half of that to be fully alert during the day. The first thing Cain did after waking up was figuring out his current marrow-washing percentage. There were special facilities that could help Wave Warrior do that, but he had a tool capable of achieving that engraved in his soul. ¡°System, show me my current marrow-washing percentage.¡± Like always, the Absolute Life Form System carried out Cain¡¯smand without dy. [Scanning Vessel¡¯s marrow. ... ... Marrow washing: 8%pletion] Although 8% sounded very small, Cain could not stop smiling when he saw that number. A 4%pletion was considered very good for your first marrow washing, with 6% something only geniuses could achieve. As for 8%, that was a feat reserved for the best of the best. Cain¡¯s talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was good but far from exceptional. However, using his Ego Wave allowed him to undergo marrow washing using the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and Blood Refinement Art. This feat only made the desire for Cain to thrive in the Ego Eternal Path of Power even greater. ¡°System, scan me.¡± [Scanning Vessel. ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 2 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 4 ¨C> Middle Tier 4 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.26¨C>0.27 Agility: 0.32¨C>0.32 Vitality: 0.33¨C>0.38 Wave: 0.28¨C>0.31 ¡ª Destiny Force: 157.2] Waves of shock assaulted Cain as he saw the information granted by the system. First was the rise of his Wave Talent to the Middle Tier 4. There was no fundamental change in his bloodline, but marrow washing improved the ability of his body to draw Life Wave. Then came the boost in his stats. Thest time he checked them was a week ago, yet it rose so much, especially his vitality. Cain figured out it had to do with abination between his marrow washing and the fact it was the first time he had used a treasure like the Dragon Blood Grass. He was sure that while the other two slivers of red grass would help his body, they would not have such an impressive effect. Finally, the greatest shock came from his Destiny Force, which had increased almost two-fold. It did not take a genius to figure out the reason behind such a massive improvement. ¡®Even though Lord Zarak had yet to formally take me as a discipline, I am under his protection. That made my background, which was virtually non-existent, rise to the sky.¡¯ The background was an important factor in an individual¡¯s destiny, and Cain now had a very powerful one. It would be easy for Cain to use part of that Destiny Force to fix the emotional instability, but he did not do it before, much less now. Fighting his instinctive desire and keeping a cold head would help Cain¡¯s willpower. Cain could still use the Destiny Force to improve his bloodline by using [Basic Gic Enhancement], but he did not let his sudden wealth blind him. ¡°Apex, how do I improve the tools of the system¡¯s modules?¡± The System Spirit had told him many times before that his [A.I. Chip Module] would improve along with the force of his soul, but he never said that the same thing would happen with his other modules like the [Gic Coder Module]. ¡°Other than the [A.I. Chip Module] that will grow with your soul, you must improve the other modules using Destiny Force.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that answer. It was clear to him now that he should only use Destiny Force when absolutely necessary. ¡°Why did you not tell me that before?¡± ¡°Why should I? I am not your babysitter. If you are too stupid to ask questions and prefer short-term benefits instead of looking at the bigger picture, that is your problem.¡± Cain could only sight as he heard that very Apex-like answer. The System Spirit would not stop him from making mistakes. Chapter 81 81 Gaia¡¯s invasion Cain knew arguing with Apex would be futile, so he did not waste his time on it. Besides, he knew this one was right, and it was up to him to figure things out. He spent the next few days cultivating and increasing his Astral Wave. There were still two slivers of the Dragon Blood Grass, but he was not ready to use them yet. When Monday came, Levi and Beelze were surprised to see Cain¡¯s appearance, as it told the duo that he underwent marrow washing. Although they were astonished because Cain was still a Level 2 Wave Warrior, it made sense once they connected it to the massive reward from the Pir of Mind¡¯s Cadet Ranking. Cain did not hide the information about the Ego Eternal Path of Power and Zarak from the duo. There were no downsides in sharing it, as his unique Ego Eternal Matrix only belonged to him, and no one could take it. Besides, the events in the Pir of Mind were public knowledge, and he was sure that every powerhouse in the Copsing Lightning Sector already knew of his uniqueness. The fact that up until now, no one from any Noble Family even dared to contact him gave Cain an idea of just how powerful Zarak was. Of course, he never thought of blindly trusting his safety to a stranger. Not to mention that for those that focused on the Ego Eternal Path of Power, being under the constant protection of someone else was diametrical, as if crippled their willpower. With all the major problems handled, Cain began a sort of routine. He would go to the auditorium from Monday to Wednesday, improving his understanding of the Wave, Dark Races¡¯ assassination, and military tactics. As for the rest of the week, Cain focused all that time on missions in which he would have to face strong and ferocious Wave Beasts. He made sure to pick the ones that would push him to the limit and where there was a real chance of death. If Cain wanted to push his mind and ego to a point where he could achieve the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he needed to put himself in a position where his life was truly in danger. The only way Cain could free his mind from all external perception and find his heart¡¯s desire was through life and death trials. More than once, the enemies were so powerful that they forced him to run away. ..... As the weeks passed, Cain¡¯s aura became sharper, and a sense of dangerous bloodlust emerged from his body due to all the death he unleashed. ¡ª Cain returned to the Imperial Lightning Fort in the middle of the night. His hair had grown back, and while his skin kept its smoothness, there were minor wounds around his body due to the multiple battles. Cain got down from the military truck in which he arrived and sent it on its way with several corpses that he hunted down for his mission. As he saw the vehicle going away, a reflective light appeared in his eyes. ¡®Next week will mark six months since I arrived at the Copsing Lighting, and the academy curriculum will change.¡¯ The first three months of the military academy involved cultivation and physical training, but people like Cain took a different path through the secret trial. Next came the formative stage, which involved the three major sses Cain took every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. After three months, he had already learned everything Razmun and Vice-Captain Josef could tough him regarding Dark Race¡¯s assassination and military tactics. Wave Cultivation sses were different as you would never have enough training in the Four Wave Arts, and the ones imparted by Wink carried on. However, it was no longer mandatory for the cadets to assist them. People like Cain, who had already mastered his Astral Wave, did not need more sses as it would prove futile. It would be better for Cain to train his abilities with enemies that truly went after his life. The following six months were known as the Golden Months, as the Copsing Lightning Military Academy¡¯s cadets got ess to great wonders. There were all kinds of courses avable for them that would allow them to embark on Professions, such as Wave Crafters and the like. If you proved talented in any profession, a fate full of wealth awaited you. Anyone could take those courses and prove their abilities and talent, but while they epted everybody, they also asked for payment. Other than the ess to professional courses, the Gold Months also granted a chance for the cadets to train in Military Specializations. Unlike the Professions courses, which you would enter just by paying the fee, the Military Specialization courses were free, but only a few could ess them. They would test your talent in that field, and only the best of the best would get the quotas. For the cadets who neither had the money to take the Professions courses nor the talent for the Military Specializations¡¯, they would spend the rest of their time in the military academy doing missions before returning to their homes. Cain ignored the Profession courses as he did not have time to spend on them, nor the desire to learn them. However, things were different when it came to Military Specializations. There was one that really drew his attention. ¡®Military Specialization: Assassin.¡¯ ording to the course description, the ss would teach you how to infiltrate secure locations, keep a low profile, and the best and more practical ways of killing a person. Cain did not forget what happened in his first mission and how he swore to take Mayor cius¡¯s life. And since he did not want the Imperial Military Force branding him a criminal, he could not leave any evidence. He was walking toward his residence when his eyes widened. The reason was that light began to shine over the entire city, and was the middle of the night. A feeling of utter and absolute danger assaulted him as he looked to the sky and saw something he would never forget. A man was standing in the sky, bathed in golden mes that illuminated everything around him. Despite the immense distance between Cain and that man, this one unleashed such a terrifying presence that he felt they were right next to each other. However, what truly frightened him was the fact that the person in the sky was not a human but an Atrox! Less than a second after his golden mes shone over the entire Imperial Lightning Fort, that man raised his hand and generated a massive meteorite. That meteorite was not only more than 500.000 meters wide, almost half the size of the fort, but golden mes also covered every corner of it, setting the oxygen in the sky aze. Cain could only watch as the Atrox waved his hand down, firing that massive golden meteorite toward the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°?BOOM!¡± It moved so fast that it instantly broke the sound barrier, generating a sonic boom. Cain had already faced death multiple times and found a way to survive every obstacle in his path. Still, seeing that golden meteorite about to crash into the Imperial Lightning Fort, he found no way out. There was nothing Cain could do. He would die once that meteorite shed, regardless of how much he wanted and strived to survive. ¡®I am dead.¡¯ That was thest thought that crossed Cain¡¯s mind when the golden meteorite was an instant away from crashing into the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°?BOOOOMMMM!¡± A massive explosion urred, but unlike what Cain expected, the meteorite could not reach the Imperial Lightning Fort, as it crashed into an invisible force field that covered this one. Golden mes sted in every direction as the meteorite shattered into thousands of pieces. ¡°CRACK!¡± Although the force field managed to endure that attack, cracks still appeared on its surface, making part of the st¡¯s power and heat reach the Imperial Lightning Fort. The st sent Cain crashing toward a building as fires started all over the fort. There was a metallic taste in his mind, but that mattered little as he could not take his eyes away from the sky. The Atrox raised his hand and was about to form another one of those city-killer spells! Cain¡¯s brain was still having a hard time processing what was happening when a stream of ck lightning emerged from the highest level of the Titan Tower. It moved too fast for Cain to discern anything from it, but it shed with the Atrox, generating a st of golden mes and ck lightning before shooting into the distance. Cain was just rising from the ground, still having difficulty figuring out what to do next, when explosions and shes of light appeared in the distance, far from the fort. A sense of utter dread assaulted Cain as he understood what was happening. ¡®Powerhouses of the Dark Races invaded Gaia!¡¯ Chapter 82 82 Copsing Lightning Duke ¡°BRIIINNNGGG!¡± The sound of rms echoed through the Imperial Lightning Fort. ck lightning emerged from the Titan Tower, generating a dome over the fort. The next second, that same lightning formed hundreds of thunderbolts that shed around the fort at a speed Wave Warriors could not follow with their eyes. Cain¡¯s eyes were glued to the Titan Tower as he saw this one activating its true power, and then dozens of figures emerged from it and flew into the distance. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Every individual generated several sonic booms as they instantly achieved a speed many times faster than sound. [All cadets must return to their residences and remain there until further notice. Anyone that disobeys this rule will be considered a traitor to the Godyer Humankind Empire and executed on the spot.] ..... Cain was still trying to figure out what to do when that message arrived through his [A.I. Chip Module]. His mind was in shock, so he could not analyze thatmand but did not dare to defy it and dashed to his residence. It did not take him long to reach the building, and just like other cadets, Cain ran to his residence and only rxed once the door closed behind him. The windows were now covered by a wall, shutting down any connection with the outside. That was done for two reasons, to protect the cadets and make sure none could leave. Until proven otherwise, everybody was a possible traitor. Cain would have noticed that if not for his current state of mind. He almost plummeted once he entered his room, and even then, he only had the strength to sit on the ground. The sight of that golden meteorite crashing toward the Imperial Lightning Fort did not leave his mind. Cain¡¯s greatest life-and-death tribtions up to this point were when he faced the Atrox in the secret trial and Dimitri in the Whisper Forest. However, everything was different in those cases. Although the Atrox and Dimitri were more powerful than Cain, he was not hopeless. He still had the power to face them or at least put up some resistance. Nevertheless, there was nothing Cain could do against that golden meteorite. His life was in the hands of others, and if not for the Lightning Imperial Fort¡¯s force field, he would have died. ¡®If myst mission had taken longer and I had not returned to the fort in time, what would have happened?¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind, and his body began to tremble. Understanding how little control he had over his life was a hard blow. Apex was aware of Cain¡¯s mental state and was about to speak when he saw the hands of the young man stop shaking. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with monstrous red light as the fear in his face vanished, and he began to clench his fists with so much strength that blood began to leak from his palms. ¡±I NEED TO BECOME STRONGER!¡± Cain had already found the answer to these feelings and engraved them in his mind and soul. After a few minutes, he rxed his hands, went to his father¡¯s altar, and bowed before beginning to train. He took out a small chest from his space ring. In it, there was thest of the slivers of Dragon Blood Grass. Without hesitation, he consumed it, and by tapping into his Ego Wave, he revolved the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and the Blood Refinement Art simultaneously. Once the energy of the Dragon Blood Grass was over, Cain took Dark Races¡¯ hearts from his space ring and began to consume them. He had purchased those through the militarywork. As his Astral Wave soared and blood energy tempered his body, Cain¡¯s mind began to rx, allowing him to analyze his surroundings. He noticed the state of his residence, making it impossible for him to leave. That, plus the previous message, made things clear for him. ¡®There is no way a cadet could have the power to damage the Imperial Lightning Fort, but there is a chance one of them could be a spy or traitor working for the other side. Since there is too little information up to this point, the higher-ups decided to be decisive and ruthless.¡¯ Cain had not a problem with that, nor did he care about the cadets that did. He focused his mind solely on his training. Two weeks passed before the walls covering Cain¡¯s windows were lifted, and the artificial intelligence controlling the building unlocked his doors. Cain was so focused on his cultivation that he barely noticed the change, but a message arrived that he could not ignore. [Cain Laurifer, report with Vice-Captain Josef in the south gate of the cadet¡¯s section] A sharp light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he read the message. He calmed his revolving Astral Wave and bowed to his father¡¯s altar before leaving the building. Although Cain did not activate his Wave Cloak, he ran at an impressive speed toward the designated location. There was no way the Copsing Lightning Sector could have achieved peace in just a few weeks, and every minute counted in times of war. It did not take long for Cain to reach the south gate, and he saw many cadets already there. He quickly located Levi and Beelze and headed to the duo. Of course, other than nodding, none of them said much since this was definitely not the time for small talk. The Titan Tower¡¯s lightning dome and thunderbolts were still protecting the fort, but the cadets couldn¡¯t say just how well it would resist attacks with the power of those golden meteorites. Safety was not something any cadet could say they felt right now, which exined the worry on their faces. Vice-Captain Josef stood in silence as the cadets formed in front of him. Although he seemed fine, Cain noticed burning cuts near his neck, making it clear how dangerous thest few weeks were for him. Unlike the cadets who remained in their residences, the Imperial Lightning Fort dispatched soldiers to the affected areas. Josef was close to Wave Champion rank, hinting to Cain at the level of danger beyond the fort¡¯s walls. Once all the cadets were in formation, Josef unleashed his aura, making all of them focus. ¡°Powerhouses of the Dark Races invaded the Copsing Lightning Sector and attacked all major cities. It was an extremely well-coordinated effort, and the one leading the assault was the one that attacked the Imperial Lightning Fort, an Atrox God.¡± When the cadets heard thosest words, a monstrous fear assaulted their hearts. A God was a terrifying figure capable of killing millions in a matter of seconds, but one of the Atrox Immortus Race was a nightmarish monster that was virtually invincible in their minds. If the one leading the assault was an Atrox God, what chance did they have to survive? Just how many people had already perished? Would they be next? Josef remained silent as all those questions began to assault the hearts of the cadets, threatening to shatter their spirits. He spoke again when despair was about to break some of them. ¡°Luckily for us, the Copsing Lightning Duke was in the Titan Tower at the moment of the attack. He fended off the Atrox God and, after a long battle...¡± Josef paused and waited for the cadet¡¯s expectation to reach the limit before showing a cold smile. ¡°The Copsing Lightning Duke killed the Atrox God!¡± Silence, utter and absolute silence reigned among the cadets after Josef shouted those words. The Dark Races¡¯ invasion of the Copsing Lightning Sector was a disy of weakness by the Godyer Humankind Empire, but a Titan killing an Atrox God proved absolute power! ¡°?Yes!¡± ¡°We did!¡± Some of the cadets could not control their excitement and shout. Josef would usually reprimand that behavior but allowed it this time as he understood the pressure everybody had felt during thest few weeks. Even he, a seasoned soldier, felt his blood burning when the higher-ups informed him that the Copsing Lightning Duke killed the Atrox God. The shock in Cain¡¯s heart was even stronger when he heard that news. That Atrox bathed in golden mes standing in the sky was like a divine existence capable of unleashing city-killer spells with a wave of his hand, yet now he was dead. ¡®That ck lightning!¡¯ Cain had not forgotten the stream of ck lightning that emerged from the Titan Tower and drove the Atrox God away from the Imperial Lightning Fort. Until now, Cain had just assumed the one inside the ck lighting had at most forced the Atrox God to escape, but the fact he took that monster¡¯s life was incredible. Killing a Dark Races¡¯ God was an incredible feat, but killing an Atrox God was something only the greatest figures of the Godyer Humankind could im credit for. Without even realizing it, absolute respect and immense admiration filled Cain¡¯s heart as he thought of the Copsing Lightning Duke. Chapter 83 83 Back to Korin City Vice-Captain Josef allowed the cadets to cheer for a few moments before raising his hand, making silence return. A severe expression appeared on his face as he carried on. ¡°Killing the Apex God took a tremendous toll on the Copsing Lightning Duke. He suffered severe injuries, and while his life was not in danger, he would have to spend a long time in secluded cultivation to recover. Otherwise, he would have already obliterated every trace of Dark Races¡¯ warriors in the Copsing Lightning Sector with his own hands.¡± Although that piece of information was not good, it did not surprise any of the cadets. A great battle was bound to leave wounds, especially if your enemy was a member of a race known for their incredible battle skills. No matter how amazing the Copsing Lightning Duke was, he was still a living entity and needed to heal after a great battle. ¡°During thesest two weeks, soldiers from the Imperial Lightning Fort had traveled the entire sector, killing most of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses that came with the Atrox God, but many remain atrge. Of course, it is not your mission to hunt them down, as that would be suicide. Your job will be going to the cities affected by the incursion, enforcing militaryw, and establishing a perimeter where civilians can remain safe.¡± Leaving the fort did not make the cadets happy, as they understood that there were still great dangers looming in the darkness, but noneined. All those here took part in the military academy¡¯s secret trial, so they were not foreign to dangerous battles. Besides, they were all smart enough to understand that the chances of finding a Dark Races¡¯ powerhouse during their missions were almost null, as all those monsters were running away now that the Atrox God had perished. ¡°Form groups of ten ording to your affinity.¡± Vice-Captain Josef gave thatmand and waited. ..... Usually, in the military, you don¡¯t have the right to choose your teammates, but that did not matter since they knew their roles and could adapt to any other soldier. But Cain and the others were cadets and had yet to reach that level of synergy. Cain, Levi, and Beelze only nced before giving a slight nod. That was all the trio needed to know they would be working together. They trusted each other, and none of them was so weak that it would be a burden. The trio was not very friendly with the other cadets. They simply joined a random group with seven members to make the team. It was easy since everybody wanted the three mighties cadets in their group. Once the cadets formed the teams, Vice-Captain Josef sent a file with their destination and with whom they would have to report once they arrived. Cain was a little surprised to find out that the city his group had to help would be Korin City. The mission involving that ce gave birth to his first Heart Nightmare, and he had no pleasant memories of it. Of course, it never crossed Cain¡¯s mind to ask to be assigned to a different city. Since when did a soldier have the right to choose his battlefield? Less than ten minutes after Vice-Captain Josef gave them their instruction and destination, all cadets¡¯ groups boarded military trucks and left the Imperial Lightning Fort. Cain, Levi, and Beelze were in the military truck heading to Korin City along with the other seven members of their teams. The trio was the center of attention. Levi and Beelze were the first cadets to reach Level 3; even among those at that level, they showed incredible battle prowess. As for Cain, while his cultivation was not that high, the killing skills he disyed when he faced Wink were still clear in all cadets¡¯ minds, and none dared look down on him. After a few minutes on the road, a young man with ck hair and blue eyes broke the silence. ¡°Since this will be a long trip, it will be an excellent chance to learn more about each other. Most of you already know me, but I will still introduce myself. My name is Lurin Sinar, second son of Count Sinar.¡± Lurin gave a short description of himself that mostly involved personal information. The other cadets did the same and showed friendly smiles as they spoke. The group of seven had formed around Lurin and was mainlyposed of talented cadets from humble backgrounds. Finally, it was the turn of Cain, Levi, and Beelze, but the trio remained in meditative cultivation with their eyes closed. A heavy atmosphere formed in the truck as the trio did not seem interested in taking part in the conversation, and there was nothing the other seven could do about it. Cain opened his eyes a little and nced around the room before shaking his head. ¡°Cain. Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior. Specialties are lightning, speed, and strength.¡± Cain only said that before closing his eyes again. The description that Cain gave was different from the other cadets. It involved no personal information and focused on the one that would be useful on the battlefield. ¡°Beelze. Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior. Specialties are ice, crowd-control spells, and speed.¡± ¡°Levi. Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior. Specialties are fire, strength, and defense.¡± The other cadets turned toward Levi and Beelze when they heard those words and saw that the trio remained with their eyes closed. Lurin could not help but sigh as he saw their attitude. The trio had no intention of forming any friendship, and if he went down that road again, they would simply ignore him. ¡°Lurin. Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior. Specialties are earth, defense, and defensive spells.¡± After Lurin did it, the other seven cadets followed his lead. They were all Level 2 Wave Warriors, with four following the Essence Evolution Path of Power and the other two the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. ¡°Now that we know our abilities, it would be wise to form a battle formation. We could make deadly mistakes if we enter the battlefield as individuals. And even in the best-case scenario where we are not a burden to the others, we will lose much of our battle potential.¡± Lurin¡¯s voice was grave, making it clear he was not ying around. Levi and Beelze opened their eyes and focused on the young man before nodding. The duo did not have time or the desire for meaningless chatter, but if it involved the battlefield, they would pay their full attention. Lurin smiled as he saw that the duo focused on him. He knew he was not the strongest in battle power since even if his level was the same as Levi, he did not go through marrow washing yet. However, if there was something he was confident about, it was his skills regarding military tactics. It was not a secret that Lurin¡¯s skills in military tactics were good, as he proved it many times during the interactions in Vice-Captain Josef¡¯s ss. That is why Levi, Beelze, and the other cadets did not have a problem with him taking the lead in that field. Lurin¡¯s smiled as he saw that, but an odd expression appeared on his face the next second when he saw that Cain did not seem to be paying attention. Even if Lurin¡¯s sense of superiority was not as obnoxious as that of other scions, that did not mean he did not get angry when someone ignored him. Of course, Lurin knew that if he lost calm and shouted, it would not help him. If things went south, he was sure Levi and Beelze would side with Cain. ¡°Cain, you should focus on this. We will work as a team and need to consider the safety of everybody.¡± Although subtle, Lurin¡¯s words hinted that Cain¡¯sck of attention proved an absence of care for his fellow cadets. Levi and Beelze looked at each other and just showed a small smile before softly shaking their heads. They knew that while Cain was a little impulsive regarding his bottom line, he also had an exceptionally keen mind, and anyone who attempted to y games with him would regret it. Cain opened his eyes and focused on Lurin before a message arrived at everybody¡¯s A.I. Chips. It had the title battle formation team x. ¡®Who does he think he is!?¡¯ Lurin was furious when he read that message. He knew just how difficult it was to make a battle formation that involved a group of individuals you knew nothing about. Lurin almost barked out, and he was not the only one angry, as the cadets that came with him were also dissatisfied. A bad battle formation was way worse than none at all. Some of the cadets that came with Lurin did not have the restraint that their leader, but someone else spoke first. ¡°Hahaha, that brain of yours is truly special. I am fine with it and will fulfill my role.¡± Leviughed after seeing the file Cain sent and closed his eyes again. ¡°I also have no problem with it. Will follow your guidance.¡± Beelze nodded and also closed her eyes. Lurin did not know what was happening, and then he saw how the cadets that came with him also began to show expressions of shock and awe. ¡®What is happening!?¡¯ Lurin had not bothered to open the file since, in his mind, there was no way Cain coulde up with a proper battle formation in such a short time and with so little information. After a moment, Lurin took a deep breath and opened the file. Just like everybody else, shock and awe appeared on his face. Chapter 84 84 Reaching Korin City Inside the file that Cain sent, there was a thorough description of the role everybody would take. It left nothing to chance, and there were all sorts of backup ns and contingencies. There were even secondary roles they would take in case someone was hurt so no w would arise in the battle formation. The file also contained diagrams that made it easier for everybody to understand the battle formation and get familiar with it. No matter how much Lurin analyzed the battle formation, he could not find any w or way to improve it. There was also no favoritism in it, as Levi and Cain would be taking the lead, facing the greatest danger, which made sense as they were Astral Wave Warriors. As for Lurin¡¯s role, he would be at the back of the formation, which was neither bad nor good. He would not face much pressure during most battles but would have to remain on high alert to avoid sneak attacks. And if they needed to retreat, it would be his job to lead their way through the enemies on their back, a fitting role for a Level 3 Wave Warrior with robust defenses. Lurin saw how the cadets that came with him looked at Cain with awe and respect. He had battle skills that could kill a Level 3 Wave Warrior and was also a master strategist. What was there not to admire? Lurin was not narcissistic or stupid enough to reject the battle formation just because it did note from him. He turned toward Cain and gave a deep nod before closing his eyes. Cain returned the nod and did not care about the gazes the other cadets were showing him, as he knew there was no reason to feel proud about it. He was not a master strategist, and the one that truly came up with the battle formation was the Absolute Life Form System. He used the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan everybody when they entered the military truck. That, plus the information they shared, was enough to generate several simtions of different battle formations. Cain just picked up the best that adapted to their team and sent it. That is why he closed his eyes when Lurin began talking about battle formations. ..... Now that everybody was aware of the abilities of their teammates and had a way to work together, silence returned to the military truck. The cadets either studied Cain¡¯s battle formation or revolved their Wave, ensuring they would be in perfect battle condition. After a few hours of travel, the group finally reached Korin City. Once they got out of their military truck and saw the condition of the city, shock appeared on their faces. The Imperial Lightning Fort had suffered damage due to the attack of the Atrox God, but it was just some fires and cracks on weak structures. However, Korin City was devastated, with most buildings reduced to debris. The worst thing was not the destruction, but the intense smell of blood, making it clear how many people had perished. Korin City had a poption that surpassed the millions, most of them civilians, but it would be lucky if a fraction of them were still alive. Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and all the other cadets could not hide their rage as they saw that. Deaths on the battlefield were one thing, as those in them were soldiers ready to kill and die, but butchering cities full of innocent people was entirely different. ¡°Boom.¡± A st drew the cadets¡¯ attention as they saw Cain¡¯s Wave Cloak bursting with power, and a ferocious killing intent appeared in his eyes. The idea of hundreds of thousands of women and children dying made Cain¡¯s rage reach its zenith, triggering his bloodline¡¯s emotional instability. However, itsted less than a second as a red light appeared in his eyes, transforming all that rage into coldness. Although it was not at the same level that during his encounter with Wink, the coldness in Cain¡¯s red eyes drew fear in some of the cadets¡¯ hearts. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Cain said nothing else before walking forward. He deactivated Wave Burst but kept his Wave Cloak in ce. Clearly, the ce they were heading was far from safe, and lowering his guard was not wise. As for activating his armor, Cain did not do that, as soldiers could mistake it as him wanting to hide something. Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and the other cadets followed Cain¡¯s lead, activating their Wave Cloaks. Without even realizing it, the entire group began to take Cain as their leader. Part of the reason was his skills andposure, but the main reason was that when he activated his Ego Wave, his aura overwhelmed the others. The group ran past the broken building and noticed blood everywhere, but there were no corpses. The soldiers must have already given them a proper burial. Cain¡¯s nose twitched as they advanced. He felt the scent of human blood covering the entire city but also detected that of the Infernus Daemon Race. Although the Atrox God led the incursion into the empire, the continent controlled by the Atrox Immortus Race, the Cronos Continent, was incredibly far away from the Gaia Continent. It made sense for the bulk of the Dark Races¡¯ army that infiltrated the Gaia Continent to belong to the race that controlled the As Continent, the Infernus Daemon Race. Nevertheless, it was not the scent of the Infernus Daemon Race that drew Cain¡¯s attention but the one belonging to Wave Beasts. The scent of Wave Beasts¡¯ blood was almost as strong as the one belonging to humans, so the number that perished in the city must have been astronomical. ¡®Although blood could incite the wild and ferocious nature of weak Wave Beasts, those creatures acted based on instincts and would not get near a ce with life forms capable of destroying entire cities. There is no reason for a stampede unless...¡¯ As Cain¡¯s mind figured out things, his eyes¡¯ coldness grew even stronger. He wanted to research to prove his hypothesis, but there was no time as they had already reached the military camp formed at the core of the destroyed city. ¡°Stop and identify yourself.¡± A soldier at the entrance of the camp spoke to the group. Although she was just a Level 2 Wave Warrior, there was no fear in her gaze as she faced Cain and the others. Cain¡¯s red eyes usually infused fear in people, but the woman was a seasoned soldier, and despite her weak cultivation, her will was strong. He had his Ego Wave activated all this time, despite the pain it caused, because without it, he would not be able to control his bloodline¡¯s emotional outburst. Cain did not hesitate andplied with the soldier¡¯smand. He looked at Lurin, and this one immediately moved forward, giving the woman a crystal card that contained their assignment and identifications. The soldier corroborated the card information before nodding to the group and leading them to arge tent at the camp¡¯s center. As they walked, they saw soldiers moving from one direction to the other, all disying great coordination. There was no one cking down in a moment like this. ¡°Wait here.¡± The soldier said before walking into the main tent. Cain stared at the tent, and while it did not look like much, he knew it was a powerful artifact. It isted everything inside, could act as a force field detecting any iing threat and was resilient enough to resist the sneak attack of a Wave Champion. Ten minutester, the soldier came out of the tent and signed for them to enter. Inside was a group of five individuals, all with ferocious auras, and there was one Cain and the other recognized. Razmun, who had taught them the Dark Races Assassination ss for thest three months, was also here. Leading that group was a tall young woman with gray hair, tanned skin, and silver eyes. Not many clothes covered her body, showing her well-defined muscles andrge scars. The moment the woman saw the cadets, a golden light appeared in her eyes, and a ferocious and terrifying aura emerged from her, overflowing the cadets. Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and the others could not help but frown as they felt that ferocious aura. However, in Cain¡¯s case, the red light in his eyes only grew stronger, fighting off the mental pressure. At first, the woman had not noticed it as she could barely bother to pay attention to some cadets, but when she saw the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes, interest appeared on her face. She no longer pressured the other cadets and focused entirely on Cain, but it could not affect him no matter what. As the woman focused on Cain, he also did the same with her. She was clearly a Wave Champion, and the golden light in her eyes made it clear she had already entered the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Chapter 85 85 We are soldiers Cain analyzed the woman and was sure she was at Wave Champion rank, and the physical strength she projected hinted that she followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. What drew his curiosity were the two small swords around her waist. No rule said that an Astral Wave Cultivator could not use melee Wave Artifacts, but unless they could extend their Wave Cloak into the weapon wlessly, it would be more practical to just rely on their arms and legs to fight. ¡®Since she already entered the Ego Eternal Path of Power¡¯s First Realm, her Ego Wave should be able to allow her a domain over Direct Flow as great as that of an Essence Wave Warrior.¡¯ Cain could analyze all that since no matter how much pressure the woman unleashed, it did nothing to him. Finally, the golden light in the woman¡¯s eyes vanished, and she showed a smile. ¡°So you are the divine genius. Interesting.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was calm, but it made everybody in the tent focus on Cain. Lurin and the other cadets were confused. Although Cain¡¯s talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was not low, it by no means gave him the right to have the title of divine genius. Only Levi and Beelze understood that the woman referred to the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Cain did not care about those gazes and simply sped his hands and bowed. ¡°Cadet Cain Laurifer, presenting himself for duty.¡± ..... Levi, Beelze, Lurin, and the other cadets did the same. They all looked at the woman with cautious eyes since she was not only very powerful but also somewhat frivolous. The woman seemed to have lost interest again and only nodded before turning toward the Razmun. ¡°Vice-Captain Razmun. You are familiar with these brats. Give them a task ording to their abilities.¡± ¡°Yes, Major,¡± Razmun bowed to the woman before turning to the cadets. ¡°Follow me.¡± Cain followed the dwarf out of the tent but not without giving the woman onest nce. Just when they left, the soldier at the right of the woman spoke. ¡°Major Luma. If that brat is a divine genius, should we allow him to enter the battlefield without protection?¡± Although the man did not know why Luma used the term divine genius with Cain, in his mind, anyone with such high appraisal should be protected as they would rise to be a great asset to the empire. Luma saw that the rest of the soldiers in the tent also shared that idea, but she immediately shook her head. ¡°His path differs from the rest of the Astral Rebirth or Essence Evolution geniuses. If we protect him against danger, we would actually be harming him. And if that happens, that man will kill all of us.¡± Shock appeared in the gazes of the soldiers when they heard that. They saw the dread in their fearlessmander¡¯s eyes and immediately changed the subject. As for the name of that man, none dare to ask it. Razmun guided Cain and the others out of the main tent and headed to a dested part of the camp. He stared at them for a moment before waving his hand and making a metal ball appear. From the metal ball, a virtual image emerged, showing the current Korin City. The cadets immediately noticed that beneath the broken city, there was a set of tunnels. ¡°We moved all the civilians to the underground tunnels. Initially, the task of cadets like you would be to establish order, but we are currently in need of manpower here, and you are strong enough to fulfill those tasks.¡± Cain and the others nodded as they heard that. Although there were many soldiers in the camp besides Major Lumu and the ones in the main tent, none had impressive strength. Those with true power were hunting down the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses. Razmun smiled when he saw that none of the cadetsined and epted the change of mission. ¡°Before I assign the mission, are you capable of killing Level 4 Wave Beast and facing those at Level 5?¡± That question confused the cadets. Some thought that Razmun would ask them to hunt Wave Beasts, which made no sense considering they were in an active state of war. However, Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that question. The reason why there was so much Wave Beasts¡¯ blood became clearer. Although they were confused, Levi, Beelze, and Lurin turned toward Cain to answer that question. Cain had already proved his military skills and had a proper assessment of their battle strength as a group, so if someone could evaluate their chances, it would be him. Cain closed his eyes as he used the [A.I. Chip Module] to simte several battles against Level 4 and Level 5 Wave Beasts he had scanned in the past. ¡°Against Level 4 Wave Beast, our chances of survival are 99%, forcing it to escape are 86%, and killing it is 45%. If the enemy is at Level 5, the percentages change to 82%, 43%, and 7%, respectively. I cannot estimate what will happen if we face Wave Beasts with long-range skills.¡± Razmun was honestly surprised by Cain¡¯s analysis. Although there was a chance the cadet could be lying, he did not believe so. That information satisfied the Vice-Captain. Razmun was about to give theirmand when he saw Cain raise his hand. ¡°?Yes?¡± ¡°Are the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes urring at a specific moment of the day?¡± Razmun¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. Cain¡¯s words contained a question but also made it clear this one already knew there was a problem with Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes. ¡°borate.¡± Razmun¡¯s voice was solemn. ¡°Yes, Sir. I detected several scents of blood inside the city. One belonged to humans, a weaker one to members of the Infernus Daemon Race, and the third to Wave Beasts. Thisst one is fresher, meaning the stampedes are still happening. Those beasts would not attack a broken city where they would die unless someone higher in the food chainmanded them. Wave Beasts with that power are wise and would not attack blindly.¡± Cain¡¯s words surprised not only Razmun but also the cadets that came with him. One of them, a young girl, could not contain her curiosity. ¡°Why would strong Wave Beasts send their minions to attack?¡± As soon as she opened her mouth, her body trembled due to Razmun¡¯s sharp gaze focusing on her. They were not in a ssroom but in a military camp, and a soldier should only speak when allowed. Although it might seem exaggerated for Razmun to react so fiercely to something so trivial as a cadet speaking out of turn, it made perfect sense. How could you be expected to obey the important rules if you don¡¯t obey the small rules? Luckily for the young girl, Cain took a step between her and Razmun before bowing. ¡°I am sorry about that, Sir.¡± Razmun was not so petty as to push things out of proportion for a small mistake as long as it would not happen again. He gave a slight nod before signaling Cain to raise. A small smile appeared on the dwarf face as he stared at Cain. A leader, even a de-facto one, must bear the responsibility of the ones following him. ¡°The attacks happen at night. The bulk of the stampedees from the northeast position. You will head to the southwest position where things are calmer, and takemand of the one hundred soldiers there. Most are Level 1 and 2, with a few at Level 3. Their previousmander perished two days ago.¡± Razmun took out a crystal card with the assignment and handed it over to Cain before returning to the main military tent. Cain did not waste time and immediately headed toward the southwest position with the others. As they walked, he felt the gaze of the young girl that had awe, but there was also curiosity. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter why.¡± Cain did not look back, but it was clear to whom he spoke. The young girl was surprised by those words, and the curiosity in her eyes did not decrease at all. ¡°But...¡± ¡°Although our current position is cadets, we are currently taking the role of soldiers. Our task is to defend the city and kill any Wave Beastsing our way, as simple as that. There is definitely a reason behind the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes, and I already have a hypothesis, but it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Cain stopped walking for a moment and turned to the young girl. The red light in his eyes generated an invisible pressure on everybody. ¡°Unless themand given to us is something we can not bear to follow under any circumstances, we will carry our orders without question or hesitation.¡± Cain saw that the girl understood his words and nodded before focusing on Lurin, startling this one. ¡°Yes?¡± Lurin did not know what was happening. Before he could say anything else, Cain handed him Razmun¡¯s crystal card. ¡°You will take the lead. Handle things with the soldiers.¡± After that, Cain walked to the back of the group, and everybody saw blood leaking from his nose, eyes, and ears. He had already reached the limit his brain could endure by forcefully triggering his Ego Wave. Without it, while he would not fall into a mad frenzy, he would have a hard time focusing his mind, so he handed the lead to Lurin. Although Levi and Beelze were stronger, the duo was not precisely known for the people¡¯s skill, so Lurin was the best choice. Lurin was happy to take the lead, but he found it odd. However, Cain lowered his head after reaching the back of the group and did not exin that strange behavior. Chapter 86 86 Sinar County It did not take long for cadets to reach the southwest position. Lurin was at the lead and immediately noticed the nearly one hundred soldiers resting around a broken building. All of them looked exhausted and had all sorts of wounds on their bodies, making it clear just how hard thest few days had been for them. The soldiers also detected Lurin, Beelze, Levi, and the other cadets. Most of them showed curiosity in their eyes, but some did not react so friendly seeing a group of young cadetsing their way. Lurin noticed that, but not even for a second did he show a sh of hesitation or weakness. He might not have Cain¡¯s imposing aura that pushed everybody intopliance, but he had trained his entire life for a moment like this. Once Lurin was one hundred meters away from the broken building where the soldiers rested, he raised his hand, stopping everybody. All the cadets, including Beelze and Levi, followed hismand. Beelze and Levi did not show any rebellious behavior. Soldiers needed a leader in a moment like this, and while they felt morefortable following someone they knew, Cain handed the leadership to Lurin, and they trusted their friend¡¯s instincts. Lurin did not look back but saw how everybody followed that simplemand the instant he gave it, allowing his aura to rise even mightier, making his next move easier. ¡°I am Lurin Sinar. Vice-Captain Razmun sent us to this location to provide reinforcement and take leadership.¡± Lurin then took out the crystal card Razmun handed to Cain and sent a copy of the information to all the nearby soldiers. Cain was still looking down, enduring the mental pain of using his Ego Wave and restraining his bloodline¡¯s emotional outburst. A small smile appeared on his face as he heard Lurin¡¯s words. ..... ¡®Good, he spoke clearly from the beginning, stating our role and position to everybody.¡¯ Lurin gave the soldiers a few seconds to read the information he had just sent before a sharp light appeared in his eyes. ¡°All soldiers adopt a formation fifty meters in front of me. Now!¡± Lurin¡¯s imposing aura was growing with every action he took, and that shout was all it was needed for the Level 1 and Level 2 soldiers to immediately dash out of the broken building and form in front of him. All those soldiers were equipped with Wave Rifles, as theycked the proper skills to fight on a battlefield with their own abilities. Most of them showedrge smiles as they stared at the cadets since powerful reinforcements made them feel more secure, especially after the death of their previousmander. However, not everybody was so happy about the changes. The look in the six Level 3 Wave Warriors made it clear they were not thrilled that a group of cadets would take the lead. An ipetentmander could do more damage than not having one at all. Although the Level 3 Wave Warriors still joined the formation fifty meters in front of Lurin, they all walked calmly, showing no real respect. That was enough to tell everybody how they felt about their newmander. Lurin could ignore that defiant behavior and slowly show the soldiers his aptitudes, gaining their trust and respect. However, they would soon face hordes of Wave Beasts that wanted nothing more than to kill all of them, so time was a luxury he did not have. He focused on the strongest of the Level 3 Wave Warriors, a tall man with a bulky body who followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. ¡°What is your name, soldier?¡± The bulky man did not bother to hide his boredom and almost yawned when he answered Lurin¡¯s question. ¡°Jamal.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard the way Jamal spoke to him. The soldier did not show respect even after knowing he was the leader. In all fairness, most soldiers of the Imperial Military Force follow the chain ofmand without hesitation but obeying a cadet scion who most likely never had put a foot on the battlefield was not something soldiers like Jamal could easily ept. Lurin took a few steps forward, leaving the rest of the cadets behind before focusing on Jamal. ¡°Soldier,e here.¡± Jamal showed a small smile as he heard thatmand. He was smart enough to understand Lurin¡¯s goal, but there was no fear in his eyes. Lurin showed no emotion on his face as Jamal approached him. The soldier was almost two meters tall, much higher than his one meter and seventy-five centimeters, but that meant little to him. ¡°I will ask onest time, what is your name?¡± Lurin¡¯s voice was calm, but there was a force beneath it ready to burst, just like a dormant volcano. Jamal shrugged his shoulders and smiled before speaking. ¡°Jamal Hurn.¡± After that answer, Lurin did not wait even a second before unleashing his Wave Cloak and making it burst with all his power. He made the first move and tapped Jamal¡¯s chest. That touch had no strength, but ording to the military rules, it meant that Lurin initiated the altercation, allowing Jamal to defend himself with all his power. Jamal smiled as he unleashed his Wave Cloak at full strength and sent a blow forward. Not only that punch had immense power, but the skill behind it was very good. Unfortunately for Jamal, Lurin dodged that blow by lowering his body. Jamal could not do anything to stop Lurin from tackling him to the ground. His eyes were full of surprise, as he did not understand just how a scion could read his movements so easily. Lurin immediately positioned himself on top of Jamal before unleashing a barrage of punches, pinning this one to the ground. No matter what tactics Jamal attempted, Lurin could counter all of them. Although Lurin unleashed dozens of punches over Jamal, he controlled the power behind them so they would not provoke real damage. Yet, after thirty seconds, that changed. A sh of coldness and killing intent emerged in Lurin¡¯s eyes as he gathered an immense amount of Astral Wave in his right arm. Brown scales formed around the arm, making it grow almost twicerger. Jamal¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that draconic-like right arm, and dread filled his heart. Not only had the physical strength exponentially improved, but there was also a massive amount of Astral Wave enhancing it. Jamal was not alone in his shock. The fight was not out of line with the military. It was quitemon to establish discipline this way in a society that cherished strength above all. However, killing a soldier for small acts of disobedience was over the top. ¡°Boom!¡± A small st echoed when the fistnded, but there was no blood. Jamal¡¯s eyes showed terror as he looked to the side when he saw the hole that Lurin¡¯s fist left on the ground. If it hadnded on his head, he would have perished. Lurin¡¯s face was pale, making it clear how much energy that attack took from him, but the aura he unleashed became even stronger. He rose from the ground and focused on the soldiers. ¡°I am yourmander, and you will speak to me with respect. I have my orders, and you have yours. I will not allow any disobedience.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± All the soldiers spoke in unison. Cain raised his head, and he was surprised. He had chosen Lurin to take the lead because he was the best of the current options, not because he saw something special in this one. There were actually several ns on Cain¡¯s mind already to handle the soldiers if Lurin failed, but this one did everything great. Curiosity appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he stared at Lurin and did some quick research on Lurin County. Although the empire protected sensitive information about Noble Families, he was only looking for somemon knowledge. ¡°Oh, so that is why.¡± Cain¡¯s research showed that Sinar County was established less than forty years ago by Ronir Sinar, amoner who gained fame for his military exploits. If Ronir Sinar took an important role in the upbringing of his children, it made sense for Lurin to be so familiar with the military. That also exined Lurin¡¯s preference to form teams with people of humble backgrounds, his proficiency against military battle skills, and his leadership skills. Lurin almost smiled when he saw the look of respect and awe in the soldiers, but he could not break his dignified stance. He gave one sharp nce at Jamal, making this one rise from the ground and hastily return to the formation. Just as he was about to give themands, Lurin¡¯s eyes narrowed due to a message that reached his A.I. Chip. ¡°All soldiers, speak your names, levels, and battle specialties.¡± The soldiers did not find anything odd about that request since it was normal for amander to ask for that information, but the cadets knew from whom it came. Some were not subtle and looked to the back of the group. Chapter 87 87 First night Cain frowned when he became the center of attention for those soldiers. That was thest thing he wanted, as he had already decided not to take a leadership position during the ensuing battles since his bloodline¡¯s emotional instability could kick in at any moment. In all fairness, someone like Cain, who could use Ego Wave, was a great leader, as that power could allow him to see everything from an objective point of view and think much faster. However, extended use generated a bacsh, which he could not tolerate in battles that could stretch for hours. Cain remained silent, but not before ncing at the cadets that turned to him, allowing a sh of his red light to appear in his eyes, scaring them. Those young people were too naive andcked situational awareness, something he could not tolerate on the battlefield. ording to what Cain learned from Zarak¡¯s information, people felt afraid when he activated his Ego Wave because it forced all who looked directly into his eyes into a sh of wills. It provoked the same feeling an average human would feel when looking directly into the eyes of a tiger about to jump toward them. ¡°Begin!¡± Lurin saw that the soldiers were distracted, so he shouted with a stern voice, forcing them into action and pushing their thoughts about Cain to the back of their minds. Cain gave a soft nod when he saw how Lurin handled the situation, and his impression of the young scion improved. Knowing how to adapt to an unexpected problem was a fundamental skill for amander. One by one, the soldiers gave their descriptions. While they were doing that, Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan them, improving his data pool. None of the soldiers was above Level 3, so the system was able to analyze them at a fast speed. However, designing the battle formation for them was a challenging task. The more moving pieces, the harder it was to make a battle formation. The [A.I. Chip Module] could generate a battle formation involving one hundred soldiers, but it would be too hard for them to learn it with the little time they have until the next fight. That is why Cain decided to divide the soldiers into ten groups instead. ..... Each group would have the same overall battle power, with members that could cover each other¡¯s weaknesses and enhance their fortes. Then, he would make a second battle formation that taught the ten groups to act together. Lurin did not simply wait in silence as Cain worked. He acted immediately, guiding the soldiers to modify the terrain to the best of their abilities, so it would make it easier for them to face the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampede. The help those tactics could provide was not much, which is why somemanders did not pay too much attention to them. Still, Lurin¡¯s father taught him that every single advantage, no matter how little, could generate a ripple effect with immense repercussions in the battle¡¯s oue. As the system constructed those battle formations, Cain began to analyze their future battlefield. Five thousand meters in front of their position there was a forest, and it would be from there that the Wave Beasts woulde. Cain could feel the scent carried on by the wind and was sure those trees hid hundreds of Wave Beasts, ready to emerge at any moment. It would be easy for Major Luma or even Razmun to march into the forest and massacre those beasts, but that would be a deadly mistake. If Luma or any Vice-Captain abandoned the northeast position, it would allow the truly powerful Wave Beasts to march into Korin City. Once there, those beasts could make their way into the underground tunnels and butcher the civilians in minutes. Everybody had their jobs. Cain and these one hundred soldiers had to reduce the pressure Major Luma faced, as simple as that. The passage of time helped Cain a lot. His brain finally recovered from the bacsh of using Ego Wave, and his heart calmed down, no longer forcing him to suppress the wild rage that burned through his blood. [Battle formations ready.] Cain smiled when he heard that, and without wasting a moment, he sent them toward Lurin so that this one would pass them down toward the soldiers. Although he could have done it himself, soldiers needed a clear chain ofmand on the battlefield. Lurin was in the middle of helping the wounded soldiers to heal with the medicine stored in his space ring when the message arrived. He nced at Cain and nodded before passing the battle formations. Cain saw that and nodded. He was not afraid that someone else could take the credit for his actions since the Imperial Military Network recorded everything they did. Although thinking of merits during a situation like this could sound selfish, the truth was that everybody wanted their hard work recognized. That is why the Merit Ruler was such a great tool, as it allowed soldiers to do their best without worrying about taking the spotlight or securing recognition for fear it would be overlooked. Cain and the other cadets focused on getting to their peak condition while the soldiers had time to familiarize themselves with their new battle formations. Finally, night came, and they heard it when it became pitch ck. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± It was a feral roar that made all the soldiers and cadets tremble. It was so loud that it harmed their eardrums. The power of that beast was something none of them could imagine. Of course, that roar did note from their position but from the northeast, where Major Luma would be fighting. Cain looked toward the origin of that mighty roar, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as his understanding behind the stampedes grew even deeper. However, he did not have the luxury of distraction as roars emerged from the nearby forest. Less than a second after that roar, hundreds of Wave Beasts emerged from the forest and marched with wild and furious gazes toward the broken city. Level 1 and 2 Wave Beasts made the bulk of the horde, but there were also dozens at Level 3. Cain focused, and soon red light appeared in his eyes as he managed to activate his Ego Wave. Using it, he focused a significant amount of his Astral Wave into his eyes, allowing his vision to grow exponentially stronger. In a moment, Cain¡¯s eyes focused on a group of six Wave Beasts that remained at the forest entrance. They all were Horn-me Boars, boar-like Wave Beasts with ming horns. Cain focused on them because the aura they unleashed was much greater than the other Wave Beasts, especially the one at the center that measured almost two and a half meters tall. Lurin saw how the hundreds of Wave Beasts marched toward them, full of maniacal wildness, and it would be a lie to say it did not affect him. However, he knew if he showed any form of fear or weakness, it would break the soldier¡¯s battle spirit, and that was not something he could allow to happen. Lurin raised his hands, signaling the soldiers to point their Wave Rifles toward the horde, but onlymanded them to fire once it was five hundred meters from their position. Wave Rifles were not very precise, but the horde was so densely packed that every shot found a target. The soldiers worked ording to the battle formation that Cain gave them, dividing the battlefield into different parts and spreading their firepower. That way, the effect it would have on the overall battle power of the horde would be more significant. Once the Wave Beasts reached the two hundred meters mark, some of them began to fall into hidden pits and were forced to split into smaller groups due to the debris in their paths. Finally, the cadets marched forward in full armor once the Wave Beasts reached the one-hundred-meter mark. Cain and Levi led the group; Beelze took the middle with the other cadets around her and Lurin in the back. Raging mes covered Levi¡¯s body while lightning coated Cain¡¯s extremities. Levi¡¯s fire had grown stronger after his marrow washing and advancing to Level 3. As for Cain, he had already reached Lightning Armament¡¯s second level, allowing the lightning to coat his legs and fists. The duo could kill with a single blow all the Wave Beasts in front of them, and the other cadets made sure to rain destructive spells on the horde at point nk. Those actions diminished the number of Wave Beasts even more while also drawing the attention of the others, decreasing the amount that reached the soldiers. Of course, many Wave Beasts still reached the soldiers¡¯ location, but the Wave Warriors capable of mele battle took care of them. That was how the first night of Cain assuming the role of a true soldier began. Chapter 88 88 Facing a Level 4 Wave Beast The soldiers fired dozens of beams from their Wave Rifles every second, killing more and more Wave Beasts, slowly thinning down the horde. Those soldiers who followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power or were strong enough to fight with their own power were in a close-quarter battle against the Wave Beasts that made it to the city¡¯s periphery. Among them was Jamal, who showed impressive battle skills as he shattered the bones of the beasts in front of him. Soldiers carrying Wave Rifles and the ones battling with their own power helped each other. Those with Wave Rifles decreased the horde, reducing the pressure on Jamal and the others and allowing them to do a better job stopping the horde from advancing further. Although the collision between the soldiers and the Wave Beasts was impressive, the one that truly drew awe was the sh between the cadets and the horde. A small group of just ten people advanced deeper and deeper into the horde, leaving a trail of blood and corpses in their path. Most of the beast¡¯s corpses had their heads blew up, holes in their skulls, and their blood frozen. That group entered so deep into the horde that they were attacked from every direction, but they kept moving forward, and no Wave Beasts could pierce into their formation. Levi and Cain were like death machines, killing all the Wave Beasts in front of them. The first unleashed an explosion every time his fists or kicksnded, while the second transformed his arms into lightning spears. Levi sent all the Wave Beasts that faced him flying away with their bodies blown to pieces. As for Cain, he was much more subtle, with his fingers piercing the heads of the beast before scorching their brain with lightning. The focus in the duo¡¯s eyes reached their zenith, as any failure on their side would mean that the entire battle formation would shatter to pieces. ..... Beelze and six more cadets stood behind the duo, sting more and more spells into Wave Beasts attacking from the nks while also at the same time sending some of those powerful spells to the front of the formation, diminishing the pressure Levi and Cain faced. The soldier and cadets faced immense pressure, and the threat of death was present every second. Still, thanks to their teamwork and battle formation, even after more than three hours of fighting, no casualty appeared on their side. Rage began to appear in thergest of the Horn-me Boars. Hundreds of its pawns had already perished under those humans, yet they achieved nothing other than draining their energy. ¡°Ahhh!¡± It roared, sending a signal to one of the smaller Horn-me Boars. The smaller Horn-me Boar showed no hesitation as it marched forward. Every stomp had so much power that the ground beneath its feet cracked. There was a fierceness in the beast¡¯s eyes as it advanced faster and faster, increasing its momentum. Cain and Levi noticed the Horn-me Boar marching toward them, crushing some of the weaker Wave Beasts in its path. The duo knew waiting for the boar to reach them was not wise. It would have generated such immense momentum at that point that it could force them to stop advancing. Wave Beasts surrounded the cadets; if they stopped moving, they could overwhelm them. Cain and Levi looked at each other and nodded. Levi made his Wave Cloak burst with all his power, increasing his battle strength while also depleting his energy at an elerated rate. Cain did the same, pushing his Wave Cloak to its highest level, achieving a 300% Wave Burst. He then focused his Astral Wave on his legs before dashing forward at full speed. Thanks to Lightning Armament and his bloodline, Cain¡¯s speed was even higher than that of Levi, making it easier for him to navigate the sea of Wave Beasts toward the Horn-me Boar. Of course, the Wave Beasts in Cain¡¯s path attacked with maniacal fury, but he either killed or avoided them, not stopping for even a fraction of a second. Just slowing down would mean certain death. The Horn-me Boar saw the small human marching toward it, but the only thing that appeared in its eyes was an even greater fury. It perceived no threat from a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior like Cain and was even offended if someone like that would dare to face it. Cain saw that the Horn-me Boar suddenly marched with even greater strength. He did not bother with the reasoning of the beast, as they were already close enough for him to use the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] tool. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Lineage: Horn-me Boar Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 4) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 1.2 Agility: 0.70 Vitality: 1.5 Life Wave: 1.4] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw those numbers. The Horn-me Boar he was about to face was a Level 4 Wave Beast, and its raw stats surpassed him in every single way. If it weren¡¯t for his Lightning Armament achieving level 2, exponentially enhancing his speed and reflexes, he would have never dared to try something like this. Once Cain and the Horn-me Boar were less than fifty meters away from each other, the Wave Beast roared, and the mes from its horns spread all over its body. 0.7 points in agility meant that Horn-me Boar was fourteen times faster than an Old World athlete. It could cover those fifty meters in less than a second. Cain felt immense pressure as he saw that massive beasting his way, but right then, red light emerged from his eyes, pushing all fear and hesitation away. When the Horn-me Wave Boar saw those red eyes, a feeling of dread assaulted it, and it knew that the man in front of him was extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, it realized that piece of information toote. Cain triggered his Ego Wave in thest second to maintain the facade of weakness and make the Wave Beast lower its guard. He did not wait for an instant before pushing his Wave Burst to an even higher level and, using his enhanced senses, slid down between the legs of the Horn-me Boar. The Level 4 Horn-me Boar was shocked to see the human show such incredible speed and battle skill, dodging its charge, sliding down between its legs, and positioning himself beneath it. A feeling of doom assaulted the Level 4 Horn-FLame Boar as Cain focused all his Astral Wave into his arms, striking at the same time while also using his Kic Gauntlets¡¯ level 2 Kic st! ¡°Boom!¡± An explosion echoed through the battlefield as Cain¡¯s attacknded point-nk in the Wave Beast¡¯s belly. The Level 4 Horn-me Boar was more than two meters tall and weighed over eight tons, yet Cain¡¯s attack sent it flying away, crushing many Wave Beasts on its path. Blood leaked non-stop from its maws, and there was no light in its eyes. Silence reigned on the battlefield for a moment as both humans and Wave Beasts turned toward the sh with shock and awe. Although one might think there was not much difference between Level 3 and Level 4, that division was a major bottleneck. Although it was not impossible, it would not be easy for a Level 3 Wave Warrior to kill a Level 4 Wave Beast. Yet, Cain, who was just at Level 2, did it with a single attack! There were plenty of Wave Beasts around Cain, but they froze for a moment as dread assaulted their hearts. That dreadful power and those red eyes stop them from attacking. Cain did not waste that opportunity, rising from the ground and immediately dashing back to the cadet¡¯s formation. He did not rejoin the front with Levi but entered the middle and stood beside Beelze. Although he seemed fine, Beelze could see how Cain¡¯s face was ghastly pale, and his arms did not stop trembling. Clearly, thest attack not only drained most of his Astral Wave but also harmed him. Cain said nothing and focused on recovering as fast as possible. He could feel the micro-fractures on the bones of his arms, but that was something he expected to happen. Level 2 Kic st was something only Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior should use. Not only did it drain too much Astral Wave, but the bacsh was not something weaker cultivators could handle. Cain could do it thanks to his Ego Wave, allowing him to focus an immense amount of Astral Wave on his arms, and reinforce the bones. The Blood Refinement Art also yed an important role, as it enhanced the resilience of his muscles and other tissues. ¡°AHHH!¡± After oveing the initial shock, the Horn-me Boar Leader roared with rage. It could not believe one of its strongest pawns could die at the hands of a mere Level 2 Wave Warrior. Although it seemed ready to march forward, in the end, it did not. Cain noticed that, and his mind began to work. Still, he maintained his focus on the battlefield, and under his guidance, the cadet formation made its way back to the city. Chapter 89 89 Killing during retreat Once the cadets¡¯ group moved back to the city¡¯s edge, they helped Jamal and the others reinforce the perimeter while the soldiers carrying Wave Rifles kept raining fire over the horde. The Horn-me Boar Leader saw how more and more pawns perished, and the rage in its eyes grew stronger. There was a clear desire to march forward, but although it had not fully developed wisdom yet, it knew how to followmands. The one inmand of these Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes made it clear that it should not enter the city and only attack the soldiers outside it. Personally, the Horn-me Boar found thatmand stupid since if he were to charge into the city; it could go on a killing spree. Of course, it did not dare to defy that order. What the beasts did not understand was that while the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses destroyed most of Korin City¡¯s defenses, the city still had a scanning force field in ce. With it, Major Luma could know the exact location of any Wave Beasts that enter the city. Although it would not be easy, she could send an attack from the northeast position to any part of the city. Of course, performing such an attack would drain a lot of power and distract Luma, putting her in danger. She would only do it if the target were worth it. The cadets and soldiers kept fighting with all they had until the first ray of sunlight appeared on the horizon. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± A mighty and feral roar echoed through the city, emerging from the northeast. It came from the same Wave Beast whose roar triggered the stampede, and this time it marked its end. The Horn-me Boar also roared,manding its pawns to move back. Today¡¯s fight was over. However, not everybody thought that way. ..... ¡°On me!¡± Cain shouted from the center of the cadet¡¯s battle formation, and his Astral Wave burst with might that sent sts of air around him. He had used thest few hours to recover on the center of the formation, and now that the Wave Beasts were moving back, it was the perfect time to unleash his power onest time. Those words should not be enough to move more than one hundred people who were beyond exhausted by this point, but the sight of Cain killing that Level 4 Horn-me Boar was still clear in their minds. Seeing that ferocious Astral Wavepacted around Cain¡¯s body while lightning coated his arms and legs made their blood burn with excitement. Cain marched forward at full speed, and he was not alone since Levi was right by his side. The duo began a massacre as they killed the Wave Beasts close to them. The rest of the cadets also attacked with all the power they had left. As for the soldiers, they move forward, firing their Wave Rifles on the horde. A tactical retreat was a highlyplex maneuver, as it left the army full of openings, and only the bestmander could do it wlessly. A Wave Beast horde couldn¡¯t achieve such a level of coordination. Usually, it would not be a problem as the soldiers would be too exhausted to pursue the retreating Wave Beast horde, but things were different now. There were no casualties thanks to Cain¡¯s battle formation, and although some soldiers were wounded, none were in critical condition. That already left them in high spirits, and the sight of such a mighty warrior marching forward was all they needed to keep fighting. ¡°?AHHHH!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader roared with rage as it saw how the humans kept attacking its forces even after they pulled back. ¡°BOOM!¡± It stamped the ground, breaking the earth beneath its pawns as a zing fire covered its body. When the soldiers and cadets detected that aura st, they all grew worried. Luckily, there was a sharp voice that washed away their fear. ¡°It won¡¯t attack! Keep going!¡± Cain shouted, and there was a sense of absolute confidence in his voice that helped the soldier and cadets. They kept moving forward, killing more and more Wave Beasts. It was a true massacre, as those beasts were so focused on running away that they neglected their defenses. Only when Cain and the others were 400 meters away from Korin City, he raised his hand and shout again. ¡°STOP!¡± Although the thrill of battle almost blinded some of the cadets and soldiers, Cain¡¯s voice was enhanced by his Astral Wave, harming their eardrums and forcing them to focus. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with massive red light as he used his Ego Wave to the highest level possible. An agonizing pain had already assaulted his mind, but that was not why he stopped the group. The 400 meters mark may seem arbitrary, but it was far from that. At this point, Cain and the others could return to Korin City before the Horn-me Boar Leader could get to them, even if the beast marched with all its power. Despite the immense distance and the hundreds of Wave Beasts between them, the Horn-me Boar Leader and Cain exchanged nces. One was full of mad fury, while the other was cold and calm. The Horn-me Boar Leader stomped the ground repeatedly, but in the end, it turned around and moved back to the forest. Cain¡¯s eyes did not rx until he was sure the Horn-me Boar had left. Although Wave Beasts were not known for their scheming abilities, it was better to be safe than sorry. He took a deep breath and deactivated his Ego Wave, allowing the raging pain to calm down. ¡®If I could use my Ego Wave without limiters or bacsh, I could face Level 4 Wave Beasts with confidence.¡¯ Cain only shook his head and knew it would still be a while before he found his true nature. He was still too young and experienced too little. Not wasting more time with unnecessary thoughts, Cain dashed toward where the Level 4 Horn-me Corpse hadnded. He was about to send it toward his space ring when a voice interrupted him. ¡°Wait!¡± Cain frowned as he heard that and turned to the side. The one that shouted at him was Jamal. He was not alone since all the other cadets also sent sharp nces at the soldier. A Level 4 Wave Beast was valuable, but since Cain killed it without any help, there was nothing wrong with him taking possession of the corpse. Jamal almost trembled as he saw those gazes and immediately raised his hands. ¡°I am not trying to steal anything from you. However, ording to the rules given by Major Luma, we must hand over all the carcasses of Level 3 and above. She will reward us with Imperial Military Credits in exchange for them.¡± The cadets calmed down when they heard Jamal¡¯s exnation, and they all nodded. If the order came from Major Luma, they could do nothing. A soldier must respect the chain ofmand. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He could not tantly disregard the order of a Major in the military, but he wanted this body. ¡°As long as we hand over the corpse, there is not a problem with the state of this one, right? ¡°I guess so.¡± Jamal found the question somewhat odd, but he answered. It was obvious that the corpses would be riddled with injuries since they were on a battlefield. Cain nodded before focusing his Astral Wave into his right hand and piercing the Level 4 Horn-me Boar¡¯s corpse. His entire arm entered the beast¡¯s body until he finally reached the heart. As the cadets and soldiers wondered what Cain¡¯s n was, they saw how the Horn-me Boar¡¯s corpse began to tremble. Slowly, the blood inside its body began to vanish. All that vitality flooded Cain¡¯s body, helping him recover the energy used in the battle while at the same time nurturing his flesh. Cain noticed how his actions drew the attention of the others. He would have preferred to use his Blood Refinement Art away from everybody¡¯s sight, but he had to adapt. Lurin was also surprised by Cain¡¯s abilities, but he did not waste time and began to mobilize the soldiers. The first thing was to tend the wounded before taking care of the hundreds of Wave Beasts¡¯ corpses spread across the battlefield. A group of soldiers began to move across the battlefield, storing all the corpses in space rings. Those artifacts did not belong to them but to the military. While Cain consumed the blood and tempered his body, he also analyzed his battle tactics. Although today he managed to kill a Level 4 Wave Beast, he knew the only reason he achieved such a feat was the beast underestimating his abilities. ¡®I need to be prepared.¡¯ Today¡¯s battle was worth celebrating, as they damaged the Wave Beast¡¯s horde and suffered no casualties. Yet, Cain knew that expecting things to carry on that way was too naive. Chapter 90 90 Dangerous n (I) The following nights went on as expected. Wave Beast¡¯s hordes would march out of the forest and attempt to reach the city, with the soldiers doing their best to stop them. There were open channels between the leaders of the squads guarding the different battlefields. Lurin was technically the southwest leader, but this one was smart enough to share all the information he got with Cain. All the cadets and soldiers showed respect for Lurin, and none of them questioned his orders, but the one that was the true leader in their mind and who they would follow in case everything went south was Cain. A powerful will had a maic effect on people, especially on the battlefield, where everything was uncertain. For the cadets and soldiers, every time they saw the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes, they felt all doubt vanishing. In their hearts, as long they obeyed Cain¡¯s orders, they would survive. Lurin knew how the cadets and soldiers looked at him, and there was nothing he could do. He did most of the work, but it was Cain¡¯smands the one that had the greatest effect on the battlefield. Although he would have liked to take the undisputable role of leader, Lurin epted that his skills had yet to reach that point. Instead of getting bitter about it, he learned from this experience. He focused all his mind on studying everymand Cain gave and how this one analyzed the battlefield. Personally, Cain liked this arrangement. Lurin was intelligent and capable enough to take care of the soldiers and cadets 95% of the time, leaving him with only the 5%, which were critical points where no w was allowed. Cain saw how the sun was setting down when Lurin reached his side. This one began to inform him about thetest news of the other battlefields, making him frown. Ten days have passed since Cain joined forces with the soldiers, and the number of Wave Beasts they killed had already reached six thousand. Yet, the size of the hordes marching kept increasing, and that was not only in the southwest position but in all others as well. ..... ¡®It won¡¯t be long before the empire warriors finish their hunt for the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses hiding in the Copsing Lightning Sector. Once that happens, they will be able to rejoin the main forces and butcher the Wave Beasts. I assume the one behind the stampedes knows that and is going all out at thisst stretch.¡¯ Lurin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw Cain¡¯s eyes glowing with enlightenment from time to time as if this one could analyze those hundreds of moving pieces and give them order. He had seen that before, but never in a cadet. It was the light that would glow in his father¡¯s eyes when this one analyzed information about the battlefield before marching to war. Cain did not notice the look in Lurin¡¯s eyes. As long as there was no resentment or other negative emotions, he had no time to worry about the thoughts of the scion. The expression on Cain¡¯s face grew somber as he understood that the danger they would face in thesest few days would exponentially rise. ¡°Our current fighting force?¡± Just asking that question made Cain¡¯s expression grow even more severe. To make things worse, while their enemy¡¯s number increased, theirs diminished. Like a miracle, they have yet to suffer a single casualty, but many soldiers endured life-threatening wounds and had to leave the battlefield. ¡°We have 79 soldiers left.¡± Lurin made a slight pause at this point before continuing. ¡°Regarding the wounded, some...¡± Lurin could not finish his sentence as he saw two red eyes focusing on him, which directly pressured his willpower. ¡°Were you saying something?¡± Cain¡¯s voice was eerily cold as he uttered those words. Despite him being a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior and Cain only at Level 2, Lurin felt immense danger. Just like the other cadets, he remembered the tactics Cain used against Wink, and there was no doubt in his mind that he would not have survived. ¡°Nothing.¡± Lurin took a deep breath and spoke. Cain nodded and made the intent behind his actions clear. He had used the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] tool on the wounded soldiers before they left and knew some would not survive, but he did not share that information as it could affect morale. ¡°Do you have the things I asked?¡± That question drew Lurin back to reality, and his gaze grew sharp as he handed a space ring to Cain. Since he was technically the southwest leader, it was his job to take care of supplies or acquire battle equipment. As Lurin saw Cain analyze the content of the space ring, a troubled expression appeared on his face. ¡°Are you sure you have to do this? The dangers are too great, and a single wrong step could mean your death.¡± Although Lurin¡¯s words might sound like that of a close friend worried, they were those of amander who analyzed everything objectively. A true militarymander should have the strength of character to ask a soldier to do a mission that he knows would result in this one¡¯s death. Lurin worried about Cain¡¯s life because of the role this one had in the hearts and minds of the others. Seeing Cain march into battle and butcher powerful Wave Beasts raised the morale of all the soldiers, allowing them to fight beyond their limits, but if he were to die, their spirits would crumble. Those were the pros and cons of having your leader take the lead on the battlefield. ¡°If I don¡¯t do it, who else?¡± Cain spoke calmly, and his eyes did not leave the space ring. Those words shook Lurin. His eyes went to Cain¡¯s ribs and shoulder, and he saw their deep wounds. In thest battles, two Level 4 Horn-me Boars always marched into the battlefield, and it was Cain¡¯s job to handle them before they could achieve a momentum that could shatter the cadet formation or, even worse, reach the soldiers. Although Levi was the strongest in the group in terms of offensive power, only Cain had the speed and reflexes that would allow him to march out of the battle formation into a sea of Wave Beast. Although Cain had suffered severe wounds, everybody else would have perished, so no one else could do the job. Lurin gave onest nce at Cain before nodding and going back to the soldiers. Cain put the new space ring on his right hand before closing his eyes and using the [A.I. Chip Module] to perform simtion after simtion. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± Deep into the night, a feral roar made Cain open his eyes. He turned to the forest and saw Wave Beasts marching toward them. Cain joined the cadet formation, and the sh between humans and Wave Beasts continued. The cadet formation went deeper into the horde while the soldiers rained fire on them, gradually diminishing their numbers. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Less than two hours after the initial sh, Cain heard the Horn-me Boar Leader roar and sent two of the Level 4 Horn-me Boars into the battlefield. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and red light burst from his eyes as he pushed his Ego Wave to its limit before dashing forward. Although it might seem dumb on the Horn-me Boar Leader not to send all its strongest warriors together, it was not willing to risk them. If the four Level 4 Horn-me Boars were to enter the battlefield, there was a chance the humans could activate some trump card that could take them all down. The Horn-me Boar Leader reached that conclusion based on past experiences. Korin City had those trump cards, but the assault of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses destroyed most of them, and the ones left were positioned in the northeast position. Cain had already figured out the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s apprehensions and thoroughly used them. However, he also knew that they would not work for much longer since the moment the one behind the stampedes gave the order, the Horn-me Boar Leader and the four Level 4 Horn-me Boars would march together with all their power. That day coulde very soon, which is why Cain was ready to attempt something dangerous. Cain advanced faster and faster, not allowing any of the weak Wave Beasts on his path to interrupt his momentum. When the two Level 4 Horn-me Boars were one hundred meters away from Cain, they lowered their bodies, preventing this one from dashing beneath them. Even if Wave Beast were not smart, that did not mean they were stupid, and they could learn. However, what happened next filled the two Level 4 Horn-me Boars with utter confusion. They saw the human close his eyes. They were about to sh, and the enemy chose to shut off one of his more important senses. It made no sense for the Level 4 Horn-me Boars. The next instant, they saw the human throw a rectangr device into the air, and before they could do anything, it exploded, unleashing a blinding light that burned their eyes! Chapter 91 91 Dangerous n (II) The blinding light was extremely powerful. It wreaked havoc on the horde as it burned the retinas of many Level 1 Wave Beasts, producing immense pain and temporarily blinding them. Cadets and soldiers knew that Cain would use such Wave Artifact, so they closed their eyes in time, avoiding severe damage. The distance mitigated some of the effects, so the Horn-me Boar Leader and the two Level 4 did not endure any injury. Still, none of them could see what had happened after that sh. Just as the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s eyes adapted to the blinding light, he heard the sound of two explosions. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader was shocked to see how the first explosion consumed one of the Level 4 Horn-me Boars while the second threw the other flying away. Cain had faced a couple of Level 4 Horn-me Boars multiple times in the past few days. However, he was dancing on the razor¡¯s edge every time, barely distracting them or doing enough harm to the beasts so they could not affect the cadet formation. It was never like this, triggering explosions that simultaneously neutralized two Level 4 Wave Beasts. ..... Lurin saw those explosions and knew better than anyone just how dangerous they were. He had obtained the explosives that went by the name of C-sts. Those C-sts were one-time use Wave Artifacts that could trigger massive explosions with the power to take the lives of Level 3 Astral Wave Warriors. Despite their power, they were not very popr since you had to adhere them to the enemy¡¯s body and move away from the explosion¡¯s range before they detonated. Throwing those C-sts to the target was not useful. If you threw it too slow, anyone could dodge them, but if you used too much strength, they would detonate mid-fly. Cain put himself in great danger by using those C-sts, as it forced him to right next to the Level 4 Horn-me Boars and then move away fast, or else he would get caught in the explosion. The Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s eyes were glued to the explosion when an ominous feeling assaulted it. The Wave Beast realized it could not find the human and did not believe for a second that the st had swallowed him. It was only in thest second that the Horn-me Boar Leader noticed a figure ten meters above the ground, covered by the smoke of the two explosions. Cain reached that height by channeling a massive amount of Astral Wave into his legs to jump up, avoiding the brunt of the explosion. However, burn marks on his armor and a deep cut in the chest made it clear that thest exchange between him and the two Level 4 Horn-me Boars was not easy. Despite the obvious pain that those wounds would generate in him, Cain¡¯s eyes which glowed with a monstrous red light, showed nothing but determination as he carried on with the final phase of the n. Every iota of Cain¡¯s Astral Wave focused on his back, right arm, and finally, the gray spear he held in his hand. He enhanced every muscle involved in the throwing, and other than reinforcing the gray spear, he also transmuted the Astral Wave in it, granting it lighting-like properties. Cain used every ounce of strength in his body as he threw the gray spear covered in lightning arcs while in the air. ¡°WHOOSH!¡± The gray spear shed through the air at a shocking speed toward the Horn-me Boar Leader. Regarding its strength and defenses, the Horn-me Boar Leader was very gifted, but its speed was mediocre and having a massive body did not make it easier. The Horn-me Boar Leader moved in thest second, dodging the spear from piercing its head and instead making itnd on its right leg. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader shrieked in pain as the spear pierced its muscles. The Wave Beast had impressive defenses, but Cain not only enhanced the weapon with a massive amount of Astral Wave but also transmuted part of that into lightning, increasing its pration force. Cain was falling back to the ground as he saw that the me-Horn Boar grabbed the spear with its maws and removed it from its leg. While that tore some of the Wave Beast¡¯s muscles and erged the wound, it was far from a lethal injury and barely affected its battle power. Despite knowing perfectly well just how little damage that spear did to the Horn-me Boar Leader, there was a smile on Cain¡¯s face. Nevertheless, that content expression did notst for long as Cain finally reached the ground, right between the two sts that happened a few seconds ago. That was the only ce that was not full of Wave Beasts, but it wouldn¡¯tst long as they immediately lunged toward him. Cain¡¯s entire body was hurting, and he used most of his Astral Wave in thatst attack, so he could barely hold on. He just wanted to lie down and rest, but he could not do it. Using hisst bit of strength, Cain rushed back to the battle formation. Levi saw that, and ording to the n, he guided the cadet formation toward Cain as fast as possible. The lower the distance between the two, the higher the chances Cain could reach the cadet formation before being overwhelmed by the Wave Beasts. As the cadet grew closer to Cain, they all saw with awe how this one maneuvered through the ocean of Wave Beasts. The beasts attacked from every direction, but Cain managed to dodge all of them, even the onesing from blind spots, and carry on dashing forward without reducing his momentum. The truth was that Cain had a perfect awareness of the surroundings as the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool showed him everythinging his way. Thanks to his Ego Wave, his speed of thought and reflexes were high enough to use that information during a battle. Of course, more than once, ws and fangs reached Cain, but the Nullity Armor blocked most of the damage, allowing him to carry on. Cain was about to reach the cadet formation when his eyes narrowed since he detected three Level 3 Wave Beasts lunging toward him, full of killing intent. Before the beasts could shred him to pieces, he activated his Light Boots¡¯ Burst, generating a propelling force to emerge from the sole of his feet, pushing him forward. Levi¡¯s eyes narrowed as he grabbed Cain¡¯s body mid-air and threw him into the center of the formation, where Beelze caught and put him on her back. The cadet formation immediately made a U-turn, returning to the city at full speed. Although being carried by such a beautiful woman like Beelze might sound like a dream for any man, Cain¡¯s eyes still glowed with red light, and the only thing on his mind was the battlefield. Even though there was little strength left in his body, he needed to be ready to move in case something unexpected happened. Luckily, the cadet formation made their way back to the city without a problem, and after leaving Cain, they went back into the fray. Cain no longer had enough strength to fight and would only be a burden if he remained on the battlefield, so it was better for him to rest. No one had a problem with that, as the feats he just performed left everybody with a deep sense of awe and respect. Cain noticed the nces in the soldier¡¯s eyes but did not waste his time on them and immediately headed to a tall building before taking a set of binocrs. They were not very useful if he wanted to follow a moving target, but he focused his sight solely on the Horn-me Boar Leader. Twenty minutester, Cain saw the Horn-me Boar Leader begin to tremble, and a cold smile appeared on his face. Confusion appeared in the Horn-me Boar Leader as it felt a sense of weakness and nausea invade its body. It had experienced the feeling before when it was very young and ate some strange fruits. Suddenly, the Horn-me Boar¡¯s Leader¡¯s eyes widened as it looked at the gray spear on the ground and the wound on his right leg. That gray spear was not a simple object. It was a Wave Artifact, and while it did little to enhance raw destructive power, it wasced with potent venom. Cain smiled, knowing that venom could take care of a Level 5 Wave Beast. If the spear had pierced the chest, the effect would have been much faster, but there was little he could do about it. Still, he was delighted with the oue. Unfortunately, while Cain was ruthless, the Horn-me Boar Leader did not fall short. Without hesitation, the beast bit off the ce where the spear hadnded. Even while using his Ego Wave, Cain could not help but show surprise. By extirpating the origin of the contamination, the Horn-me Boar diminished the amount of venom that would reach its bloodstream. Now the beast gave its immune system a chance to fight back and recover. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Chapter 92 92 Assassination (I) ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Cain was furious, but his Ego Wave was still active, allowing him to control his facial expression and hide his emotions, preventing any soldiers from noticing that something went wrong. Even if the cadets and soldiers did not understand the great picture, they all saw a rise in the Wave Beasts¡¯ numbers and a decrease in their own. The notion that the n worked allowed them to carry on with this fight despite the immense pressure assaulting them. Although Cain performed the monumental task of neutralizing two Level 4 Horn-me Boars, he failed to take care of the Horn-me Boar Leader, so their prospects did not seem very good. The trick with the C-st and the sh grenade artifact would not work again, and he knew facing them head-on on the battlefield would not be wise. The Horn-me Boar Leader felt extremely dizzy and nauseous, but there was a burning fury in its eyes as it focused on the city. Cain could feel the beast¡¯s murderous intent and put down the binocrs before closing his eyes and shutting down his Ego Wave. He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep, but he could not allow himself that small pleasure until the current battle was over. ¡®I did my best. I hope the venom that reached the beast¡¯s bloodstream is strong enough to neutralize it for at least a few days. These stampedes will be over once the empire warriors return, which should happen any day now.¡¯ Unfortunately for Cain, while his thoughts were optimistic, the reality was about to take a very bad turn over the next few hours. Cain opened his eyes as he felt a massive burst of Life Wave at the northern position and saw storm clouds filling the sky. ..... ¡®That amount of Life Wave. It is immense even for someone at the Wave Champion Rank!¡¯ Cain could not borate on that thought when a massive lightning pir fell from the storm clouds. ¡°BOOM!¡± A st echoed through the city the next second, generating a small earthquake! Cain clenched his fists as an ominous feeling assaulted his heart. He knew that thest attack would not have good repercussions on his side. Luckily, before things could get any worse, the first rays of sunlight emerged on the horizon. ¡°AHHHH!¡± A feral roar came from the northeast position, reaching all the battlefields and marking the end of today¡¯s stampedes. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt much less vigor in that roar than on previous nights. Still, he did not jump to conclusions and focused on his battlefield. The Horn-me Boar Leader was in bad condition but still managed to give themand to retreat to its pawns once the Stampedes¡¯ Leader unleashed its roar. The cadets and soldiers did not pursue the retreating horde due to the presence of the two Level 4 Horn-me Boars and the fact they were beyond the point of exhaustion. The increasing number of enemies meant they had to work even harder, draining their stamina much faster. Cain used the binocrs onest time on the Horn-me Boar Leader before this one vanished into the forest. A sharp and cold light appeared in his eyes as he noticed how the beast kept all its minions away, not letting anyone get near. ¡®A chance?¡¯ A train of thought began to form in Cain¡¯s mind as he got down from the broken building and called Lurin to his side. The duo then moved to a ce far from everybody¡¯s sight and began investigating the situation in the northeast position. It took a while, but they finally got an answer from Vice-Captain Razmun and discovered that the Stampedes¡¯ Leader had injured Major Luma. Things were not so horrible since Major Luma¡¯s wounds were not deadly, but they limited her battle power. The only silver lining was that the Stampedes¡¯ Leader did note unscratched and received some severe wounds. In summary, while Major Luma¡¯s wounds diminished her battle capabilities, the situation in the northeast position remained the same. Lurin smiled as he cut the call since that news calmed his heart. He was worried that the Stampedes¡¯ Leader would have overwhelmed Major Lumar since that would have meant the end of Korin City. Wave Warriors like him and the soldiers could have escaped if that was the case, but that would have meant leaving the hundreds of thousands of civilians in the underground tunnels to die under the maws of the Wave Beasts. ¡°It seems everything is...¡± Lurin was not able to finish his sentence as he saw the somber expression on Cain¡¯s face. ¡°What is wrong?¡± Cain could march into a fight with two Level 4 Wave Beasts while carrying explosives that could blow him to pieces with a calm andposed expression on his face, so for something to affect him to that level, it must be awful. ¡°The situation on the northeast position remains the same since both Major Lumar and the Stampedes¡¯ Leader have weakened each other. However, now that our Wave Champion¡¯s battle capabilities are diminished, there is no deterrent for the Horn-me Boar Leader to march into the city.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, and a cold feeling assaulted his heart. If it came to it, they had the power to take care of the Horn-me Boar Leader and its two remaining Level 4 pawns, but they would suffer massive casualties. Vice-Captain Razmun knew that the next battle would be hard but did not find the need to exin or give a reason for them to continue fighting. A soldier must be ready to die on the battlefield if the cause is right, and what better cause than to protect hundreds of thousands of innocent souls? All sorts of ns formed in Lurin¡¯s mind as he attempted to figure out what to do next. The best path forward wasbining a form of siege and guerri warfare, allowing the horde to enter the city and take advantage of the terrain. However, even though that n was impressive, especially for someone so young and with little experience like Lurin, it only improved their chances of sess. There would still be many casualties among the soldiers and cadets. In the end, Lurin could not help but turn toward Cain, hoping this one would have a better n. Cain noticed the hopeful gaze of Lurin, and he indeed had a n. ¡°Make sure everybody gets a good rest. Gather Beelze, Levi, and the soldier squad¡¯s leaders in six hours.¡± Lurin nodded and left, fulfilling thatmand while distributing medicine to the wounded. Cain returned to the battlefield. After some search, he found one of the Level 4 Horn-me Boars. The corpse was scorched, and part of its skull was missing. As for the other, he could not find it. ¡®The C-sts were powerful, but one of them only endured the blow in the side of its body. It most likely had the strength to flee into the forest, but it will be impossible for that beast to enter the battlefield again.¡¯ Cain did not waste too much time worrying about the wounded Level 4 Horn-me Boar and used his right hand to pierce the body of the one that remained on the battlefield. The Blood Refinement Art filled Cain¡¯s body with vitality, mending his wounds and improving his condition. Once he finished with the corpse, he returned to the city and finally got some rest. As soon as Cain woke up, he gathered with Lurin, Levi, Beelze, Jamal, and the other squad leaders. Everybody focused on him, and their eyes glowed with expectation, hoping he would give them another miracle. That sort of pressure could affect anyone, but Cain had limated to themander role incredibly fast and felt extremely calm with everything. ¡®Maybe I led armies in my past life.¡¯ Cain shook his head, not wasting time with unnecessary thoughts, and went straight to the point. ¡°If we don¡¯t do something now, during the next stampede, the horde will attack with all their power, including the Horn-me Boar Leader and the two Level 4 Horn-me Boars that are still alive. I assume all of you understand what will happen then.¡± A somber aura assaulted everybody that heard those words as the image of the bodies of cadets and soldiers spread across the battlefield appeared in their minds. Once Cain saw that everybody understood the danger they faced, he spoke again. ¡°I have a way to solve that, and it is quite simple. A small group will infiltrate the forest, and while the restunch a lightning strike toward the Wave Beasts to draw their attention, they will kill the Horn-me Boar Leader.¡± Silence reigned for a moment as everybody looked at Cain as if he was a madman. Even on the battlefield, with dozens of soldiers firing their Wave Rifles, killing the Horn-me Boar Leader would be a monumental task. Doing it in the beast¡¯s territory, surrounded by its pawns, was simply impossible. Cain saw their expression, but a confident smile appeared as a sh of red light crossed his eyes. Chapter 93 93 Assassination (II) Just the idea of assassinating the Horn-me Boar Leader in its territory should have been outrageous enough for the group to no longer hear anything that came from Cain¡¯s mouth. However, this one had repeatedly proven himself, borating and performing incredibly dangerous ns with massive effects on the battlefield. ¡°The Horn-me Boar Leader is currently harmed and in a weakened state. The beast knows that the other Wave Beasts would perceive any form of weakness as a chance to kill it and take control over its territories. I am confident that the beast isted itself, not allowing anyone to be anywhere near it until it could fight back the effect of the venom on its bloodstream. We can use the fact that the Horn-me Boar Leader put itself into self-istion to kill it.¡± Cain¡¯s words greatly affected the soldier and cadets present, as his n made perfect sense and could indeed work. However, one question in everybody¡¯s mind needed an answer. ¡°Who would enter the forest and perform the assassination?¡± The one that spoke was Jamal, and he expressed the worry in the heart of many of the squad leaders. Soldiers can not refute rational order. Although there would be immense danger and a great chance of death, infiltrating the forest for the opportunity to kill the Horn-me Boar Leader was not an irrational order. If Cainmanded Jamal or any other squad leaders to perform the assassination, they had no choice but to obey. Cain could see the worry in the eyes of the soldiers but did not mock or look down on them for that. The fear of death was something everybody felt, and he was not an exception. ¡°The ones forming the assassination party will be Levi, Beelze, and me.¡± ..... Shock assaulted Lurin and the squad leaders when they heard that. On the other hand, Levi and Beelze stared at Cain for a moment before nodding, epting that task. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should go.¡± ¡°That is right. One of us could take your ce.¡± Lurin and Jamal spoke a second after Cain and immediately attempted to change this one¡¯s mind. Although the duo did not begin on the right foot, the brotherhood of the battlefield was more potent than any minor grievance. It was not that Jamal and Lurin did not trust Cain¡¯s battle power since it was among the best of the southwest battlefield. However, they could not allow themselves to lose such a promisingmander. Cain saw the worry on their faces and showed a small smile before shaking his head. ¡°I am the one with the greatest chance of carving a safe path toward the Horn-me Boar Leader. Levi and Beelze have the highest destructive power, so they are the best choice for an assassination. It must be the three of us, and adding anyone else would only make things harder.¡± Lurin and Jamal saw that there was no way to change Cain¡¯s mind, so they had to follow his guide. ¡°Now, as I said before, your job would be to perform a lightning strike on the horde. You will do it the moment I say it, not a second before and not a secondter. Right when I say it!¡± Cain allowed a sh of red light to emerge from his eyes as he spoke those words, making it clear to Lurin and Jamal just how important timing was. The duo adopted a solemn expression as they nodded, showing that they understood their responsibilities. ¡°Do not get too deep into the forest. Your mission is not killing Wave Beasts but wreaking as much havoc as possible. The more noise you generate, the better. I will inform you once it is over so that you can pull back the soldiers to the city. Levi, Beelze, and I will find it impossible to leave the forest due to the state of the horde, so we will find a hidden ce toy low for the night and return the next day.¡± Cain then focused on Lurin and sent a file to the A.I. Chip of this one. Lurin saw the file with a cadet battle formation with him at the lead. He understood that his responsibilities would be much greater during the next stampede since Cain would not be present. Although taking control of the entire group made him somewhat nervous, it was also what he had wished for a long time. Lurin did not say a word, but the look in his eyes told Cain he would give everything he had on the battlefield. Once the n was finished and everybody knew their role, Lurin called Vice-Captain Razmun and informed him of their next moves. The dwarf was worried about the immense danger in which Cain, Levi, and Beelze would get in, but he also knew what would happen if they did not weaken the horde, so he authorized it. However, Razmun did not just authorize their mission but also sent them a Wave Artifact in the form of a red ring. When Cain saw it, arge smile appeared on his face since he knew the chances of sess grew exponentially. Cain, Levi, and Beelze marched less than an hourter after having packed enough medical supplies and battle drugs. They move to a corner of the forest, far from the horde¡¯s perception, and begin to make their way in. Cain took the lead, using his sense of smell to search for Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s resting ce. As for why he, Levi, and Beelze did not have to worry about some beast picking their scent, it was that their Wave Armors could hide it. The trio moved extremely fast through the forest as they knew time was of the essence, but they were also careful. If the horde were to detect their presence, then forget about killing the Horn-me Boar Leader; it would be a miracle if they could run away alive. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light from the second they entered the forest. He had rested properly, so his brain could endure the pressure of his Ego Wave for the time being without too much bacsh. Levi and Beelze silently followed Cain as this one guided them through the forest, away from the sight of every Wave Beast. Suddenly, they showed some surprise as this one dashed forward. The next second the duo saw Cain¡¯s fingers piercing the skull of a Level 2 Earth Lion, killing the creature instantly before storing the body in his space ring. At first, Levi and Beelze were confused, but then they saw that the only way forward without alerting the bulk of the horde was through the path upied by that Earth Lion. That happened multiple times, with Cain having to borrow Levi and Beelze¡¯s space rings since they could not leave any corpse, or they risked altering the horde. As the trio moved closer to the Horn-me Boar Leader, they noticed that the number of Wave Beasts diminished significantly. That realization made them smile since everything went ording to Cain¡¯s hypothesis. Finally, after almost one hour of running, Cain raised his hand and stopped the other two. His eyes narrowed as he focused on a small cave on the side of a mountain. The Horn-me Boar Leader was in there, and since Cain detected a single scent, he was sure the beast was alone. ¡®Nowes the hard part.¡¯ Cain took a deep breath as that thought crossed his mind. Making their way through a forest with hundreds of Wave Beasts ready to kill them was not easy, but killing the Horn-me Boar Leader before this one could alert anyone was a truly monumental task. ¡®The Horn-me Boar Leader should be a Level 5 Wave Beast. The venom should have weakened its vitality and reflexes, but since it knows that other beasts could attack, it must be ready to fight at any moment.¡¯ Cain looked at the red ring that Razmun gave them, and it was a one-time use Wave Artifact. It would fire a Level 5 Wave Warrior Fireball. Although incredibly powerful, the fireball was very slow, so anyone at Level 5 could easily dodge it. Razmun knew the red ring would not be much help against a strong Level 5 Wave Beasts, but the venom weakened the Horn-me Boar Leader, and it would be up to Cain to figure out a way to use it. Cain focused on the cave and understood why the Horn-me Boar Leader chose it. There was only one way in and out, and its narrow path made it perfect for the beast¡¯s ming charge. However, unknown to the beast, it also provided the perfect terrain to use the red ring. Cain could get near the cave entrance and shoot the fireball, but he immediately shook his head. He decided to save the ring as a trump card in case anything went wrong and carry on with the assassination using his original n. He stared at Levi and Beelze, and a cold expression appeared on their faces. They all understood that failure could mean death. Chapter 94 94 Assassination (III) The Horn-me Boar Leader slept soundly at the back of the cave, but its posture and the way its ears and snout twitched from time to time made it clear it was still fully alert and ready to battle at any time. A scorching heat filled the cave, not because of the Horn-me Boar Leader but due to therge red ores embedded over the walls. They unleashed powerful fire energy, which benefited the Wave Beast. Suddenly the Horn-me Boar Leader opened its eyes as an ominous feeling assaulted its heart, but although it managed to unleash its Life Wave, it could not dodge the dozen ice arrows thatnded on its face. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader shrieked in pain as the ice arrows harmed its eyes and snout, hindering two of the most important senses. That shriek of pain was deafening, and despite the cave being in an isted location, some Wave Beast should have heard it, alerting the entire horde that someone was attacking the Horn-me Boar Leader. However, the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s shriek did not alert anyone since something else had happened just as those ice arrowsnded on its face. ¡°?BOOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Multiple explosions echoed through the forest as the cadets and soldiers unleashed all sorts of loud spells and explosives into the horde, harming many Wave Beasts and making them scream in pain. The Horn-me Boar Leader was not exactly wise, but when it heard the explosion and cries of pain from the horde, it knew that no one woulde to help it, no matter how hard it shrieked. That realization only filled the Wave Beast with resolution and killing intent. ..... Wave Beasts did not live in a structured civilization like humans and faced thew of the jungle from the moment they were born. The Horn-me Boar Leader had faced countless life-and-death fights over its life, and it kept rising until it became a mighty Level 5 Wave Beast. The Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s horn began to glow, and zing mes covered its body as it stomped the ground, ready to march forward. Even if the ice arrows had temporarily hindered its sense of sight and smell, its body fitted perfectly in the cave, so its ming charge would strike anything in front of it. However, just as the Horn-me Boar Leader was about to march forward, it noticed that two individuals dashed toward it. If it was at full power, the Wave Beast could have handled the duo, but powerful venom still ran through its bloodstream, greatly restricting its physical might. Once again, the Horn-me Boar Leader could not dodge the attack, and two fistsnded on its throat, one on the right side and the other on the left. Cain and Levi attacked simultaneously, each having charged that right fist to the Horn-me Boar Leader with all the power they could muster. The duo¡¯s punches not onlynded at the same time, proving their outstanding teamwork but also enhanced the destructive might of the other. Levi¡¯s punch had a massive amount of explosive power that burst the moment itnded, pushing the Horn-me Boar Leader to the other side and helping Cain¡¯s lightning fist pierce even deeper into the flesh. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader shrieked even louder this time. A st destroyed a part of its neck while a lightning arm pierced into its neck, burning all the blood crossing through it. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he put as much energy as possible into the lightning flooding the inside of the Wave Beast¡¯s neck. If he could keep it like that for just twenty seconds, it would be enough to end the life of the Horn-me Boar Leader, but this one would not justy down and wait for death. After unleashing that agonizing shriek, the Horn-me Boar Leader clenched its teeth and charged toward the left, trying to m Cain against the cave¡¯s wall. Cain acted fast, taking his arm off the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s neck before moving back, avoiding having his body crushed between the wall and the Wave Beast¡¯s body. The Horn me Boar Leader felt weak as the wounds made the effect of the venom on its body re up, but that did not stop it from making his Life Wave burst, increasing the might of its mes. It had already regained full use of its sight and could see the two humans in front of it. Although it could still charge forward, they were too close and would fail to generate enough momentum. If it was at Level 4, there was nothing else it could do but the Horn-me Boar Leader had reached Level 5. Its eyes glowed with bestial might as its mes began topress around its body. Levi and Cain narrowed their eyes as they saw that and knew what woulde next. Luckily, they had prepared, immediately moving back. ¡°ROAR!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader roared as all the mes denselypressed around its body burst out, flooding the cave. The Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s zing mes were about to reach Levi and Cain when an ice wall formed in front of them. It did not endure for long, shattering after less than a second, but took the brunt of the mes¡¯ power. The attack just pushed Cain and Levi back a few meters, leaving a few burn marks in their armor but without really wounding them. Immense rage appeared in the Horn-me Boar Leader as it saw that the duo survived one of its most powerful attacks. It focused on the distance and saw a woman looking back at it. Beelze¡¯s breathing was ragged, making it clear how much energy she put into those twost spells. She was a new Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior, so it was impressive for her ice arrows to harm a Level 5 Wave Beast. And the ice wall she conjured was even more powerful, having drained a significant amount of her Essence Wave. However, despite her exhaustion, Beelze made her Essence Wave burst again as she put her hand on the ground, using it as a conduit to trigger her spell right in front of the Wave Beast. The Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s eyes widened as it saw massive ice spikes emerging from the ground and moving toward it. ¡°ROAR.¡± It roared again, increasing the might of its mes and stomping against the ice spikes, shattering them to pieces. Unfortunately for the Horn-me Boar Leader, while it took care of the threat, Levi unleashed a st from the sole of his feet that drove him forward as he increased the explosive might of his mes and used his entire body like a battering ram. Levi¡¯s body shed against the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s face, pushing the beast back and disorienting it. Cain did not lose that opportunity. He dashed forward an instant after Levi, and a massive amount of Astral Wave and lightning coated his right leg. He jumped toward the Horn-me Boar Leader and connected a downward kick on the top of the beast¡¯s head. That kick impact caused brain trauma to the Horn-me Boar Leader, and to make things worse, the lightning affected its nervous system. The threat of death made the Horn-me Boar Leader go mad, and it began to roar as it made the mes covering its body go wild, trying to push away the duo that was harming it. Cain and Levi saw those zing mes, but instead of moving away, they made their Astral Wave explode with all the power they had left, choosing to carry on with their attack. Levi¡¯s Lineage granted him a certain level of fire resistance, while Cain used the Nullity Armor¡¯s special ability to nullify 35% of the damage of those mes. Still, while they endured the fire, it would notst long, so they needed to be quick. Levi grabbed the Wave Beast¡¯s horn and used all his strength to immobilize it while Cain put his legs around the beast¡¯s neck and began to punch the back of its head. Less than a second after the duo began with their final bash, the heat in the cave reached an unbearable level, but a st of frozen air emerged from beneath the Horn-me Boar Leader, helping them. Cain and Levi did not look away, but a smile appeared on their faces as they knew that Beelze was using all her power to help them fight back against the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s zing mes. Levi¡¯s muscles bulged as he used all his strength to immobilize the Horn-me Boar Leader while Cain ferociously punched. Cain¡¯s punches had immense strength as he used 800% Wave Burst, and the lightning coating them granted tremendous prating force. The back of the Horn-me Boar Leader was a bloody mess, but he kept striking with more and more power. ¡°Crack!¡± A cracking sound echoed through the cave, making arge smile appear on Cain, Beelze, and Levi. That crack excited them so much because it came from the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s skull! Chapter 95 95 Am I strong? Cain¡¯s eyes showed a burst of killing intent that grew more ferociousbined with the red light in them. He pushed his Wave Burst to an even higher percentage before focusing almost all of his Astral Wave into his arms, leaving just enough for the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s mes to not kill him on the spot. Cain intertwined his fingers, forming a hammer with his hands before bringing it down on the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s skull. ¡°CRACK!¡± The cracking was even stronger as the fractures on the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s skull grewrger. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Horn-me Boar Leader screamed in agony, having already lost the ability to think. It attempted to run away with all its strength, but someone firmly grabbed its horn, immobilizing it. Cain felt his legs burning despite the protection of his Nullity Armor, but the red light on his eyes only grew stronger as he kept hammering on the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s skull. Finally, after the fifteenth strike, Cain¡¯s fists broke the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s skull, allowing his hands to reach the beast¡¯s brain, where he unleashed a st of lightning, consuming almost all of his Astral Wave. Levi felt his arms would break at any moment due to the immense pressure they endured by holding down the Horn-me Boar Leader, but then he saw the beast tremble for a moment before losing all of its strength. Arge smile appeared as he saw the light vanish from the beast¡¯s eyes. ¡°Levi!¡± ..... However, Levi did not have time to rx as Cain¡¯s shout reached him, and he knew what to do. He jumped onto the beast¡¯s head and grabbed Cain¡¯s body before throwing this one with all his strength toward the cave¡¯s exit. Cain moved through the air as his body lost the protection of his Wave Cloak and the Nullity Armor¡¯s ability. The Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s mes burned his legs so much that they could barely work. Even if the Horn-me Boar Leader had perished, its mes were still active. Cain might have died if he had remained on top of the beast after his Astral Wave drained. Levi used all his strength to throw Cain toward the cave¡¯s exit. Still, instead of crashing against the hard ground, a gentle embrace caught Cain. Cain felt Beelze¡¯s aroma, and he smiled. He wanted nothing more than to rest in this embrace right now, but his eyes still glowed with red light. They were in enemy territory, and the dangers were far from over. Beelze did not say a word before putting Cain on her back and shing toward the cave¡¯s exit. Levi saw the duo shing away without him but did not say anything to that. They needed to leave this ce fast and were slower than him, so waiting made no sense. He was also ready to run, but before that, he threw several bodies out of his space ring before sending the Horn-me Boar Leader into it. Beelze exited the cave, and as she looked into the distance, she heard the sound of explosions and fighting growing weaker and weaker. The instant the Horn-me Boar Leader perished, Cain sent themand for Lurin to retreat. Although returning to Korin City would have been the best, raging Wave Beasts filled the entire periphery of the forest, and it was impossible to pass through without alerting them. The only path was to head deeper into the forest and find a secluded ce where they could rest until things calmed down. Of course, moving blindingly into the forest would be extremely dangerous, but Cain had already studied the ce¡¯s geography and marked several locations where they could spend the night. ¡°Eight o¡¯clock. Advance for nine hundred meters until finding a small river, then follow its current north.¡± Beelze did not hesitate before following Cain¡¯s guide and shed into the forest at full speed. She moved incredibly fast despite having to carry someone. Her eyes narrowed as she felt a presence approach her, but she rxed when she saw it was Levi. The duo nodded to each other before shing forward with all their strength. They followed Cain¡¯s instructions and soon reached the river. The trio changed their paths more than once since Cain detected packs of Wave Beasts in the surrounding area. Although those beasts were not strong, with most at Level 2 or 3, none were in a condition to fight. Cain could barely move, and Levi¡¯s arms did not stop trembling due to the torn muscles. Although Beelze was a little better, she had almost no Essence Wave left, and unlike the duo, she could not rely on just her body to fight. It took them around three hours before the trio finally reached their destination. Ake formed at the bottom of a cascade carrying toxic waters. Although hiding in a ce like this might seem stupid, as they would get sick, the water¡¯s toxins were not that potent. They could affect Level 2 Wave Beast at most, but the scent kept all beasts away, making it perfect forying low. Cain, Levi, and Beelze took some of the drugs they had prepared for this trip, one of which would counter any negative effects of the toxins before diving into theke. Of course, the trio did not just n to rest at the bottom of a poisonke. ording to Cain¡¯s research, there was an underground cavern in it, and they nned to use it. It did not take long for the trio to find the entrance to the cavern. Beelze gentlyy Cain down on the ground as this one retracted his Wave Armor. When Levi and Beelze saw the state of Cain¡¯s legs, shock appeared in their eyes. They knew that Cain used his legs to hold onto the me-Horn Boar Leader¡¯s neck so he could use his arms freely, but they had no idea he would suffer so much damage. The flesh and muscles around Cain¡¯s thighs were scorched, and the pain he must have endured during that time should have been excruciating. Cain saw the expression on the duo¡¯s faces and smiled before shaking his head. ¡°Using Ego Wave, I can diminish to a certain measure my sense of pain. Besides, it is not as bad as it looks since I have been tempering my body with enormous vitality over thest few days.¡± Levi and Beelze nodded as they heard that, but secretly, they could not help but think of the rapid evolution of Cain¡¯s character. From the moment he entered that trance state in his battle against Wink, he had been growing faster and faster. ¡°Oh, right. You could use it!¡± Levi shouted as he remembered how Cain always used his blood technique after the battles. He waved his hand, making the body of the Horn-me Boar Leader appear next to Cain. Cain¡¯s smile grew wider as he saw Levi taking out the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s body. A Level 5 Wave Beast was valuable, but Levi did not hesitate to take it out if it could help him. Cain did not waste time since even if his wounds were not deadly, they severely restricted his battle power, which put all of them in danger. He used the Astral Wave he had regained over thest few hours to enhance his right arm before piercing the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s body until reaching the heart. The vitality Cain could draw from the Horn-me Boar Leader was almost twice as potent as the oneing from the Level 4 Horn-me Boar. Levi and Beelze remained silent as Cain used his technique, and surprise appeared in their eyes as they saw that in just twenty minutes, the scorched skin on his legs began to fall off before being reced by a new one. ¡°Incredible. What an amazing technique you have.¡± Levi could not help but say as he saw the power of Cain¡¯s technique. It would still take hours for Cain¡¯s thighs to heal fully, but the speed at which he did it was still amazing. Cain just smiled and chose not toment. The Blood Refinement Art was potent, but it had such a remarkable effect because he used his Ego Wave. It allowed him to increase his proficiency, improving the amount of energy he obtained while at the same time focusing solely on his legs instead of his entire body. ¡°I will take the first watch.¡± Beelze and Cain nodded toward Levi, and they saw him diving back into theke and moving to the shore. Not because this ce wasmonly empty and Wave Beasts avoided it meant that they could lower their guard. Beelze did not waste time and rested on the ground, rxing and falling asleep fast. Cain smiled as he saw Beelze¡¯s sleeping face. He also wanted to rest but could not do it before finishing with the Horn-me Boar Leader. Aplicated expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he looked at the massive body of the Level 5 Wave Beasts that he killed with his own hands. ¡®Am I strong?¡¯ Chapter 96 96 Change of ns ¡®Am I strong?¡¯ That was a crucial question for Cain, as it involved a core belief. For him, power was everything. With it, he would never feel hopeless, like when the Atrox God fired that spell against the Imperial Lightning Fort, or impotent against injustice like with Sr Jones. For most people, power was a means to a goal, but Cain¡¯s mind worked differently. His goal was to obtain such a monstrous power he would not have to wish for anything, as he could do it all. So strong that nothing could stop him, and he could destroy every obstacle in his path. Power on its own was neither good nor bad, and it depended on the hands of the user. A righteous man would bring forth a period of justice, while a wicked man would unleash a wave of sin and corruption. Cain was not so narcissistic as to believe he would be a champion of justice after gaining enough power, but he was sure that he would butcher all evil in his path. Giving their entire heart and soul to a cause was hard for humans, but it was much easier against something. Cain focused on the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s face and saw its rage and resentment. ¡®You believe yourself to have been strong, ruling over thousands of Wave Beasts and controlling arge territory, but in reality, you were nothing more than a small fish in an even smaller pond. Your desire to grow stronger must have stagnated long ago, so the moment you entered arger yfield, you were doomed.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes became cold as he engraved the face of the Horn-me Boar Leader in his mind, reminding himself never to be content with his current power. There would always be a higher mountain and a stronger monster. ..... The mental pain kept growing as he used his Ego Wave more, but Cain did not stop and continued using his Blood Refinement Art with the Level 5 Wave Beast¡¯s blood. ¡°Ahhhhh.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that feral roar. It had great power but was so distant that it lost most of its might when it reached the cavern. Beelze also woke up, and her body grew tense, ready to fight at any second. It was an involuntary response since, over thest few days, a long period of fighting would begin every time she heard that roar. ¡°You should go back to rest. We already did our part, taking out the Horn-me Boar Leader, which would make everything easier for Lurin and the others. Even if we wanted to join the battlefield, we are not in a condition to fight.¡± Beelze turned to the side after hearing those words. The calm andposed expression on Cain¡¯s face rxed her heart, and she nodded before going back to sleep. Cain saw that Beelze fell to sleep again, and the calm expression on his face vanished, reced by a cold and pragmatic one. Ideally, killing the Horn-me Boar Leader would generate a massive effect on the southwest battlefield, considerably weakening the might of the horde. Still, things did not always go ording to n. Although Cain wanted to know what happened on the battlefield, he could not distract Lurin amidst a battle, so he would have to wait until tonight¡¯s stampede was over. Suddenly, an expression of utter agony appeared on Cain¡¯s face as his mental pain from using his Ego Wave grew too high. He was forced to deactivate it, or else the pain would make him lose consciousness. As the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes vanished, he also took his hand out of the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s body before using lightning to cauterize the wound, preventing any blood loss. Cain could still use his Blood Refinement Art without the assistance of his Ego Wave, but the effect would be subpar at best. It was better to rest and carry on when he was better. The fact he could not freely use his Ego Wave bothered Cain a lot. If he reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, there would be no drawbacks, and he could use his Ego Wave without worries. Unfortunately, there was nothing Cain could do about it since enlightenment over his true nature was not something he could force. Cain closed his eyes and went into a deep state of sleep. Beelze and Levi were taking guard, and he had the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool keeping surveince, so there was no need to be on high alert. He was exhausted, so he fell asleep very fast. ¡°Ahhhh.¡± Another feral roar reached the cavern, waking Cain up. He knew that meant the stampede was over, and he could finally ask about the situation on the southwest battlefield. ¡°How did it go?¡± Cain went straight to the point the moment he was able to establishmunication with Lurin. His face was stern as he prepared for everything. ¡°It went great!¡± Lurin did not hide his thrill as he answered Cain¡¯s question. Cain rxed, and he took a deep breath. He still needed details, but Lurin¡¯s words and tone of voice made it clear that nothing terrible had happened. ¡°borate.¡± ¡°Yes! Without the Horn-me Boar Leader, the ones that took the lead in the southwest battlefield were the two Level 4 Horn-me Boars. There were problems with the horde from the beginning since it seemed both Level 4 Wave Beasts wanted absolute control over the pawns, causing them to split into two groups. The horde¡¯s march was wild and unorganized, even for Wave Beasts, and neither of the Level 4 Horn-me Boars dared to enter the battlefield. Maybe, they were worried about suffering some injury and that the other would take advantage of that. We were able to kill hundreds of Wave Beasts, and although some were wounded, no one had to leave the battlefield. It was a great night!¡± Lurin could not be happier with the oue. Last night was the first time he truly took control of the soldiers and cadets, and everything went great. Of course, the scion knew thatparing the current horde with the ones they faced under Cain¡¯s leadership was likeparing a mighty tiger with a starving hyena. Both were depredators, but the imposing might and strength of one could not hold a candle to the other. Cain nodded as he heard Lurin¡¯s words, and it made sense that the Level 4 Horn-me Boars would behave like that. In the military, there was a strict chain ofmand; if a superior perished, there was always someone ready to take the leadership role. However, you could not expect that level of organization from Wave Beasts, and that w proved deadly on the battlefield. Although the internal fight between the Wave Beasts was great for Lurin and the soldiers protecting Korin City, it was not good for Cain, Levi, and Beelze. Both Level 4 Horn-me Boars must be wary of the other and ready to fight, meaning that both sides are on high alert at every moment. Cain knew that something like this could happen if he killed the Horn-me Boar Leader, but it was a small price to pay. ¡°How did things go on the northeast battlefield?¡± Of all the battlefields besides the southwest, the one that mattered the most to Cain was the northeast, which had Major Luma. ¡°I did not get a detailed report, but it seems that everything went as usual. Major Luma and the Stampedes¡¯ Leader fought the entire night, but none could overwhelm the other.¡± ¡°I see. If everything goes well, we will leave this forest in the night and rejoin you as you face the horde. Keep me informed of any change in the city.¡± ¡°?Yes!¡± Cain shut down themunication channel before turning toward the Horn-me Boar Leader. He used his hand to pierce the beast¡¯s body and activated his Ego Wave and Blood Refinement Art. The sound of water drew Cain¡¯s attention, and he saw Beelze climb into the cavern. She and Levi changed turns of surveince while Cain was sleeping. ¡°We will wait until the night to move. The forest is in turmoil right now, and it would be dangerous to move through it, besides I still need a few more hours before being battle ready.¡± Levi and Beelze nodded when they heard those words. Originally they were supposed to leave now, but both of them hadplete trust in Cain¡¯s ns, and if he said they had to wait, they would wait. Cain gained the duo¡¯s confidence through his hard work and wless ns. Since they would not leave immediately, Beelze went to rest, and Levi returned to the shore. Cain did not participate in the surveince since he needed to focus all his strength on healing as fast as possible. Three hours after waking up, he drained every drop of the Horn-me Boar Leader¡¯s blood, forcing him to use the bodies of other Wave Beasts in his space ring. Although the weaker Wave Beasts¡¯ energy could notpare in quality or quantity to that of the Horn-me Boar Leader, they were better than any drug or medicine he had. By the time night was approaching, Cain¡¯s legs had fully healed. Although he still had other wounds on his body, they could not hinder his battle power. Chapter 97 97 True nature Cain, Beelze, and Levi calmly waited inside the cavern for the signal. The trio could already deploy their full battle power. Although the first was still wounded, those would not affect him in a fight. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± The feral roar from the Stampedes¡¯ Leader made a sharp light appear in the trio¡¯s eyes. It meant that the Wave Beasts in the forest would leave for Korin City, generating openings in the forest¡¯s periphery that they could use to escape. Beelze and Levi were about to rush out when they saw Cain raise his hand, stopping them. They were confused by the solemn expression on his face. Cain knew the duo was confused, and he could not give them a proper exnation. He stopped them because he felt something terrible would happen very soon. It was an instinct and had no objective evidence, but he knew that a Wave Cultivator should never ignore his instincts. ¡°You two wait here. I will go alone first and explore the path we will take. I need to be fast and silent; more people would make things harder.¡± Levi and Beelze frowned when they heard that. It was clear that something was wrong, and Cain wanted to go alone so they would be safe. However, it was also true that he would be better off moving on his own if the task was solely exploration. Although the duo knew it would be dangerous for Cain to go alone, they also knew that they would not be able to change his mind, so they only nodded. ¡°Be careful.¡± ..... Cain showed a small smile as he heard Beelze¡¯s words and nodded before leaving the toxicke. He immediately found the best path out of the forest and shed in that direction. Now that Cain did not have to worry about the presence of anyone else, his speed reached an impressive level despite hiding his aura. His sense of smell and [Basic Scan Force Field] gave him a good understanding of his surroundings, allowing him to move even faster. The more Cain saw of the forest, the more rxed his heart became. The number of Wave Beasts had decreased immensely as almost all formed part of the horde assaulting Korin City, making the path out of the forest a straightforward journey. Cain began to smile as the ominous feeling assaulting his heart grew weaker the closer he got to the forest exit. ¡®I might have been overreacting. That sinister presence weakened more and more. It must have been because the horde left the forest... WAIT!¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes widened as a thought crossed his mind. It was entirely possible that the sinister feeling assaulting Cain¡¯s heart vanished because the horde left the forest. Yet, it could also be because he got away from the ce where that ominous event would happen. ¡°?Boom!¡± Cain had not even finished his thought when an explosion echoed through the forest. He turned to the origin and saw it came from the toxicke where Levi and Beelze were hiding. Cain was trying to process what was happening when two messages reached him through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Run... Korin City... Dark Race¡¯s warrior.¡± The first one to reach him was Levi¡¯s, and there was a great deal of interference. ¡°Leave the forest...¡± Beelze¡¯s message was also ragged; after a second, thest part reached him. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Thatst word made Cain¡¯s body tremble, and he felt like something squeezed his heart. His blood began to burn as his Astral Wave exploded with power, and he shed at full speed toward theke. Cain¡¯s eyes began to glow with red light as his Ego Wave, the embodiment of his willpower, burst with all its force. He did not bother to hide his presence and pushed his Wave Burst to 900%, the highest percentage possible, increasing his speed more and more. Even in that state, Cain did not lose focus and sent a message to Lurin and Razmun, informing the duo of the Dark Races¡¯ warrior in the forest. He knew the enemy must have some sort of jamming device, so he had to do it before it was toote. Lurin and Razmun were shocked by that information and attempted tomunicate with Cain, but he had no time for them and focused on running faster. ¡°Are you sure of this?¡± Cain could ignore the messages of everybody else but not of the entity that resided inside his soul. Apex, who had remained silent for most of this journey, spoke again. The System Spirit spent most of his time increasing his knowledge and collecting information for Cain, but he was aware of everything. ¡°They ask you to leave because they know there is no way for them to survive. If you go there, the only thing that awaits you is death.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t abandon my friends!¡± Cain shouted back and kept running faster and faster. ¡°Those who abandon their friends are the worst type of garbage, but you are not doing that. Leaving now would be following their wish for you to live.¡± Unlike Cain, Apex spoke withplete calmness and had absolute certainty in his voice. Cain¡¯s body trembled again when he heard Apex¡¯s words. He knew Levi and Beelze wanted him to exit the forest and find refuge in Korin City, but he could not just leave them. ¡°I already told you before. This world is not a fairy tale and doesn¡¯t allow heroes. The only thing you will gain by going to that ce would be dying. All the good you could do, all the people you could save, all will be lost because you can¡¯t make the tough choice. ¡± Cain clenched his fists as he heard Apex¡¯s words. He knew they were right but could not ept it. ¡°The truth is that your friends have already perished. You going there would only dy things a few moments, but the final oue would remain the same.¡± Cain¡¯s body froze, and a sense of loss appeared on his face. The red light in his eyes began to act erratically, indicating the chaotic state in which his willpower found itself. ¡®It is happening again.¡¯ Cain realized that he once again found himself in a situation where he was powerless to change things, just like when Sr Jones forced him to run and leave those two soldiers to die. However, things were much worse now since the ones that would die were people he truly cared about. The erratic state of the red light in Cain¡¯s eyes only grew stronger, and it seemed it would shatter at any second. Just as the chaotic state of his willpower reached its zenith, something happened. Cain¡¯s body stopped trembling, and he began to smile. He looked toward the toxicke, and his doubt and fear began to vanish. ¡°Apex, you say this world doesn¡¯t allow heroes, right?¡± The System Spirit was surprised to hear those words from Cain in a moment like this. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You are wrong!¡± For the first time since they met, Cain tantly refuted the System Spirit¡¯s words. Apex was shocked to hear that and even more as he saw that the erratic red light in Cain¡¯s eyes became calm. ¡°I have wondered for a long time about my true nature. I knew what I wanted to do, but the ideas of others, the cruelty of this world, and even my own prejudice affected my mind, stopping me from embarking on that path, but no more.¡± The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes grew stronger, surpassing its previous level and finally evolving. ¡°I don¡¯t care if people mock me or call me naive. I will be a hero!¡± Cain shouted those words from the tops of his lungs, making sure the entire world would know it. And as he did that, his Ego Eternal Matrix grew stronger, finally achieving a level where he could use his Ego Wave without limitation or bacsh. Now that Cain found his true nature, he reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power! ¡°?Boom!¡± A small st urred as Cain shed forward, reaching a speed almost three times faster than his previous limit! Cain¡¯s Ego Wave enhanced his speed of thought and cognitive abilities but did not directly improve his physical capabilities. However, it did enhance his control over his Astral Wave and his dominion over the Four Basic Wave Arts to an outrageous level. Right now, Cain¡¯s Wave Burst reached 1500%, and he concentrated every iota of Astral Wave into his legs using Wave Focus. It did not end there since the lightning arcs around his body were even stronger due to his wless Wave Transmutation. Such a massive output of Astral Wave would usually mean that your energy would drain extremely fast. Nevertheless, Cain¡¯s Synergy Flow was so powerful that it diminished the amount lost over time, allowing him to keep it longer. The abilities Cain was showing right now could allow him to face a full-power Horn-Fame Boar Leader alone! ¡®Hold on. I aming!¡¯ Chapter 98 98 I am here now Beelze jumped back and generated an ice shield in front of her just as a figure crashed into the ce where she was a second ago. The impact was so strong that it generated shock waves that reached the ice shield, shattering it to pieces. The shield saved Beelze from the shock waves, and as it shattered, she gained an unobstructed view of the enemy. Of all the Dark Races¡¯ warriors she could be facing, the one in front was the worst type. The enemy was arge man, more than two meters tall, covered with de armor. He was a member of the Atrox Immortus Race! All sorts of deadly wounds covered the Atrox¡¯s body. There were gaping holes in his legs and deepcerations that reached the bones. The worst injury of all was the one in the center of his chest, resembling a burning fist imprint that had left a deep indentation, surely having provoked massive internal damage. A fraction of those wounds would have been enough to kill a Level 7 Wave Warrior, yet the Atrox could keep fighting. It was clear just how formidable he was. Not all injuries in the Atrox¡¯s body were old. A new one manifested in the form of an ice sheet that froze the muscles and bones in the left arm, incapacitating it. That wound was left by Beelze when she utilized her trump card. As the scion of a powerful Noble Family, she had artifacts and treasures that could save her life, but unless it was absolutely necessary, she never nned to use them. If she were to rely on external power, then that would defeat the purpose of her joining the military academy. Of course, when faced with a monster like the Atrox in front of her, Beelze did not hesitate for a moment before activating her trump card, firing an extremely powerful frost missile. Beelze had intended for the frost missile tond on the Atrox¡¯s head, which could have killed this one, but while the spell was faster than the enemy, she was not. ..... By the time Beelze had aimed and fired the spells, the Atrox had already moved, making the frost missilend on his left arm instead of his head. The Atrox¡¯s golden eyes showed a single intent as he stared at the woman in front of him. Kill. He was not using his Wave and simply relying on his physical might, yet that was enough to pressure Beelze to death¡¯s door. Just as the Atrox was about to dash toward Beelze, his eyes narrowed, and he noticed a young man jumping toward him with massive explosive power gathered on the right fist. Levi had several wounds all over his body, left due to his physical shes with the Atrox. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes since he had already hardened his heart for this to be his final battlefield. There was an immense amount of Astral Wave in his right fist, and he had also used his special ability, which allowed him to charge it with explosive power that would detonate on impact. Due to his position, the Atrox could not dodge that fist. There was no worry in his eyes as he raised his right palm and slightly bent his knees. ¡°?BOOM!¡± An explosion echoed through the forest when Levi¡¯s fist collided with the Atrox¡¯s palm, but before the mes could disperse, a kicknded on his stomach. Levi felt that kick would make a hole in his stomach. It made him puke blood while sending him flying through the air. The Atrox¡¯s right hand trembled for a moment due to the explosion, but his expression remained the same as he focused ahead and used his arm and legs to shatter the barrage of ice spearsing his way. Beelze clenched his teeth as he fired those projectiles with all her strength, but the Atrox was not only able to shatter them all with his right arm and legs, but he began to move forward slowly, narrowing the distance between them. ¡°AHHH!¡± Beelze shouted as she pushed her Essence Wave to the limit, increasing the power of her projectiles. The enhanced strength of the projectiles hindered the Atrox¡¯s advance, but that did notst for long. His golden eyes grew resolute as he conjured his Wave Cloak. An expression of agony appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face when he used that small amount of Astral Wave, but he endured it. His power reached the level where Beelze¡¯s projectiles were like pieces of paper. The Atrox easily shattered all the projectiles as he dashed forward, but before he could reach Beelze, Levi moved back into the fray. An annoyed expression appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face as he saw that human interfering with his n again. He clenched his right fist and struck forward. The Atrox was aware that the power in his right punch would be enough to shatter Levi¡¯s fist, but just as they were about to collide, he saw the human open his hand. Levi knew there was no way he could win a direct confrontation now that the Atrox activated a Wave Cloak, so instead of going for a sh of fists, he unleashed a sea of mes toward the Atrox. Levi smiled as he saw the mes consuming the Atrox, but that did notst long as a fist emerged from the fire. He was barely able to raise his guard before the attacknded. ¡°AHHH!¡± He could not help but release a scream of pain as that punch almost broke his arms, sending him flying away, crashing against many trees on his path. A sense of dizziness assaulted Levi¡¯s mind, but the threat of death drove him back to reality as he saw the Atroxing down from the sky, about to crash on him. With the momentum that the Atrox¡¯s body carried, Levi knew that crash would be enough to kill him. Luckily for Levi, before the Atrox couldnd, dozens of ice pirs rose from the ground and charged against this one. The Atrox¡¯s dash was able to shatter the pirs on his path, but it dyed this one long enough for Levi to unleash explosions from the sole of his feet, pushing him away from danger. Beelze¡¯s face was pale and bleeding from her eyes and mouth due to the immense pressure that such a powerful spell generated on her body. ¡®We have only fought for a few minutes, and I already feel my body so heavy that I can barely move it.¡¯ That thought just appeared on Beelze¡¯s mind when she saw the Atrox focusing on her and how the small amount of Astral Wave on his body morphed into arcs of ck lightning. A feeling of doom assaulted Beelze as she saw the Atrox using that ck lightning, and she raised her hand, intending to use all her power in the next spell. However, before Beelze could even charge her spell, the Atrox vanished from her sight. Beelze¡¯s eyes widened, and she immediately generated rows of ice shields around her. They should have been strong enough to stop the Atrox, but she only detected a shattering sound before a w charged with ck lightning shed toward her heart. There was nothing Beelze could do to stop that attack, and it had the power to kill her on the stop. As she felt deathing closer and closer, the image of a man appeared in her mind, making a small smile appear on her face. Even in death, Beelze would face everything with her eyes wide open. That is how she saw a figure bathed covered in arcs of blue lightning sh against the Atrox, sending this one flying away and saving her life. A sense of utter disbelief assaulted Beelze¡¯s mind as she stared at the one that managed to push that monster away and save her life. ¡°Cain.¡± Beelze uttered that word, and her heartbeat began to rise as she saw that man standing between her and the Atrox as if telling her that he would protect her. ¡°I am sorry for taking so long, but I am here now.¡± Cain showed a small smile as he spoke to Beelze, but his eyes never left the Atrox. A singlepse of attention against an enemy like that would mean death. As he stared at the Atrox and focused on all the wounds, hemanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan this one. If the Atrox were at full power, his Astral Wave alone would unleash radiation hindering the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] tool. Still, in his current state, he could not stop the Absolute Life Form System from scanning him. It did not take long for the Absolute Life Form System to show the Atrox¡¯s stats to Cain, and when this one saw them, he clenched his fist. ¡®It is even worse than I imagined.¡¯ Cain¡¯s willpower had reached an impressive level after the rise to the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but the data that the virtual screen was enough reason for his solemn attitude. [Target scan sessful ¡ª Race: Atrox Immortus Race Lineage: ??? Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) ¡ª Stats: Strength: ?? (4.1) Agility: ?? (2.9) Vitality: ?? (1.1) Astral Wave: ?? ¡ª Note: Target¡¯s vitality is feeble, and there are severe internal wounds, making him only able to express a fraction of his power.] Chapter 99 99 Fighting an Atrox Wave Champion (I) Cain took a deep breath as he focused on the Atrox, blocking everything else. He went through all the information that the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] tool gave him about his enemy, including the condition of the body and inner organs. ¡®Of all the Atrox¡¯s wounds, the worst is in his Rebirth Heart. The damage is so massive that it can no longer release its Astral Wave without worsening its state. There are also injuries in his legs that greatly limit his speed.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes were cold as he nned how to make the most of the information the system recollected. Things did not end there, as he came up with another idea. ¡®Apex, can you use the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool to show me a live simtion of the Atrox¡¯s next move?¡¯ Usually, [Basic Virtual Simtion] could only be used before the fight as Cain¡¯s mind could not work fast enough to see the simtion and act on it during a battle. However, his current speed of thought was much faster than his body, so there was a chance his n could work. Of course, that was only on the premise that the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool could predict the Atrox¡¯s movements fast enough. Apex understood the severity of the situation and provided Cain with every bit of help possible. ¡°An hour ago, the [A.I. Chip Module] power would not have been enough to fulfill that task, but now that you reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, things have changed.¡± Cain understood the meaning of Apex¡¯s words. Unlike the other modules, the [A.I. Chip Module] power depended on the strength of his soul, and since his willpower is part of his soul, a rise on the Ego Eternal Path of Power helped this one. After a second, Cain saw a small transparent screen appear in the right corner of his vision. It showed the Atrox, but this image was a virtual simtion that would predict his movements. ..... Since the Atrox was an intelligent life form, the simtion predictions would not be wless, but they would still help Cain immensely. Just like Cain was analyzing the Atrox, this one also did the same with his enemy. Cain¡¯s kick pushed the Atrox almost twenty meters away from Beelze but did minor damage, so this one remained standing without a problem. The Atrox¡¯s eyes widened as he detected that the human in front of him was a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, and the reason for the immense Astral Waveing from this one was an outrageous Wave Burst. A sh of enlightenment appeared in the Atrox¡¯s eyes as he noticed the red lighting from Cain¡¯s eyes. Although he attempted to hide it, envy appeared on his face. Suddenly, the Atrox¡¯s face contorted in agony, and a horrible pain forced him to rescind his Astral Wave, as his Rebirth Heart could not endure the pressure. The loss of the Wave Cloak drastically reduced the Atrox¡¯s physical might, but this one still had more than enough brute strength to make every punch deadly. Like Cain, the Atrox took a deep breath, and his eyes grew colder and sharp. He considered the human in front of him a proper opponent, unlike the other two, which were just pests in his mind. Cain saw the Atrox walking toward him, not wasting any time with meaningless words, which worked perfectly for him. Even though his Synergy helped him diminish the amount of Astral Wave used, he was still employing a 1500% Wave Burst, so his energy pool would deplete very soon. Blue lightning coated Cain¡¯s arms and legs, and that same power reinforced his nervous system, allowing his reaction speed to reach an impressive level. The Atrox, on the other hand, had no ability activated, but he had tempered every part of his body. The Goodyer Human and the Immortus Atrox walked toward the other withplete calm and serenity, showing no sign that they were about to enter a life-and-death battle. The instant they were at arm¡¯s length, they burst into battle, attacking with pure killing intent. The sole goal in their hearts was to kill the other. Cain saw the Atrox firing a blow toward his head with enough power to shatter every bone. While his speed of thought allowed him to see that attack, that did not mean his body would be fast enough to dodge it. Luckily, Cain had already predicted the Atrox¡¯s attack, thanks to the virtual simtion in the corner of his vision. That allowed him to move his head before the Atrox even fired the attack, allowing him to dodge the blow narrowly. The Atrox¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the human dodging his attack. He was much faster than his enemy, yet this one still managed to evade his fist, and things did not end there. Cain moved forward, sending a kick with all his strength toward the Atrox¡¯s right knee. Although Cain¡¯s strength was formidable for a Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior, that kickcked the brute power to harm the Atrox. However, Cain¡¯s kicknded on one of the many gaping holes in the Atrox¡¯s right leg. By taking advantage of the old wounds, Cain¡¯s attack weakened the Atrox¡¯s bnce. The Atrox felt his right leg bending when another kicknded on his jaw. Like before, Cain¡¯s attackcked brute power but managed to shake the Atrox¡¯s brain slightly. The Atrox¡¯s vision grew blurry for a moment, hindering his ability to react, and before he could get hold of himself, he felt a heavy blownd on his chest, right on top of his heart, that sent him flying away. His eyes regained their focus mid-fly, allowing the Atrox tond on his feet, but there was a sense of confusion and shock on his face. He did not understand how Cain¡¯s brute power rose to such a shocking level that it managed to send him flying away. However, the answer presented itself for the Atrox immediately, as he saw how the human had gathered every ounce of Astral Wave on his right fist. Cain¡¯s Wave Burst was currently at 1500%, and his wless Synergy Flow avoided any leak. Gathering all that Astral Wave into his right fist allowed his punch to reach the destructive power of Level 5! The Atrox¡¯s body trembled, and he could not resist puking a mouthful of blood! Shock, absolute and utter shock appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face when he saw that blooding from his mouth. He was an Early Wave Champion from the Atrox Immortus Race, yet a Level 2 Wave Warrior from the Godyer Humankind made him puke blood! Honor meant everything for the Atrox Immortus Race, and this was the greatest shame of his life. If he did not crush the human right now, he had no right to return home. A burning rage emerged from the Atrox, unleashing an aura that could freeze the heart of anyone. However, Cain¡¯s only answer to that wrath was greater killing intent. Cain shed forward, arching his back at thest second, dodging the Atrox¡¯s kick that aimed at his neck before sending a powerful punch to the right knee, worsening the wound in it even more. The Atrox felt his kneecap almost shatter, but he resisted the pain and sent another attack at the top of Cain¡¯s head. The attack came from a blind spot, but Cain again showed incredible martial skill and battle awareness, dodging the punch and countering it with his own. An impressive disy of martial skills started next to a toxicke as a human and an Atrox attempted to kill each other. Despite the human¡¯s weaker body, this one managed toe victorious in each encounter. Of course, if anyone thought Cain was having an easy time, then it was clear they were not really paying attention. He was pushing his mind and body to the absolute limit, with his Ego Wave reaching such a high level that blood began to leak from his eyes. Had he not entered the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, his brain would have shut down due to the information overload. As for his body, even with the tempering of the Blood Refinement Art, using a 1500% Wave Burst generated so much stress that his inner organs were beginning to shut down. Despite the protection of the Nullity Armor, there were all sorts ofcerations and cuts on Cain¡¯s skin. He had managed to dodge all the Atrox¡¯s attacks, but some still managed to brush him, leaving those wounds. If a brush of the Atrox¡¯s attack could leave those types of injuries, one could imagine what a point-nk strike could do to Cain. Cain faced immense danger every second of the fight, and a single mistake would be enough to end his life, but his eyes showed serenity. He followed his nature as he entered this life-and-death battle; whatever happened, he would face it without regret Chapter 100 100 Fighting an Atrox Wave Champion (II) Levi and Beelze were able to calm their breathing and regain some strength while Cain fought against the Atrox Wave Champion. They were exhausted but still had enough Wave inside their bodies to fight. The duo looked at each other and nodded, ready to join the fray and help Cain against the Atrox Wave Champion, when his voice reached their minds through the A.I. Chips. ¡°Do not enter the fight yet. Take advantage of every second you have to regain as much strength as possible. I can not depend on only my blows to finish the Atrox, and I am already preparing something special. However, for it to work, I will need the help of you two.¡± Detailed instructions of when and what they should do reached Levi and Beelze¡¯s minds, and a sense of utter awe assaulted the duo¡¯s hearts. Cain sending messages through the A.I. Chip despite the Atrox¡¯s jamming device was not surprising for them since they knew his hacking ability and were very close. What shocked Levi and Beelze was that even while fighting an Atrox Wave Champion, Cain still had the mind power to give them instructions. The n Cain showed them was extremely dangerous, but Levi and Beelze were ready to die a few minutes ago, so the threat of danger could not affect their hearts. ¡®What kind of monster did I befriend!¡¯ That thought crossed Levi¡¯s mind as he smiled, and a burning fighting spirit emerged in his heart. This forest no longer needed to be his final battlefield; they could kill the Atrox Wave Champion. The duo followed Cain¡¯s instruction as if it was a divine decree, engraving each word in their minds and using every second to regain as much strength as possible. Whether they left this forest alive depended on if they could fulfill that task. Cain continued fighting against the Atrox, unleashing everything he had. He connected a blow to the temple, paralyzing the Atrox for a moment before gathering all of his Astral Wave in his elbow and sending a ferocious strike. ..... The Atrox puked blood once again as that elbow strike harmed his heart. As he saw the human rushing toward him, a sense of absolute rage overwhelmed him, but that was not all since there was also worry in his gaze. Since Cain reached this ce, people outside were aware of his presence. The Atrox Wave Champion knew he was nothing but an antpared to the Godyer Humankind¡¯s powerhouses, so he needed to finish this fight soon and run away. The Atrox clenched his teeth as he summoned his Wave Cloak once again. He felt his heart would shatter to pieces at any second but endured the pain and went even further, morphing the Astral Wave into ck lightning. Levi and Beelze¡¯s eyes widen with dread as they see that ck lightning since they know it granted the Atrox a speed so immense that they could barely follow it with their eyes. Even if the Atrox could only maintain that state for a second, it would be more than enough to send a killing blow! The duo was not able to speak a word before the Atrox vanished from their sight, appearing beside Cain before firing a monstrously powerful right punch. ¡°CAIN!¡± Beelze could not help but shout Cain¡¯s name as fear and worry overwhelmed her. ¡°BOOM!¡± That punch had so much strength that it unleashed a st the moment it connected. However, there was no happiness in the Atrox¡¯s eyes. That punch could have obliterated the head of a Level 4 Wave Warrior, but not only did it fail to kill Cain, this one did not even move. Thanks to the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool, Cain could predict the trajectory of the Atrox¡¯s punch. He used his left arm as a shield, gathering 90% of his Astral Wave in it and using the other 10% on his feet, helping him remain stable. Of course, Cain did note intact, as that blow shattered most of the bones on his left arm. Although he could still move the extremity, cing any strength in it was impossible. ¡®A fair exchange.¡¯ That was the only thought that appeared in Cain¡¯s mind as he felt the state of his left arm. The pain and everything else did not matter. The Atrox had yet to ovee the shock that his sure-kill strike failed when his Rebirth Heart began to convulse, generating a horrible pain that deactivated his Wave Cloak and paralyzed him. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the bacsh affecting the Atrox. His killing intent exploded, and he gathered every ounce of Astral Wave on his right arm. What Cain did was extremely dangerous as it left his body unprotected, but it also allowed his offensive power to reach an incredible level. Not willing to waste a single second, Cain unleashed a barrage of strikes with his right arm. Every single punch had an immense amount of Astral Wave and lightning charged in it. The martial skill in those punches was superb, with every punchnding right on top of the Atrox¡¯s heart, weakening the Astral Wave¡¯s reservoir more and more. Cain carried with that onught for over twenty seconds, unleashing more than sixty full-power punches on the Atrox Wave Champion. Half of those strikes would have been enough to kill the Horn-me Boar Leader, but the Atrox remained alive, and while his wounds weakened his life force, it was still far from depleted. Cain saw on the virtual simtion that the Atrox was about to ovee the bacsh. Instead of moving back to avoid a counter-attack, he allowed his Wave Cloak to cover his entire body before gathering massive lightning on his right palm. The Atrox¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he regained control over his body, but before he could attack, a hand settled over his eye sockets and sted a massive amount of lightning. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Atrox screamed in pain as that lightning scorched his eyes, but he still managed to send a punch. Cain managed to direct most of his Astral Wave into his stomach before the Atrox¡¯s punch wouldnd, but the strike still made him puke blood and pushed him away. He used all his strength to remain on his feet, and while severely harmed, he could still fight. However, unlike before, when he would never leave the Atrox¡¯s side for more than a second, Cain did not instantly dash back into the fray. The Atrox¡¯s vision was blurry and bloody, but he could still see Cain¡¯s figure a few meters in front of him. He saw that the human was wounded and intended to take advantage of that, but someone grabbed his right arm before he could even take a step. Confusion appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face as he looked to the side and saw the human that used explosions grab his arm and pull down with great strength. Before the Atrox could even process that, the female human appeared on his left, less than five meters away from him, and unleashed an ice storm that froze his wounded legs. The Atrox had almost forgotten about Levi and Beelze since the duo was so weak that he never considered them a threat, but things had changed. His wounds were so severe that the two humans were strong enough to contain him. Although Beelze and Levi could temporarily restrain him, the Atrox knew he would manage to free himself in a matter of seconds, but the moment the duo held his right arm and froze his wounded legs, a feeling of doom assaulted him. The Atrox looked ahead and saw the red ring in Cain¡¯s left hand starting to glow. As a Wave Champion, his battle experience was massive, and he noticed the Wave Artifact in the form of a red ring a while ago. He was not too worried before since it seemed that it could fire a Level 5 Spell at most. It had the power to harm him severely but was far from enough to kill him. Nevertheless, now that the Atrox saw the red ring, he noticed how the Wave Artifact began destabilizing, and its energy grew stronger. The Atrox looked at the duo holding onto him as if their life depended on it and understood that Cain did not intend to fire the spell inside the red ring but destabilized the Wave Artifact, making it explode with much greater power. Cain looked at the ring about to explode on his left hand and knew he would suffer a massive wound, but there was not even a wisp of hesitation on his face as he focused on the Atrox¡¯s chest and shed forward with a bloody smile on his face. A feeling of absolute doom assaulted the Atrox as he saw Cain about to reach him. Three Wave Warriors that had yet to reach Level 4 were about to kill him. The [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool had exceptional foretelling capabilities, but it could not predict what a life form could achieve when pushed to death¡¯s door. ¡°AHHHHH!¡± The Atrox roared and unleashed a small stream of Astral Wave. It would be too little to free his right arm or legs, so he concentrated all on his frozen left arm. Agony appeared on the Atrox¡¯s face as his muscles and tendons shattered due to their frozen state, but he managed to move the left arm and then gather ck lightning into his hand, making a de! Chapter 101 101 The Red King (I) Cain saw that lightning wing toward him and knew what it meant. He could not back down now since the red ring¡¯s self-destruction could not be stopped, but if he carried on with his attack, there was no way he could survive. Time froze for Cain at that moment as he faced that decision. He would have to pay the ultimate price if he wanted to kill the Atrox and save his friends. A smile formed on Cain¡¯s face as he pushed forward and connected his left fist to the Atrox¡¯s chest, right on top of this one¡¯s heart. The second he did that, blood sttered all over his face. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt that blood because it was not his. A sense of utter dread overflowed his heart as he looked to the side and saw a scene that would be forever engraved in his soul. Beelze used her body to stop the Atrox¡¯s w. The lightning de pierced her chest, leaving what one could only assume to be a lethal wound. ¡°NOO!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± Cain¡¯s shout did notst long as the explosion of the red ring happened the next instant, sending everybody flying away. mes spread throughout the forest due to the firepower unleashed by the red ring¡¯s explosion. The Atroxnded almost two hundred meters away, and there was a bloody hole in the center of his chest, while burn marks covered the rest of the body. ..... On the human side, things were a little better. Levi had crashed against many boulders on his path, repeatedly hitting his head, so he was unconscious. Cain was still conscious, but there was an immense agony on his face since the explosion had destroyed his left arm. However, while the pain was immense, Cain couldn¡¯t care less. He rose from the ground and looked at the surroundings until he found her. ¡°Beelze!¡± Cain shouted as he saw Beelze lying in a pool of her own blood a few meters away from him. Moving his body was hard, but nothing could stop him from reaching her side. When Cain finally got next to Beelze and saw her wounds, the feeling of dread grew even stronger. The Atrox¡¯s lightning de had pierced her body entirely, and he could see some of her vital organs. ¡°It is... ok.¡± Cain trembled as he heard Beelze utter those words and could feel the peace in her expression. She understood what would happen and had no regrets. ¡°Stop talking. You will be fine!¡± The fact that Beelze came to peace with what would happen did not mean Cain felt the same about it. He attempted to put pressure on the wounds, but the help something like that could provide for such a massive injury was null. ¡°System, scan her and find a way to save her life!¡± Cain¡¯s mind was so chaotic that he even mentioned the Absolute Life Form System out loud. [Scanning target. ... ... Scanpleted ¡ª Target has suffered massive internal injuries. The spine is severed, and lightning has scorched both lungs. The heart also sustained a deepceration, generating massive internal bleeding. ¡ª Generating medical procedures: ... ... No medical procedures are capable of treating her wounds. Target¡¯s chances of survival are 0%.] ¡°What!? That can not be right. Do it again!¡± Cain shouted with rage as he saw the analysis of the Absolute Life Form System. Deep down, he knew those wounds were lethal, but he could not ept that things would end like this. Beelze did not understand with whom Cain was talking, and as herst breath came closer, something changed in her eyes. A feeling of aloofness emerged as if her condition mattered little. She no longer showed calm in the face of death since now it seemed that death did not matter to her. Such a drastic change in Beelze would have shocked Cain if he had noticed it, but his mind was so wild and frantic that he missed it. Beelze¡¯s aloofness faded when she focused on the man that fiercely looked for a way to save her life. She could not help but show a tender smile. Cain was shouting to the Absolute Life Form System to find a way to save her when he felt a hand touching his face. He looked down and saw Beelze¡¯s lovely smile. ¡°I wish we had more time together.¡± As he heard those words, Cain felt something squeezing his heart and saw Beelze¡¯s hand falling to the ground without strength. [Target vital signs are null. ... The target is dead.] ¡°No, no, no, no. NO!¡± Cain roared as a wild burst of Astral Wave emerged from his body while rage and frustration overwhelmed his heart. However, that did notst long as utter sadness reced those feelings, and he gently brought Beelze¡¯s body into his embrace. ¡°Why... why did I have to lose her like this?¡± Cain began to cry as a sense of total loss filled his heart. Seeing her like that made him feel he had lost something very important. Even if he never said it out loud, the way Cain looked at Beelze was not that of simple friends. She was brave, beautiful, smart, and funny, so it was not odd for emotions like those to emerge in his heart. However, Cain¡¯s past experiences made him avoid that topic. He always thought they would have more time and allow things to happen naturally instead of forcing it. Unfortunately, it was toote now, and he lost that chance forever. Cain¡¯s mind was inplete chaos, but the red light in his eyes that symbolized the strength of his willpower only kept growing stronger. It is not odd for a life form¡¯s willpower to rise after oveing a traumatic event, but Cain clearly was not handling Beelze¡¯s death well. Besides, the red light in his eyes was not only growing more potent but also colder. [WARNING! ?WARNING! An unknown force is acting over Vessel¡¯s willpower. Regain focus immediately before a change in the ego happens.] Apex spoke less than a second after the warning from the Absolute Life Form System echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind. For the first time, the System Spirit lost hisposed tone of voice, making it clear just how worried he was. ¡°Brat, focus! Do not let pain and sorrow ovee your mind. Allow yourself to grieve, but do not lose yourself in it. If you don¡¯t get your ego under control, something catastrophic will happen!¡± Apex¡¯s voice carried the urgency of the situation, but Cain¡¯s mind was in such a chaotic state that he did not hear anything. He was all alone with his thoughts. ¡°Why...¡± Cain¡¯s tears fall on Beelze¡¯s face, making the sadness on this one only grow stronger. ¡°Why does being weak have to hurt so much?¡± The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes grew even stronger as he uttered those words, as did the coldness in these ones. ¡°WHY!?¡± Cain shouted that word with a voice full of grief as the red light on his eyes reached its zenith, and he fell unconscious. Silence reigned in the forest for a moment before a mournful sound appeared. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A shriek of pain echoed as the Atrox Wave Champion began to rise from the ground. His condition was critical, to say the least, but he was still alive! The Atrox touched his chest, and as he focused on his Rebirth Heart, a look of horror and desperation emerged. The damage to his heart was so massive that it was essentially crippled,pletely shattering his cultivation. He would grow weaker and weaker, and it would be a miracle if he still had any power by the next day. All his hard work would fade away, and the damage he endured was so severe that he would be crippled and confined to a bed for the rest of his life. That realization filled the Atrox with pure and immense hatred. His eyes focused on the man responsible, and he wanted nothing more than to rip this one to pieces. For a race that worshiped strength, living as crippled was no different than hell. ¡°I will... kill you!¡± The Atrox roared as his wrath exploded. It took him a couple of seconds to reach the unconscious human, and he clenched his right fist, gathering in it what little strength he had left, before firing a punch with more than enough power to break a Level 2 Wave Warrior¡¯s skull. Just as the Atrox punched toward Cain¡¯s skull, he opened his eyes. There was no more sting light in then. Instead, his green pupils had turned red. That aesthetic change was meaninglesspared with the intent that Cain¡¯s eyes now unleashed. Those eyes had a sense of ancientness and detachment as if everything in this world was inconsequential. The ego capable of unleashing that intent did not belong to a fourteen years old boy. They belonged to an entity that once stood above all existence and reigned supreme. Those red eyes belonged to a king! Chapter 102 102 The Red King (II) ¡°Boom!¡± A small st echoed through the forest as the Atrox¡¯s punch connected against something. However, to his shock, his fistnded on the ground, and the man and woman vanished from his sight. ¡®What!? Where did he go!?¡¯ The Atrox was shocked by the man¡¯s sudden disappearance and began looking through the surroundings frantically. He found the human forty meters to his left and saw how this one left the woman¡¯s corpse on the ground before turning toward him. The Atrox Wave Champion had faced all types of monsters and been in the presence of incredible powerhouses across his life, but he could swear that he had never felt such a monstrous aura as the one in those red eyes. They did not belong to someone good or evil. Terms like those were too narrow to describe their might. It was like a force of nature that destroyed everything in its path with no emotion whatsoever. ¡°Who... are you?¡± For the first time since the battle started, the Atrox Wave Champion asked a question, and it was meant to figure out the identity of the man he had been fighting thest thirty minutes. The aura and ego he felt in those red eyes did not belong to the young man full of heroism that entered the battlefield to save his friends. Cain did not answer the question and instead focused on his left arm. Everything beneath the shoulder was gone, and there was a massive hemorrhage. If he did not treat it soon, the blood loss would weaken him more and more until he passed out. Falling unconscious with a bleeding wound in a ce like this would mean certain death, but Cain¡¯s eyes showed not even the slightest sign of worry. He simply pped his left shoulder with his right palm, and something amazing happened. The muscles on the left shoulder contracted, sealing the wound and stopping the bleeding! ..... ¡°IMPOSSIBLE!¡± The Atrox Wave Champion shouted in disbelief as he saw Cain¡¯s muscles acting like they had a life of their own. Although an Early Wave Champion was strong, it was far from enough to form part of an incursion into an enemy continent led by a God. The Atrox managed to secure that position due to his background, and the sole purpose of his journey to the Gaia Continent was to push the electromaic force field that was his willpower to the Late Wave Champion level. His greatest goal was to enter the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, which is why he felt so much envy when he saw that a mere Level 2 Wave Warrior like Cain had already reached that level. Due to his family heritage, the Atrox Wave Champion had a great knowledge of the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power and knew it also went by the name of Mind Over Body. The First Realm granted incredible control over your emotions and granr domain over your Wave, but that was just the beginning. Once you gain true mastery over that realm, you can attain supernatural control over your body to the point that you canmand every organ with your mind. The Atrox Wave Champion could ept that Cain had reached the First Realm so young since he knew there were divine geniuses born with their Ego Eternal Matrix activated since their birth. However, tomand your body the way Cain did should be impossible for someone that just entered Mind Over Body. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about the Atrox¡¯s state of mind and looked at the surroundings with curiosity. He took everything in, and shes of understanding appeared from time to time. After a moment, he focused on the Atrox, making this one tremble. ¡°Who are you?¡± It was the same question as before, but this time the one doing it was the human. They were just words, but the Atrox¡¯s eyes widened as he felt an invisible force crawl into his mind. Before he knew what was happening, his eyes lost focus. ¡°My name is Sonar Karius, second son of Marquess Silor Karius.¡± After speaking those words, Sonar¡¯s eyes regained focus, and a sense of utter shock assaulted his soul. He did not understand what happened, but his mind was overwhelmed by the desire to answer that man¡¯s question. Cain focused on the Atrox Wave Champion again, making dread appear in the face of this one. ¡°Why are we fighting?¡± If before the Atrox Wave Champion was suspicious, now he was sure that the person in front of him was not the young man from before. They might share the same body, but that was where their simrities ended. Unfortunately for Sonar, he did not have time to hypothesize what was happening, as his eyes lost focus again as he answered. ¡°I came as part of an incursion into this continent. A fight left me badly wounded, which forced me to search for a ce to hide and heal. My goal was to rest in the cavern beneath the toxicke until I regained enough strength to escape, but two humans were already in it. I was about to kill that woman when you showed up and interfered.¡± Cain stared at the woman on the floor and the unconscious man a few hundred meters away from his location. There were no emotions in his eyes, and he looked at them like they wereplete strangers. No, it was even worse. You would show some sympathy or at least interest for a wounded stranger from your race, but in Cain¡¯s eyes wasplete apathy. ¡°Who is the ruler of this world?¡± Sonar attempted to fight thepulsion, but it was futile, and in the end, he answered the question. ¡°There is no one absolute ruler. The only one that came close enough to that level was Adam, the Emperor of Humankind.¡± As soon as Sonar¡¯s eyes regained their focus, an immense sense of shame and rage appeared in them. Those were his honest thoughts, but he could not believe he had just praised the Emperor of Humankind out loud. ¡°Adam.¡± A sharp light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he pronounced that name. It was impossible to say what thoughts emerged in his mind, but it was clear that the Emperor of Humankind caused an impression. Cain focused on the Atrox again. This time, he spoke with a tone of voice with much greater power. ¡°Kill yourself.¡± The Atrox¡¯s eyes widened with sheer terror as he heard those words, and he felt the intent reach the deepest parts of his mind, trying to overwhelm his survival instincts. Sonar¡¯s right hand moved on its own, shing toward his neck and almost piercing it, but he managed to use his left hand to stop it. ¡°AHHHH!¡± The Atrox roared with rage and hatred, using everything he had to fight back against the idea nted in his mind that made him want tomit suicide. It took every iota of his willpower, but Sonar overcame the impulse and regained control over his body. Sonar¡¯s face was pale, and it was clear he was exhausted, but his eyes also showed immense resentment. Dying in battle was the most honorable ending for a member of the Atrox Immortus Race, but killing yourself was the most dishonorable of all. Forcing him to end his own life showed just how little Cain thought of the Atrox Wave Champion. Even now that Sonar managed to resist it, Cain¡¯s expression did not change. His eyes were utterly emotionless, as if the Atrox could do nothing that affected his mind. Cain saw the Atrox¡¯s burning desire to fight and that this one was ready to die. He simply took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Sonar saw that and knew this was the perfect chance to strike, but he did not move. Fear had already overwhelmed his heart despite oveing the impulse to kill himself, and he did not dareunch the first punch. The state of the Atrox Wave Champion¡¯s mind was simr to that of a mortal that did not dare to fight back when threatened with a knife or gun, as the fear of retaliation and death was too great. ¡°THUMP!¡± Sonar could not believe what he had just heard. Cain was more than forty meters away from him, but he listened to this one¡¯s heartbeat! ¡°THUMP!¡± ¡°THUMP!¡± Cain¡¯s heartbeat grew faster and more powerful as his blood vessels became noticeably visible, and his skin turned red. There was no Astral Waveing from Cain¡¯s body, but Sonar could feel how the strength of this one kept growing stronger and stronger. The Aether World¡¯s races assimted so much with the Wave that they depended on it for all their skills and techniques. A fighting style that did not rely on Astral Wave or Essence Wave was preposterous. Yet Cain was about to use one of them to fight against an Atrox Wave Champion. Although by this point, calling the young man Cain was inurate, as he was the Red King! Chapter 103 103 The Red King (III) Sonar¡¯s breathing elerated due to the fear and pressure assaulting his mind and heart. Still, he clenched his fists and adopted a martial stance before shouting with resolution. ¡°I am a proud member of the Atrox Immortus Race, and you will not...!¡± Sonar did not even manage to finish his sentence before receiving an uppercut that raised his body from the ground. Disbelief appeared in his eyes as he felt the strength in that punch, and for a second, he could swear it was about to rip his head from his shoulders. Before the Atrox could even figure out what was happening, a kicknded on his temple, increasing the might of the brain trauma the uppercut generated and sending him flying away. Sonar crashed against arge tree, making arge indentation on this one. ¡®What is happening?¡¯ Sonar¡¯s eyes were confused as he did not understand where that strength came from. Not even when Cain unleashed a 1500% Wave Burst did his punches reach that level, but now he was not using a single iota of Astral Wave, yet his attacks were twice stronger. Sonar¡¯s battle instincts were still active, and he rose from the ground as fast as possible in order to face the next attack. Sadly, he had not even adopted a battle stance when a red hand grabbed his face. The strength in that grip seared the skin that was not protected by his armor. The only silver lining in that situation was that the fingers did not cover his eyes, allowing Sonar to see the key behind the Red King¡¯s power. The Red King held the Atrox¡¯s head with his right hand, and then his entire body began to rotate. The rotational movement started from his feet, improved by his waist, and enhanced by his shoulders before harnessing that power into his right arm. ..... ¡®His technique increases the body¡¯s velocity and eleration to a shocking level. That,bined with wless martial skill and outrageous speed of thought, can be converted into torque, allowing him to disy a physical strength many times higher than the theoretical limit of his body.¡¯ Those thoughts crossed Sonar¡¯s mind as the Red King used his entire body like a battering ram, shattering the tree behind his back. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Despite the pain, Sonar¡¯s eyes still showed awe as he thought of that technique. It was simply amazing, and since it focused solely on physical enhancement, anyone could use it regardless of their cultivation stage. If a God or Titan were to master this technique, they could unleash an even mightier destructive power! The Red King¡¯s eyes showed no emotion whatsoever as he dragged the Atrox¡¯s body through the ground while also using this one as a battering ram against every boulder or tree in his path. He did not move away from the toxicke, running in circles around it. Despite Sonar¡¯s awe, he was not going just to lie down and let the Red King beat him like a dog. He clenched his teeth and waited for the Red King to raise him from the ground. The Red King did just that, intending to use Sonar to break a boulder on his path when the Atrox fired a right hook toward his head. That punch was not only fast but came from a blind spot, and since he raised Sonar from the ground, they were extremely close. A smile appeared on Sonar¡¯s face as he saw his punch about tond. Although the Red King¡¯s technique increased strength, it did not seem to improve defense, so he was sure this attack could turn the tables. Sadly for Sonar, the Red King dodged that punch easily before mming this one¡¯s head into the ground using all the momentum he had gathered. Sonar felt everything blurry, and his mind stopped for a second. However, pain allowed him to regain focus as the Red King rose him again from the ground before connecting a kick on his chest and throwing him more than three into the air. ¡°Ahhhh!¡± Sonar yelled in pain as he felt his ribs shattering under the might of that kick, and before he could even take a breath, the Red King appeared in the sky next to him. Even without a solid base where to put his feet, the Red King was able to generate a level of torque and connect a ferocious blow on Sonar¡¯s sr plexus, shattering all the diaphragm¡¯s muscles. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Sonar crashed into the ground, and a wave of pain and panic assaulted his heart since he could not breathe. As a Wave Champion, he could spend several minutes without breathing without significant problems, but the feeling was still excruciating. The sound of footstepsing closer reached Sonar¡¯s ears, and the terror in his heart only grew stronger. Every shred of fighting will inside him had shattered, and the only thing he wanted to do right now was to escape, but that would not happen. Nothing could stop that monster from killing him. Another kicknded on Sonar¡¯s chest, making him puke blood and pushing him against a tree, where hended sitting. The Red King stood in front of the Atrox, and he could clearly see the fighting will of this one was gone. However, that changed nothing since he had won this fight before it started. Sonary there, waiting for death. He barely had any strength left, and nothing he could do or say would save him. However, instead of a finishing blow, what he received was a question. ¡°What is this?¡± The Red King asked that question as he raised his index finger and released a small stream of Astral Wave. The confusion in Sonar¡¯s mind grew stronger as he heard that. Cain showed great mastery over his Astral Wave and the Four Basic Wave Arts, but the Red King seemed to have no knowledge whatsoever about it. Sonar¡¯s confusion mattered very little to the Red King since this one could not endure the power of his voice. ¡°That is... Astral Wave. It is the energy... we Astral Wave Cultivators use to cultivate and... grow stronger. It is the pir of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power... and we obtain it after refining the Wave... through our Rebirth Hearts.¡± Speaking provoked immense pain for Sonar, but he could not resist thepulsion that the Red King¡¯s voice imnted in his mind. ¡°So that is the name of this world¡¯s origin energy. It is surprisingly malleable.¡± The Red King paused at this point, and his eyes narrowed as a sh of enlightenment emerged in them. ¡°It seems that I can enhance it through my willpower.¡± When Sonar heard that, his entire body began to tremble as he could not believe what he had just heard. There was absolute shock and terror in his eyes when he saw that the stream of Astral Wave in the Red King¡¯s index finger grew stronger. ¡°Monster,¡± Sonar uttered that single word as his mind could not process what was happening. The Red King did not even nce at the Atrox as this one uttered that word and focused solely on the Astral Wave that was growing stronger as he infused more and more of his willpower into it. ¡°I assume that this is something impressive ording to your standards. Exin.¡± Sonar¡¯s mind was still in shock, but that mattered little as his eyes lost focus, and he answered the Red King¡¯s question. ¡°Channeling the energy wave that is your willpower... into your Wave means that you are... at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, Mind Over Wave. For that, your... willpower must have reached a level... equal to a Late Wave King, someone with the right to call himself... a powerhouse in Aether.¡± The fact he had the power to call himself a powerhouse in this world did not provoke anything in the Red King. In his mind, it was like an ant telling him that he was now the king of ants. Why would he feel proud of such an insignificant aplishment? The Red King kept sending his willpower into the Astral Wave¡¯s stream before eventually stopping. ¡°Too little.¡± That was all the Red King said before the Life Wave in the surroundings began to act erratically. Sonar¡¯s eyes just regained his focus when he saw how the Red King manipted the Life Wave and sent it into the Astral Wave¡¯s stream. The Red King kept sending more and more Life Wave into his Astral Wave¡¯s stream until its energy reached an incredible level. He then used that stream to generate a cut on his forehead. Sonar was confused for a moment, but then he saw how the bleeding cut began to open up, and what he saw froze his heart with a level of terror that he did not believe possible. A red eye appeared on the Red King¡¯s forehead; instead of eyelids, it had rows of sharp teeth. ¡°What... are you going... to do to me?¡± Sonar¡¯s voice made it clear just how terrified he was. He was an Atrox, a race known for their cruelty and sadism, but he was sure that the monster in front of him was even worse. The Red King focused on the Atrox for a moment before giving an honest answer. ¡°I will devour your soul.¡± Chapter 104 104 The Red King (IV) Fear and panic overwhelmed Sonar¡¯s heart when he heard those words since he knew that the Red King was not exaggerating and this one would devour his soul. Before Sonar could do anything, the Red King morphed the Astral Wave he used to create that third eye into a gauntlet that covered his right hand. The Red King¡¯s right hand gained phantasmagoric qualities before his fingers pierced the Atrox¡¯s head. Those fingers seemed able to phase past the skin and bones and did not even harm the brain as they reached a special ce. In the Old World, the existence of the soul was widely disputed. Most of the poption did not believe in it since, despite their technological and scientific advances, they never found any proof of it. It was only after reaching Aether and gaining the power to control the supernatural that the Godyer Humankind began to decipher the mysteries of the soul. The human soul found itself inside the brain, but we were never able to find any trace of it because it was not in the physical ne of existence. It was in a ce beyond the three-dimensional space, what some schrs called the fourth dimension. Humans in the Old World could not ess the fourth dimension, but with the mastery of the Wave, the Godyer Humankind achieved that amazing scientific breakthrough. It was a perfect example of how magic and science stop being opposite concepts and couldplement each other. An expression of utter and absolute agony appeared in Sonar¡¯s eyes as the Red King¡¯s hand reached his soul and began to pull out, dragging it to the physical ne of existence. It was like having all your extremities torn out of your body simultaneously. The Atrox would have killed himself if he had the chance since the pain was just too much, but there was no way the Red King would allow that. ..... The Red King pulled with more and more strength, and exhaustion began to appear on his face, making it clear that even for him, extracting a soul was an incredibly challenging feat. If it was not for the assistance of the Astral Wave, the Red King could not have done it. That is why he originally nned to kill Sonar. Finally, after almost two minutes, the Red King managed to take Sonar¡¯s soul out of the fourth dimension. In his hand, there was a mass of chaotic sky-blue electromaic energy. At simple sight, it was not that impressive, but for those who could see its true nature, a soul was one of the most amazing things in the world. Sonar¡¯s soul was too weak to act on his own and would disperse in seconds if it wasn¡¯t for the Red King¡¯s phantom hand¡¯s tight grip. The Red King took a deep breath as his third eye focused on Sonar¡¯s soul before glowing and unleashing an energy wave. That energy wave was the Red King¡¯s willpower, and once it reached Sonar¡¯s soul, this one acted instinctively, fighting back. If the Red King were to lose the battle of wills, the bacsh he would suffer might drive him into aa. However, how could Sonar¡¯s willpower, which did not even reach the Late Wave Champion level, win against the Red King¡¯s, which was mightier than that of a Late Wave King? After a few seconds, Sonar¡¯s soul trembled, and a cracking sound emerged from it. The Red King saw that and neared the sky-blue electromaic energy to his third eye. The Red King¡¯s third eye acted like a ravenous beast as it devoured Sonar¡¯s soul incredibly fast, not leaving a single iota of it left. Once the third eye devoured the soul, it closed, and the cut in the Red King¡¯s forehead vanished. Focus appeared on the Red King¡¯s face as he went through a sea of memories. All of Sonar¡¯s experiences, from birth to death, were open for him. Sonar was a young genius, so despite being a Wave Champion, he was less than twenty years old, making it easier for the Red King to analyze those memories, throwing away the useless and keeping those beneficial for him. The Red King had no idea of the world he woke up in, but now less than ten minutester, he understood everything. The different races and factions, the might of those with true power, and what he should be careful of. ¡°Interesting. This world is much more advanced than the one I was born in. That will make it easier for me to grow stronger since I can use their knowledge to my advantage. The strongest life forms have the title of Gods and Titans. Their power could make them a threat in my current state, so I should not interact with them for the time being.¡± After taking care of the Atrox and understanding the world he found himself in, the Red King began to analyze his next step. There were still many questions on his mind, with the first being the body he was currently in. The Red King saw the original owner of this body in Sonar¡¯s recollections, but he had no memory of someone like Cain. That was not the worst part since, other than the first decades in his original world, he remembered nothing else. ¡°If I perished and reincarnated, that could exin the corruption of my memories. I will find the answer in time, and it is better if the world thinks that Cain Laurifer is dead.¡± The Red King focused on Beelze, and after making sure the woman was dead, he turned toward Levi. Another wisp of Astral Wave emerged from his index finger, and he began to generate a sma sphere with it. In a moment, it grew more than two metersrge and had more than enough power to kill a Wave Champion, much less an unconscious Level 3 Wave Warrior. For the world to think that Cain Laurifer died in the battle against the Atrox Wave Champion, it was better if all the humans that took part in the fight also perished. The Red King knew that Levi was a close friend of Cain, but why would that affect his decision? Since he took control of this body, Cain Laurifer ceased to exist. Just as the Red King was about to fire the sma lightning sphere, a sh of golden light appeared in his eyes, provoking immense pain and affecting his senses. ¡°?BOOM!¡± The sma lightning sphere missed its original target and crashed against some trees, obliterating them. The Red King could not care less that Levi survived his attack since a force that came from inside his body was affecting his mind. Even when he saw an army butchering his entire n, he felt no rage, but now a sense of overwhelming wrath invaded him. Someone dared to act over his soul, an unforgivable sin in the Red King¡¯s mind. The pain grew stronger, and his senses began to shut down one by one. The Red King attempted to fight back, but the golden light was too powerful, and he could not defeat it. Finally, the Red King fell to the ground, and every sense went off, trapping him intoplete darkness and silence. That state would drive even the mighties will into panic and terror, but there were no such emotions on his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, and I don¡¯t care why you are doing it. I only want you to know this. Sooner orter, I will free myself, and when that timees, I will kill everybody that you care about in front of your eyes before sealing your soul inside my mind for all eternity.¡± Those were thest words the Red King spoke before his red eyes turned green, and he lost consciousness. The aura those eyes began to unleash was no longer of an ancient force of nature but that of a young man full of heroism. Silence reigned around the toxicke, but things were not so calm in a unique dimension located inside Cain¡¯s brain. Deep inside his soul, in a ce so hidden that even the mightiest life forms of Aether could never find, there was a massive gate. Tworge stone tables formed the gate inside Cain¡¯s soul and had all sorts of phenomena engraved. Nothing in this world couldpare to the ancientness of this gate, but that was not the most impressive thing. Hundreds of giant chains made of either ck-white lightning or golden-purple mes covered that massive gate, and their power was outrageous, to say the least. If a weak life form stared at those chains, their souls would shatter as their minds could not endure the principles and forces in them. Suddenly a golden humanoid appeared in front of the massive gate, and a somber expression appeared on his face as he saw the tiny crack in it. ¡°A mere wisp of his consciousness crossed that crack, yet he could unleash that level of strength.¡± The golden humanoid focused on the crack before sighing. Despite his power, fixing that gate was beyond his capabilities. After a moment, he looked into the distance with a smile. ¡°About time you woke up, brat.¡± Chapter 105 105 Just in time Cain slowly opened his eyes, and there was confusion in them. However, that was pushed away by a wave of immense pain that covered his entire body. He felt as if every muscle fiber had shattered, and he could not do anything else but stay on the ground, waiting for the pain to disappear. Nevertheless, that was not so easy since dread assaulted his mind when he saw the Atrox right next to him, and even in his state, he could see that this one was still alive. Cain knew he needed to adopt a battle stance, but just staying conscious was challenging, much less fighting. Luckily, he soon heard a voice that allowed him to calm down. ¡°Rx, brat. The Atrox¡¯s heart and brain technically work, but his soul is gone, so there is nothing to fear. Even if that was not the case, his injuries were so severe that he could not move.¡± Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind allowing him to calm down but also filling him with questions. It took a few minutes, but the pain finally diminished to the point he could move and think. Upon a closer look, Cain did see the horrible physical wounds on the Atrox¡¯s body, but that mattered very littlepared with the fact that despite still being alive, there was no light in his eyes. ¡°Apex, just who had the power to destroy the Atrox¡¯s soul?¡± Cain¡¯s understanding of the soul was shallow, but he knew that directly interacting with it required great knowledge and even greater power. ..... There was no one here but him, and he definitely did not have those abilities. ¡°I did it. Your mind was so chaotic that you did not perceive the Atrox when this one rose from the ground after the explosion and attacked you. I took control over your body and fought before unleashing a special attack and breaking the Atrox¡¯s soul.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. It came as a shock that Apex could take control over his body and even more that this one could unleash a power capable of breaking the body and soul of an Atrox Wave Champion. However, as Cain analyzed Apex¡¯s words, something bizarre happened. His eyes grew emotionless for a second, showing a level of absolute apathy but also incredible intelligence. ¡°There is something that doesn¡¯t quite add up. I have been in danger many times before since we met each other, and I don¡¯t remember you intersecting in those. Not to mention that since I was unable to secure my own life, doesn¡¯t that mean that I am not worthy of the Absolute Life Form System and you should look for another Vessel?¡± Inside Cain¡¯s soul, the golden humanoid¡¯s eyes narrowed. He stared at the crack in the gate, and a serious expression appeared on his face before looking away. ¡°I value brotherhood and honor above all things. Your selfless behavior,ing here and risking your life for your friends, showed me your true nature, which is why I decided to go against the rules and save your life. However, that will never happen again. Even if I wanted to, I could not do it.¡± Apex gave a usible exnation to Cain while ensuring that this one knew it would not happen again. That exnation made perfect sense for Cain since it was perfectly aligned with what he had learned from the System Spirit up to this point. Emotions returned to Cain¡¯s eyes, and he showed a radiant smile as he was truly happy to have someone like Apex covering his back. However, the word friends make Cain remember something. He looked through the surroundings until he found Beelze. Immense pain and sadness assaulted Cain¡¯s heart when he saw Beelze¡¯s body. Unlike before, when those emotions overwhelmed his mind, he allowed the pain to flow this time. He did not hide from the pain but did not allow it to consume him. ¡°Well done, brat. It is alright to feel pain and sadness when we lose people important to us, but losing ourselves in the grief would be dishonoring their memories. Remember this. A person dies twice. The first is when you give yourst breath, and the second is when someone mentions your name for thest time. Mourn her death and ovee your grief, but never forget her. Keep her memory with you; that way, she will never truly die.¡± Cain engraved Apex¡¯s words in his mind before using all his strength to rise from the ground and walk toward Beelze. He sat by her side and gently caressed her face. ¡°Could I bring her back?¡± As a Reincarnator, Cain was the proof that death was the end. If he coulde back from death, why could others not? The truth was that this was not the first time he thought of reviving a person since there was someone he missed very much and that would pay anything to have by his side again, his father. Cain had never contemted the idea out loud before since he was sure it would be incredibly difficult and did not want to give himself false hopes. But now, as he saw Beelze¡¯s body lying in front of him, he could not help but ask that question. Apex could read Cain¡¯s thoughts and knew he needed to clear things, or else the young man would embark on a dangerous path full of ws. ¡°It is not so simple. I don¡¯t know the rules of the Eternal River of the Afterlife in this universe or if there is even a mightier reincarnation system put in ce. What I do know is that not even Gods or Titan can bring back the dead.¡± Cain sighed as he heard that, and a sad smile appeared on his face. Gods and Titans could destroy Old World¡¯s continents, yet not even they could revive someone. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, allowing himself to be alone with his thoughts. The golden humanoid in front of the gate saw that and waited patiently. Cain was currently at an inflection point that could affect his cultivation path. After a few minutes, Cain opened his eyes, and a sense of pure determination emerged in them. ¡°I will never forget you, Beelze, but I can not live my life for you. I will grow strong, stronger than everybody, and if I have the chance, I will bring you back. That is a promise!¡± Apex smiled when he heard that and was extremely pleased. Cain¡¯s mentality was perfect for those that cultivated. Never forget your loved ones, but do not allow the dead to dictate your path. Cain showed a gentle smile as he caressed Beelze¡¯s face onest time before sending her into his space ring. He will return her body to her family, so they can mourn her and give her a proper burial. With that done, Cain was ready to call for assistance when a crushing pressure descended from the sky. He looked up and saw arge bulky man with short white hair, obsidian skin, and ck armor. ¡°Abyssal Demon.¡± Cain immediately recognized the one in the sky as a member of the Infernus Daemon Race. Although he could not truly quantify that man¡¯s strength, Cain was sure that there was no way a Wave Champion could unleash that type of pressure. The Abyssal Demon focused on the Atrox and was surprised to detect no soul on this one. He looked at the surroundings, but besides the unconscious Levi, there was only Cain. ¡°Did you kill him?¡± The Abyssal Demon¡¯s voice echoed through the forest. Any Wave Warrior would have trembled non-stop in front of such a mighty being, but Cain¡¯s reaction was nothing like that. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Cainughed with all his strength, surprising the Abyssal Demon. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± Apex¡¯s voice appeared inside Cain¡¯s mind. Like the Abyssal Demon, the System Spirit was surprised by Cain¡¯s attitude. ¡°Because my luck truly sucks!¡± Cain answered the System Spirit¡¯s question before rising from the ground and staring at the Abyssal Demon in the sky. ¡°Yes, I killed him!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes were fearless as he shouted those words. He activated his Ego Wave and gathered what little Astral Wave he had left in his right fist. Instead of getting angry, the Abyssal Demon smiled as he saw Cain¡¯s courage. ¡°You are a truly brave brat. What a shame you were born into the human race. Sorry, but you are too talented to be left alive.¡± The Abyssal Demon¡¯s Wave Cloak emerged, and he focused most of his Astral Wave on his right fist. ¡°I will use my true power to attack you, brat. Let this show you that I recognize you as a true warrior.¡± The Abyssal Demon shed forward the next second but did not use his full speed. He moved just fast enough so Cain could also unleash his punch. A fearless smile appeared in Cain¡¯s fist as he saw that punching his way and counter with his own. He knew the moment both fists touched, his body would burst to pieces, but there were no regrets in his eyes. Just as Cain and the Abyssal Demon¡¯s fists were about to collide, he felt someone grab him by the back and pull him away. Cain¡¯s eyes showed the shock assaulting his mind as he saw a tall man with blue hair and a red martial robe counter the Abyssal Demon¡¯s punch. ¡°?BOOOOMMMMM!¡± An explosion that shattered the ground and sent trees flying away urred when the fists collided. Despite the Abyssal Demon imposing figure, the sh sent him flying away while the blue-haired man did not move a single step. ¡°It seems I made it just in time. d you are ok, brat.¡± Chapter 106 106 It¡¯s over ¡°Lord Zarak.¡± Cain was beyond surprised to see Zarake out of nowhere and send the Abyssal Demon flying away. He then noticed how the st blew everything in a five-meter radius to pieces. The only reason he was fine was the thickyers of incredibly dense Astral Wave protecting him. ¡®Neither Lord Zarak nor the Abyssal Demon unleashed their full strength, yet they achieved this level of destructive might. A battlefield where they go all out would be a death zone for anyone at the Wave Warrior level, maybe even for weak Wave Champions.¡¯ Cain could not hide his awe as he attempted to measure Zarak¡¯s power. The man pulled him out of danger before covering him with a mantle of Astral Wave and finally countering the Abyssal Demon¡¯s fist. That reaction speed meant that Zarak could move several times faster than the speed of sound! Suddenly Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked into the distance. There was worry on his face, but he calmed when he saw that Levi was fine. Although boulders were covering Levi¡¯s body and he was badly wounded, Cain used the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] and knew his vital signs were stable. Zarak only nodded toward Cain once he heard his name before his eyes became incredibly sharp as he focused on the enemy in the sky. The Abyssal Demon regained control of his body once he rose around one hundred meters in the sky, and the first thing he did was unleash the full power of his Astral Wave. ¡°Boom!¡± A shock wave emerged from the Abyssal Demon as he released all of his strength, making it seem like the sky was trembling. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he felt that immense amount of Astral Wave. If his energy pool was a pond, the Abyssal Demon¡¯s body contained an ocean! ..... The Abyssal Demon focused on Zarak before his eyes glowed with golden light. Electromaic energy emerged from his brain and fused with his Astral Wave, generating a force field that covered the entire forest! Cain saw the golden purple force field covering the forest, and he was surprised to know that you could fuse your Ego Wave and Astral Wave to do something like that. He was sure there was nothing inside the force field that could hide from the Abyssal Demon. ¡°Oh, you are alone. I don¡¯t know if you are courageous or simply looking down on me. I will admit you are strong, but the only reason you won thatst sh was that I barely used a fraction of my power to give that brat a proper death.¡± The Abyssal Demon¡¯s Wave Cloak began to burst, generating violent winds with incredible might. He stood in the sky without moving a finger, but his power caused a natural phenomenon simr to an Old World hurricane! ¡°Our cultivations are in two different leagues, and there is no way you could face me alone.¡± Zarak did not move his eyes away from the Abyssal Demon. There was no fear in his gaze, and he began to smile as he let go of Cain and began to walk forward. ¡°You are incredibly powerful, and if I were to rely on my body and Astral Wave, my chances of victory are slim to none. However, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power is not my main path.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light, and then earthquakes covered the entire forest, shattering the ground beneath his feet. Cain saw everything with shock and amazement. One stood in the sky, and the power in his body generated hurricanes, while the other walked through the earth, and the might of his mind triggered earthquakes. The Abyssal Demon¡¯s face grew solemn as he saw the forest trembling and breaking apart. His calm stance changed as he felt a great danger from the human. ¡°My name is Krollo Sarken. What is yours?¡± ¡°Zarak Valentine.¡± As soon as Krollo heard that, the caution in his eyes grew even stronger, as did his Astral Wave¡¯s output. ¡°So you are the infamous Soul Breaker Zarak. There is arge bounty on your head.¡± Zarak¡¯s smile grew wider as he heard that. ¡°You are also infamous as well, Marquess Sarken.¡± When Cain heard that, his heart grew agitated. Although he did not know just how powerful Marquesses were, he knew they were just beneath Dukes, and just like in the Godyer Humankind, the Dark Races¡¯ Dukes were supreme powerhouses. ¡°I have heard that you were a highly reclusive individual. I should count myself lucky to have the chance to fight you.¡± Krollo¡¯s eyes glowed with even stronger golden light as his fighting intent exploded. ¡°Hmph, there is no way I could stand by and do nothing when your kind butchered weak and innocent people.¡± Zarak sneered, and his Ego Wave burst with even greater strength. When Krollo heard those words, aplicated expression appeared on his face before he finally sighed. ¡°Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. That rule applies to all aspects of existence.¡± Zarak did not say anything but understood the hidden meaning behind the Abyssal Demon¡¯s words. Without warning, Zarak¡¯s Astral Wave burst with incredible power, and his Ego Wave began to materialize around his body. Cain could not see the form Zarak¡¯s Ego Wave took before this one shed toward the Abyssal Demon, pushing this one hundred meters into the sky. ¡°?BOOM! Zarak¡¯s sh with the Abyssal Demon generated an explosion that seemed capable of breaking the sky. Despite the distance, the st¡¯s shock wave sent Cain flying away. Cain was able to regain control over his body-mid air andnd gently on the ground, but there was still a sense of awe in his heart. He was more than one hundred meters away from the explosion¡¯s origin, yet he still was sent flying away. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± The explosions grew more distant as Zarak pushed Krollo higher and higher into the sky. The Godyer Human and the Abyssal Demon moved several times faster than the speed of sound, and each of their movements generated consecutive sonic booms. Cain attempted to follow the fight, but Zarak and Krollo were so far and moved so fast that he could only see the sts generated by their collisions. He did not attempt to run away since that would be futile. The only ce he knew that could resist the might of Krollo was the Imperial Lightning Fort, and there was no way he could reach it before this fight was over. Zarak and Krollo fought for over two minutes, generating more than one thousand sonic sts all over the sky until one of them finally flew away. Before Cain could even ask himself about the battle¡¯s winner, Zarak appeared by his side. There were all sorts of wounds on his body, and it seemed that the Abyssal Demon had broken his right arm, but his aura was as strong as ever. ¡°You defeated that Abyssal Demon.¡± Cain¡¯s voice was full of awe and admiration. Krollo was incredibly powerful, yet Zarak managed to force this one to run away after less than three minutes of fighting. ¡°It is not so simple. That man escaped because he knew that remaining here for a long time would immensely decrease his chances of leaving the Gaia Continent alive.¡± Zarak did not move his eyes away from the sky until Krollo¡¯s figure vanished. Zarak raised his hand, bringing Levi and the Atrox toward him. The same invisible force grabbed hold of Cain¡¯s body. Cain felt that he could use his Astral Wave and Ego Wave to fight against it, but he obviously did not do it. ¡°ording to my information, there was a woman with you two.¡± Zarak noticed the sorrow in Cain¡¯s eyes as soon as he mentioned Beelze and understood what had happened. ¡°I see.¡± The next second, Zarak rose to the sky alongside the two humans and the dead Atrox. ¡°BOOM!¡± A sonic boom emerged from their previus location as Zarak shed at the speed of sound toward Korin city, bringing everybody with him. For Cain, Levi, and Beelze, the trip toward the toxicke took several hours, but Zarak reached the center of Korin City in a matter of minutes. And he would have been faster had he been alone. Korin City faced the Wave Beasts¡¯ stampede, and thousands of beasts surrounded it. Cain could count more than ten thousand of them, and on the northeast battlefield, there was arge panter-like beast with arcs of lightning covering its body. ¡°BOOM!¡± Suddenly a shock wave spread across the sky as Zarak unleashed the full power of his Astral Wave and Ego Wave. When that incredible power appeared in the sky, beasts and humans stopped their fight, and all focused on it. Zarak took one hundred obsidian needles from his space ring before reinforcing each with his Astral Wave. The blue light in his eyes grew even stronger as he waved his hand, sending them toward the Wave Beasts on the ground. Cain had a perfect vision of the several battlefields spread around Korin City from his position in the sky. He was utterly shocked seeing hundreds of Wave Beasts fall dead to the ground each second. In less than half a minute, all of the Wave Beasts, including the Stampedes Leader, were dead. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Zarak spoke calmly as if that massacre was nothing in his sight. A monstrous red light emerged in his eyes as Cain saw the more than ten thousand Wave Beasts¡¯ death. ¡®I will have that power!¡¯ ¡ª¡ª- End of Book 1. The hidden saga of the Red King Chapter 107 107 Soul Breaker Zarak The state of Korin City changed drastically from one day to the other. Yesterday, warriors fought ferociously against an endless horde of Wave Beasts, but now there was no more fighting. Soldiers were still busy, but their current job was dissecting and storing the thousands of carcasses across the battlefield. Wave Beasts were heavy and had tough skin and muscles, but the soldiers were more than happy with this job as it was safe, and they could keep a considerable amount of the meat for themselves. While they did their job, the soldiers looked toward the sky above Korin City with awe and admiration. Their eyes could not leave the floating structure made with the broken pieces of some buildings floating one hundred meters above the ground. As for the way that structure did not fall to the ground, that was something beyond the realm of a Wave Warrior¡¯sprehension. What the soldiers knew was that inside that floating building was the man responsible for killing more than ten thousand Wave Beasts in less than thirty seconds! Major Luma was in charge of taking care of the aftermath, and she was currently looking at the Lightning Panther with aplicated expression. This Late Wave Champion Beast had been a fierce rival and almost killed her more than once, but now ity there dead. Zarak¡¯s obsidian needles were so fast that they took the Lightning Panther by surprise. The Late Wave Champion Beast did not even know how it died. ¡°Major Luma.¡± Razmun appeared by Luma¡¯s side the next second and gave a slight bow. ¡°Your report.¡± Luma was not in the mood for a small chat and went straight to the point. ¡°Yes, Major. We have already secured everything in a radius of five thousand meters around Korin City. Although some weak Level 1 or 2 Wave Beasts are still around, their numbers do not even reach the hundreds. We can say with certainty that the stampedes are over.¡± ..... Luma nodded when she heard that, and she was able to rx a little. Although Zarak killed every Wave Beast, including the Stampede Leader, there was always the chance that a new horde could be hiding in the forest, waiting for the right moment to strike. Luckily for Luma and the soldiers, it seemed that was not the case, and things were finally over. ¡°Since the battles are over, it is time to start with the reconstruction efforts. Our first goal is to raise new walls around the city¡¯s periphery and fix the defensive mechanisms. Once that is over, we will let the civilians out of the underground tunnels so they can assist us from that point on.¡± It was clear that Luma had a lot of experience with the military, as hermands followed the protocols wlessly. ¡°Yes, Major!¡± Razmun bowed again, but just as he was about to leave, his eyes focused on the floating building, and he could not hide the curiosity in his eyes. Luma knew that Razmun had questions. Since they were in a time of peace, she nodded toward the man, indicating she could ask. ¡°Major, I saw the cadets Levi and Cain floating in the sky, but who was that man with them that was able to carry on a massacre with a simple movement of his hand?¡± Major Luma remained silent for a moment. She also stared at the floating building, and her eyes glowed with golden light, showing her the blue force that held that structure in the sky. ¡°In the powerdder of the Godyer Humankind Empire, the one at the peak is the current Emperor, who earned that title less than one thousand years ago thanks to his undisputed might. Beneath him are the 72 Sector Dukes, extremely powerful Titans with a strength capable of crushing entire cities with their bare hands. The Copsing Lightning Duke is among the top ten.¡± Razmun made sure to put all his attention on Major Luma¡¯s words. He knew her background was impressive, allowing her to see the powerdder of the Godyer Humankind Empire much better than a simple Vice-Captain like him. ¡°Beneath each Sector Duke, there are Nine Pirs. They are supposed to be the pirs that will hold the sector in ce if the Duke dies. They are the strongest warriors of each sector, and theirbined might allows them to butcher Gods. The Nine Pirs of the Copsing Lightning Sector are said to be the most brutal of all. Instead of guardians, powerhouses across the empire consider them killers.¡± Luma made a small pause as she remembered something before carrying on. ¡°Soul Breaker Zarak is the youngest to have ever be one of the Nine Pirs of the Copsing Lightning Sector, and he did it by...¡± Razmun grew confused as he saw Luma stop speaking, and that feeling grew stronger when the woman¡¯s face grew pale. Luma could not carry on as she saw two blue eyes looking at her coldly. Only she could see them and no one else since they were not really there but were an illusion. ?Come!¡± That word echoed inside Luma¡¯s mind, and her eyes lost focus before she rose to the sky and headed into the floating building at full speed. Only once she was inside the building did Luma¡¯s eyes regain her focus. She was confused for a moment, but then she understood what had just happened, and rage appeared on her face. Being forced to do something against her will was incredibly humiliating for her. ¡°Hmph, you should consider yourself lucky, little girl. I am someone that values his privacy. If it were not for the merits of your grandfather, I would have trapped your mind into a nightmare for daring to even think of revealing my secrets.¡± Luma focused on the voice¡¯s origin and saw Zarak sitting on a broken throne. The blue light in his eyes made her feel she was in the presence of a giant, making it hard to breathe. ¡°I will never happen again, Lord Zarak!¡± Luma shouted those words, and it was clear there was fear in her eyes. Life on the battlefield washed away her fear of death, but she knew that being trapped in one of Zarak¡¯s nightmares was much worse than that. Zarak did not say anything else before waving his hand and sending the Atrox¡¯s body toward Luma. ¡°Analyze him and give me an evaluation.¡± Luma was confused, but she did not dare to refute thatmand, and she sent her Ego Wave into the Atrox. Shock immediately appeared in her eyes when she discovered that the Atrox¡¯s mind and heart were still working, but there were no signs of any egoing from this one. Something like that could happen if someone broke the Atrox¡¯s soul. Luma nced at Zarak, but she did not dare to ck off and began to analyze the wounds on the body. The more she saw, the more confused she grew. After around ten minutes, Luma¡¯s Ego Wave left the Atrox¡¯s body. ¡°What is your evaluation?¡± Luma did not understand the reason behind Zarak¡¯s task, but she answered honestly. ¡°This male Atrox was a Wave Champion. He has two sets of wounds on his body. The first and the oldest seemed to have been left by a Late or Peak Wave Champion. As for the second set, they are no more than a day old, and the one that did it had the strength of a Wave Warrior. His condition is so severe that it would only have been a matter of time before he perished. However, the true killer is the one that broke the Atrox¡¯s soul.¡± Zarak nodded after hearing that, and then he snapped his fingers. Luma felt a slight pain in her brain, and the next second she saw two capsules on Zarak¡¯s left and right. It took a moment, but she understood that she had been under an illusion all this time. Who knew what would have happened if Zarak had not liked her evaluation? She took a deep breath and calmed her mind before focusing on the capsule on the left. In it, she saw Levi floating in a green liquid with red streams. A sh of envy appeared in her eyes since she knew just how valuable that liquid was. However, her eyes widened as she stared at the capsule on the right. In it, she saw Cain, and this one floated in a liquid that was bloody red. It was so thick that she could almost not see the cadet¡¯s body. Luma came from a very wealthy background, but even she could not help but feel awe at the price of the blood-red liquid covering Cain¡¯s body. ¡°These two, along with another cadet named Beelze, were responsible for neutralizing the Atrox Wave Champion. When I arrived, the enemy could no longer move. Although I am responsible for destroying the Atrox¡¯s soul, the trio deserves the merit of defeating him. Hand over your report to your superior today, and make sure to write everything you have heard and seen.¡± Zarak said nothing else before signaling Luma to leave. Luma was full of questions, but she knew there would be no answer for her, so she bowed to Zarka before leaving the building. As soon as Luma left the floating building, this one began to crumble, and boulders weighing several tons started to fall to the ground. Luckily, a blue force guided their path, ensuring they harmed no one and nothing. Luma saw how Zarak rose to the sky along with the two capsules and the Atrox¡¯s body before shing toward the Imperial Lightning Fort. Chapter 108 108 Hellzer Family (I) Book 2. The rise of the Blood Lightning Genius ¡ª Levi slowly opened his eyes, and they had a deep sense of confusion. However, a wave of panic pushed that away as he found himself submerged in a green liquid with red streams. Drowning had an extremely powerful psychological effect on all terrestrial life forms, so Levi¡¯s reaction was not that odd. Levi calmed down very fast after realizing he could still breathe. Breathing underwater seemed far-fetched, but it was nothing for the current scientific development of the Godyer Humankind Empire. A few moments after he woke up, the capsule that held Levi began to drain the liquid before opening itself, allowing him to get out. The confusion in Levi¡¯s eyes only grew stronger as he left the capsule. Thest thing he remembered was fighting the Atrox before an explosion sent him flying away, and he lost consciousness. As he attempted to figure out what had happened, Levi began to analyze his body, and surprise appeared in his eyes. Not only were all his wounds gone, but he felt better than ever before in his life. Levi could almost not believe it when he began circting his Astral Wave and realized he had already entered Level 4! ..... The higher the level, the more time it would take to advance. Levi had been at Level 3 for less than two months, yet he had already reached Level 4 and was reaching the peak of that level! An even greater sense of wonder assaulted Levi¡¯s mind when he noticed the luster in his skin and bald head and immediately figured out he had gone through another session of marrow washing. Levi was just getting used to the refinements on his body when a sense of utter shock assaulted him. It was hard to say with certainty, but he felt a change in his bloodline as if this one had grown stronger! Many factors determined the strength of a bloodline, but the most important ones were origin and purity. When one spoke about the origin, they referred to the root of your bloodline. If its source was a Wave Beast whose power equaled a Titan or God, it made sense that the benefits it granted would be superior to those of a beast that could only match a Wave Champion. As for purity, it alluded to the density of the bloodline. The farther you were from the source and the weaker your parents were, the lower the purity of the bloodline inside your body would be, and vice versa. Levi knew that while the bloodline inside his body had an incredibly powerful origin, the purity was low due to one of his parents. However, now he felt that the capsule had partially fixed that w. ¡°You finally woke up. You were in the Recovery Capsule for fifteen days. Not bad.¡± Levi adopted a battle stance as he focused on the voice and saw a beautiful woman with golden hair and blue eyes walking toward him. He did not know who she was, and while he was d for the effect of the capsule, there was no way he would lower his guard in a situation like this. The woman showed nothing and kept walking until she stood before Levi. She waved her hand, taking a blue martial robe from her space ring. ¡°My name is Abin, the personal assistant of Lord Zarak. Hemanded that I should bring you to him the moment you woke up, so let¡¯s go. I will answer your question on the way.¡± Levi had already heard of Zarak from Cain and knew that the man was a big shot in the army. Although he was still cautious, refusing did not seem like a choice, so he put the blue martial robe on and walked with Abin. ¡°What happened to my friends?¡± That was the first question that came from Levi¡¯s mouth, and Abin immediately answered it. ¡°Cain Laurifer is healing in a Recovery Capsule just like you were. As for Beelze Aegon, she perished in battle.¡± Levi smiled as he heard that first part, but when it came to Beelze¡¯s fate, his body trembled, and he stopped moving. Abin turned toward Levi and waited for this one. She was also a soldier and knew the feeling of losing arade for the first time. A sorrowful expression appeared on Levi¡¯s face. He, Cain, and Beelze were ready to die when they faced that Atrox, but it was still very painful to know that one of the first friends he made in his life was gone forever. ¡°Ahhh, this world is ruthless.¡± Levi sighed as he uttered those words and continued walking. It was when they were about to reach a teleportation matrix that Levi spoke again. ¡°What happened to my body?¡± Levi was smart enough to understand the changes had to do with the Recovery Capsule and the green liquid with green streams. However, that was far from enough to satiate his curiosity. Just like before, Abin answered Levi¡¯s question with speed and efficiency. ¡°Recovery Capsules can monitor your vital signs and help your healing. However, the true reason for your improvements was the C-Grade Blood Solution and Lord Zarak¡¯s hypnosis.¡± Abin knew that her words generated more doubts in Levi, so she continued. ¡°A Blood Solution is a special fluid used to treat wounds and nurture the body of life forms. They are fundamental in the process of limb and organ regeneration. C-Grade Blood Solutions were meant to help Wave Champion, so your body and Rebirth Heart had all the energy they could use until reaching their saturation point. Of course, the fact you had the energy at your disposal did not mean you could use it. Luckily for you, Lord Zarak used his power to put your mind and body into a state of Embryonic Breathing.¡± Before Levi even had to ask what Abin referred to with Embryonic Breathing, she gave him an urate description. ¡°Lord Zarak reactivated the electromaic circuitry you used to have as a fetus, allowing your entire body to draw energy from the surroundings at a cellr level. A high-grade Blood Solution plus a deep state of Embryonic Breathing can help you stimte your potential and push your body to its true peak. That is your current state now.¡± Levi was genuinely amazed by what he had just heard. Being able to provide so much help to someone made it seem that Zarak had extraordinary supernatural powers. However, Levi was a little worried about all that help. He knew there were no free meals in this world and had no idea what Zarak would want from him. As if being able to read Levi¡¯s mind, Abin¡¯s next words calm down the cadet. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Although the C-Grade Blood Solution and Embryonic Breathing can be considered great lucky chances for Wave Warriors, they are not that important for Lord Zarak. He said that you could take them as a reward for defeating that Atrox Wave Champion.¡± Levi nodded, and although there were still some concerns, there was not much he could do about it. He got in the teleportation matrix along with Abin, and they both vanished the next second. The next thing Levi saw was a massive room with skulls and weapons hanging from the walls. Suddenly, his eyes burst with coldness and killing intent as he saw four people with red robes engraved with volcanos. Three of them were middle aged-man with fiery red eyes. A hood covered the face of thest one, and this one stood behind the others. The one at the head of the group was a bald man, and when he saw the killing intent on Levi¡¯s face, he showed a nasty smile. ¡°It has been a long time since we saw each other, Young Master. I don¡¯t understand why you show such animosity to your old uncle Mirak.¡± The middle-aged man spoke mockingly, and there was not a single ounce of respect in his voice. Levi¡¯s eyes burned with even greater wrath as he heard Mirak¡¯s words, but he felt Abin¡¯s gaze urging him to keep moving. He walked forward until he stood to the left of Zarak¡¯s throne, staring directly at those men with volcano robes. Zarak¡¯s eyes moved between Levi and the group. Even a blind man like him could see the immense hatred between the two parties. Yet, his face showed no concern at all. ¡°Now that all the parties are present, you can state why you came here in such a hurry,¡± Zarak spoke calmly, and there was even a trace of boredom on his face. It seemed that he did not care about anything that was happening. Unlike the nasty smile Marik gave to Levi, he adopted an extremely respectful and severe expression as he turned toward Zarak. ¡°Yes, Lord Zarak. We came here to bring Levi Hellzer back to his home so he could enroll in Hellzer University.¡± Levi¡¯s eyes widened with shock and dread. He knew very well what the Hellzer Family thought of someone like him, so nothing good would happen if he left the Imperial Lightning Fort. Chapter 109 109 Hellzer Family (II) ¡°There seems to be a problem with your words. Cadet Levi enrolled in the Copsing Lightning Military Academy, and there is still half a year on his mandatory service. He can not leave, and you can not take him unless you want to break thews and defy the authority of the Imperial Lightning Fort.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light as he expressed thatst part, generating immense pressure on the Marik and the others. ¡®That is right. I am part of the Imperial Military Force now. Even if I am just a cadet, I am under their rules and protection, and not even Dukes would dare to defy their authority, as that would mean defying the Emperor.¡± Levi¡¯s heart calmed, and a small smile appeared on his face. Nevertheless, Levi immediately understood that things would not be so easy when he saw that Marik managed to stay calm under Zarak¡¯s pressure and showed him a cold smile. ¡°The Hellzer Family would not do something so impolite as to defy the rules of the Lightning Imperial Fort. Actually, Young Master Levi had wanted to enter Hellzer University, but his merits and talent were not high enough. He sent many letters during the past few months stating that desire. We have ignored them, but his recent aplishments proved his might, so the university made a special ce for him.¡± ¡°Liar!¡± Marik had just finished speaking when Levi shouted, full of rage. His choice of entering the military had nothing to do with his inability to enter a university, and he certainly never sent a message stating that desire. ¡°Young Master, how rude of you to call me a liar. Especially when I have proof that supports my words.¡± Marik kept smiling as he sent a folder to Zarak and Levi through his A.I. Chip. Zarak showed nothing as he went through the folder, but shock appeared on Levi¡¯s face. ..... In it, there were letters and audio files from Levi to Hellzer University begging them to give him a spot. They were marked as sent from his A.I. Chip, and the voice in the audio files was an exact match to his. Levi knew they were fake, but he could not prove it. He had zero talent when it came to hacking. ¡°Even if cadet Levi was desperate to enter Hellzer University, that does not mean he could leave the Copsing Lightning Military Academy.¡± Zarak did not question the authenticity of the letters and audio files and only stated a fact. Levi was also aware of that, but he understood they would definitely have something more hidden under their sleeve if they went through all this trouble. Mirak¡¯s cold smile only grew wider as he sent a second folder to Zarak and Levi. Disbelief appeared on Levi¡¯s face as he read the letter inside the folder, and even Zarak showed some surprise. They saw a letter from the Copsing Lightning Logistics Department stating Levi Hellzer¡¯s transfer to Hellzer University. In the letter, there was Levi¡¯s digital signature, meaning that he had asked for this, and it was dated a day before he fell unconscious battling with the Atrox Wave Champion. ¡°We use the correct channels for something so sensitive as a transfer in the middle of the year. Young Master Levimunicated with the officer in charge and went through all the procedures using his A.I. Chip. We came in such a hurry because we could not contact him, but it seems that Young Master is perfectly fine.¡± Marik looked at Levi, and the smile on his face only grew nastier, as if telling the young man that there was nothing he could do. Levi was having a hard time understanding what was happening. He knew the Hellzer Family was powerful, but he never thought they could falsify so much information and find a way to bring him out of the Imperial Military Academy without breaking any rule. ¡°I find nothing wrong with this transfer order. Besides, ording to this, you spoke with someone in the Imperial Lightning Logistics Department 16 days ago.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was calm, as if everything that happened had nothing to do with him. ¡°It is false! I have never contacted anyone in the logistics department, and much less express my desire to leave the Copsing Lightning Military Academy.¡± Levi shouted with rage. He could not keep calm when something so outrageous was happening to him. ¡°Young Master, it is toote to change your mind. The logistics department has already emitted your transfer order, and you must leave with us immediately. If you refuse, we have the authority to make youply.¡± Marik¡¯s voice was full of mockery, and it was clear how little he thought of Levi. Levi clenched his fist as he stared at Marik. He knew he could not win against the middle-aged man but refused to go down without a fight. ¡°Do you have any proof that this is false?¡± Levi heard Zarak¡¯s question and turned to this one before shaking his head. He had no way of proving the Hellzer Family¡¯s scheme. ¡°Since the cadet had nothing to say, I would like to ask a few questions before you leave.¡± ¡°Of course, Lord Zarak.¡± Marik showed a smile toward Zarak as he bowed. Initially, he was afraid that the Copsing Lightning Pir would interfere, but it seemed he was just being paranoid. ¡°The questions I have are not for someone currently in this room.¡± Zarak¡¯s words confused Levi and the members of the Hellzer Family, but he just waited quietly, not offering any exnation for his actions. After five minutes of waiting, the teleportation matrix in the room glowed, and the one that appeared was a man wearing a military uniform. When the man reached the room, there was a confident expression on his face, but the moment he saw Levi and the Hellzer Family members, all that smugness vanished. What reced it was a sense of dread. The man seemed to want to jump back into the teleportation matrix, but an invisible force grabbed his body and brought him toward Zarak. Mirak was about to step forward when he saw that, but he stopped before doing it. There was no way he could interfere with someone so powerful as Zarak, and there was a clear apprehension on his face. As soon as the man in military attire saw Zarak¡¯s blue eyes, his entire body began to tremble, and his face grew deadly pale. Levi frowned as he did not understand what was happening. ¡®Who is that man, and why did Mirak and the others act like that?¡¯ Something bad for Mirak was good for him, but Levi did not dare to lower his guard. ¡°Brat, have you ever seen this man before?¡± Levi was confused by Zarak¡¯s question. He saw the pleading gaze in the man, but there was no way he would lie in a situation like this. ¡°I have never seen him.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard that, and the force that held the man in ce began to exert even more strength. ¡°How odd. This man¡¯s name is Frederik Loron, an officer in the Imperial Lightning Logistics Department. ording to the transfer order, you spoke with him 16 days ago, and it was a video call, so how could you have never seen him before.¡± Enlightenment appeared in Levi¡¯s eyes as he heard that and a radiant smile appeared on his face. Mirak and the others were worried because Frederik was their inside man who plotted with them to generate that transfer order under false information. In essence, Frederik Loron was a traitor, working for the Hellzer Family and plotting to harm a cadet from the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. There was only one way in which the Imperial Military Force treated traitors. Frederick knew there was no way someone like him could trick Zarak, so he threw another pleading gaze, this time to the Hellzer Family. Marik would have preferred if Frederik died before saying a single word, but it was clear that things would not end so cleanly, which is why he interfered. ¡°Lord Zarak, we should not discuss matters like this in the open. It would be best if you consider the bigger picture and give some face to the people we represent.¡± Marik did not have the power to influence someone like Zarak, so he wanted to put some pressure on this one by mentioning his background. Levi clenched his fists when he heard that. This experience had proven that while the military¡¯s rules and codes could help him, they were far from enough to guarantee his safety. He was worried that Zarak would cave into Marik for fear of offending the Hellzer Duke. It was at that point that Levi noticed that Abin, who had not said a word or expressed any emotion this entire time, shook her head and stared at Marik with some pity. Before Levi could even wonder the reason for Abin¡¯s pity, Zarak raised his index finger and generated a small orb of revolving water before shooting it. Everything happened in less than a second and what urred next were screams. ¡°AHHHHHHH!¡± Marik screamed in agony as that small orb of waternded on his right shoulder, destroying the muscles and bones, and severing his arm! Terror appeared in the eyes of the other two middle age man from the Hellzer Family. None of them could have stopped an attack like that. ¡°Keep screaming, and the next one willnd in your jaw.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was eerie cold as he generated a second orb of revolving water. Chapter 110 110 Hellzer Family (III) ¡°Keep screaming, and the next one willnd in your jaw.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was eerie cold as he generated a second orb of revolving water. Marik trembled with fear and knew that Zarak was not lying. He clenched his teeth with all his strength and stopped screaming, but the look on his face made it clear just how much agony he was in. Zarak did not care about Marik and turned toward Frederick with coldness. The blue light in his eyes grew even stronger as he proceeded to speak with a tone of voice that carried an extremely powerful intent. ¡°The transfer order was dated 16 days ago. When did you really make it?¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes lost focus as he heard Zarak¡¯s voice and began to speak calmly. ¡°I generated that transfer order two days ago under the order of Marik Hellzer.¡± It was only after answering that question that Frederick¡¯s eyes returned to normal. Absolute terror appeared in them as he knew he had admitted his crime. Marik showed even greater terror. Still, he did not dare to interrupt Zarak¡¯s interrogation, no matter how much itpromised him. ¡°Tell me your rtionship with the Hellzer Family.¡± Frederick could not resist the power in Zarak¡¯s voice, and his eyes again lost focus and answered the question withplete honesty. ..... ¡°I have been under the service of the Hellzer Family for almost seven months. They enticed me with immense wealth and gave me intel that could help my career. Up to this point, I have only provided logistics information regarding the Imperial Lightning Fort¡¯s resources and our forces. The situation with cadet Levi is the first time Marik asked me to interfere directly with any Copsing Lightning Military Academy member.¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes regained focus, and the terror in them only grew stronger. Everybody already knew he had been a double agent of the Hellzer Family for over half a year. The expression of Marik and the other two middle-aged men from the Hellzer Family was not any better. Not only was it clear they could not take Levi with them, but they had just lost an agent inside the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°Lord Zarak, have mercy! My actions never harmed anybody; even now, cadet Levi is fine. Please, I beg you!¡± Frederick begged for his life with tears in his eyes. He was so terrified that it seemed he would sully himself at any moment. Zarak showed no emotion other than coldness as he continued with the interrogation. ¡°Do you have any information about any other spy, or is there any aplice to your deeds?¡± ¡°No. I have always worked alone. The risk of someone revealing my identity as a spy from the Hellzer Family was too high.¡± Zarak nodded, and the coldness in his eyes diminished. He even showed a small smile. Frederick found that smile extremely rxing and the terror overflowing his heart began to diminish. ¡°You beg me for your life, dering that you have never harmed anyone, but you are smart enough to understand what would happen to the cadet once he left.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was calm, but a force that made the entire room tremble manifested. The newfound calm in Frederick¡¯s heart shattered the next second, and his eyes widened as he felt the force grabbing his body begin to exert a monstrous strength. ¡°Lord Zarak, I beg you!¡± Frederick screamed as his bones shattered before his body exploded like a balloon full of blood. That scene shocked the members of the Hellzer Family, and even Levi, who had no love for the man, was surprised by that savagery. ¡°The reason soldiers can have such an immense trust in the military is that they know that any betrayal to your brothers and sisters would be punished with absolute brutality. If I allowed people like him to prosper, cadets would never call the Imperial Lightning Fort their home.¡± Zarak spoke those words to Levi, making the cadet understand the true might of the Imperial Military Force. Despite the Hellzer Family going through so much trouble, they still failed miserably. ¡°I understand,¡± Levi said nothing else, but the sharp light in his eyes made it clear he had engraved Zarak¡¯s words in his mind. Zarak nodded at the cadet before turning toward the Hellzer Family, and the smile on his face grew wider. ¡°Since you dare to put a spy in the Imperial Lightning Fort, I think you should receive the same treatment as him.¡± Marik and the other two middle-aged men grew pale when they heard that, and absolute terror invaded them when they saw the bloody pulp that was once Frederick. ¡°You... you can not kill us. We are under the protection of the Hellzer Duke!¡± Marik shouted, trying to regain some courage by remembering his background. Zarak stopped smiling as he heard that and began to look around the room before focusing on Marik again. ¡°I know that I am blind, but my perception is one of the things I am most proud of. To think that the mighty Hellzer Duke could enter my residence without me knowing it. I am amazed at Your Grace¡¯s abilities.¡± Marik was confused, and the terror did not allow his mind to work well, so he just answered by instinct. ¡°He is not with us.¡± Zarak showed a cold and cruel smile as he heard as he turned toward Marik. ¡°If he is not here, then how will he protect you from me?¡± Zarak was mocking Marik for thinking he could use the name of a man hundreds of millions of kilometers away. The blue light in his eyes burst with power, and it seemed he was ready to kill all the Hellzer Family members. At that moment, the person at the back of the group, whose face was covered by a hood and who did not say a word this entire time, walked forward. That young man took his hood, revealing a handsome face with jet-ck hair and eyes that seemed to glow with embers of mes. The light in his eyes was not the result of the Ego Wave but the power of his bloodline. Levi could not hide his shock when he saw that young man. He knew just how high that person¡¯s position was in the Hellzer Family and could notprehend why someone like him would be in a ce like this, trying to force him back to the Hellzer Sector. The young man did not even bother to nce at Levi and only focused on Zarak. He showed a calm smile despite the immense danger in which he found himself. ¡°Lord Zarak, allow me to introduce myself. I am Magnus Hellzer, son of Gabriel Hellzer and grandson of Azazel Hellzer, Duke of the Hellzer Sector.¡± Zarak was a little surprised to see that the young man could keep suchposure in his presence. He did not retract his power but allowed this one to continue speaking. ¡°Lord Zarak, you already killed our man on the inside and punished one of my subordinates for his recklessness. If you allow us to leave now, I am sure my grandfather will send a token of his appreciation. Considering the current state of the empire and the events that will happen soon, I am sure Lord Zarak knows that generating animosity with the Hellzer Sector would only make things harder.¡± Magnus spoke with a calm voice, his eyes going from the bloody pulp that was once Frederick to Marik¡¯s bleeding shoulder. He was very eloquent, stating the benefits of ending this peacefully. Zarak¡¯s smile became more natural after hearing Magus¡¯s words. ¡°The one that pulls the strings finally speaks. You are right that this is certainly not the time to sow bad will.¡± Marik and the other two middle-aged men from the Hellzer Family were about to rx, thinking that Magnus had handled things. However, the next second, they saw how the coldness returned to Zarak¡¯s face, and his eyes burst with even stronger blue light. ¡°But so what. What will you do if I want to ignore the bigger picture and kill you?¡± Despite the imminent threat of death and the feeling of a force ready to crush him to a pulp, Magnus¡¯ smile did not vanish, nor did the calm in his heart. ¡°There is nothing I can do to stop you, but my death will trigger a series of catastrophic events that would be problematic even for you, Lord Zarak. That is not a threat but a in fact.¡± Magnus¡¯s voice showed no vacition, and he had absolute confidence in his words. Zarak¡¯s eyes did not leave the young man for a long time before the power of his mind vanished from the room. The coldness in his face disappeared, and he began tough. ¡°Hahaha, not bad. It seems that the Hellzer Family found itself a good heir. However, I will tell you something, if you go after him, the only destiny that awaits you is a horrible death.¡± Chapter 111 111 Hellzer Family (IV) Magnus kept smiling after hearing Zarak¡¯s threat, but a very sharp light appeared in his eyes. ¡°Is Lord Zarak going to protect him from now on and avenge him if he perishes?¡± Zarak immediately shook his head, making it clear that Magnus had things wrong. ¡°I have never seen this brat before, so there is no way I would spend every waking moment protecting him. As for avenging his death, while I will kill any traitor in the army, I am not so free as to go around butchering every man that killed a soldier.¡± Magnus¡¯ eyes grew even sharper as he heard that, and some confusion appeared on his face. ¡°If you are not the one that will make me regret going after him, then do you mean the son of a lowly concubine could defeat me?¡± Levi¡¯s eyes burst with killing intent as he heard how Magnus referred to his mother. The wrath was so immense that it seemed he would jump forward at any second, but a handnded on his shoulder before he could take a single step. The one that stopped Levi was Abin, and the young man was surprised to feel that he could not move a single muscle under the weight of that hand. Even after that, Magnus still did not look at Levi and kept his eyes on Zarak. ..... ¡°You are also wrong in that. That brat¡¯s talent and wits can not equal yours. Of course, that could change in the future, but as things stand, he has no chance against you.¡± Magnus¡¯ smile vanished. It was clear that Zarak was ying with him, but he could only endure it as the difference in power was too great. Zarak only smiled as he saw the annoyance on Magnus¡¯ face. He found it amusing to bother people ustomed to seeing others beneath them. ¡°The one that will go after you is my core disciple. That brat values friendship a lot, and if you go after one of his friends, your end will be excruciating.¡± When Levi heard that, a sh of rage appeared in his eyes, and he focused on Zarak. Although he hated the Hellzer Family with all his heart, he never intended to involve anyone else in that fight, but Zarak¡¯s words pushed Cain into it. Levi knew that even if he swore no one would interfere, Magnus was not the type to leave loose ends. Actually, he already had an idea why all this happened. Until now, Levi had not been a threat, so the Hellzer Family did not care about him, despite knowing the wrath in his heart. However, the news of his involvement in the Atrox Wave Champion¡¯s dead must have spread, making Magnus act. Magnus¡¯ eyes narrowed as he analyzed every word Zarak spoke. After a moment, he performed a deep bow. ¡°I thank Lord Zarak for your hospitality. I will be leaving now.¡± Magnus turned around and walked to the teleportation matrix with the rest of the middle-aged men from the Hellzer Family before vanishing. Zarak saw the group leave and waited for a few seconds before turning toward Levi. ¡°It is time for you to leave.¡± Levi stared at Zarak for a moment before sping his hands and bowing. He was thankful for the man¡¯s help but was angry that this one brought Cain into his feud with the Hellzer Family. Zarak showed a small smile when he saw Levi vanish past the teleportation matrix. ¡°Abin, is that geezer still looking for disciples?¡± ¡°Yes, Master. Lord Kyrin¡¯sst disciple perished two months ago and still has not found a new one.¡± ¡°Give him the information about this brat. His Lineage is suitable for training that technique, and he has no true background, so he is perfect.¡± Abin was surprised when she heard that, and a sh of concern appeared in her eyes. ¡°Master, more than nine people have died training Lord Kyrin¡¯s technique. If that were to happen to cadet Levi, would not that alienate the Young Lord?¡± Zarak immediately shook his head, making it clear that Abin¡¯s assessment was wrong. ¡°That geezer may seem careless, but all those who trained his technique knew the dangers they would face, and they could leave at any moment. Not to mention that could be the only way that brat would have any chance of surviving the plots of the Hellzer Family. I have already figured out Cain¡¯s personality. As long as I do everything in the open, even if Levi were to die, he would not me me.¡± ¡°If that is the case, I will contact Lord Kyrin as soon as possible.¡± Abin nodded, showingplete trust in Zarak¡¯s assessment. Zarak knew that he could leave the task in the hands of the woman. She had been a long time with him, and her help had proved priceless. ¡°By the way, how is that brat doing?¡± ¡°Young Lord is still in a profound sleep. He is training an auxiliary technique that keeps improving his body despite being unconscious, increasing the saturation point of his cells, allowing him to devour more and more of the B-Grade Blood Solution.¡± ¡°Hahaha, good, very good. His talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power is truly amazing. For that brat to show no signs of waking up, he must instinctively be using his own Ego Wave to remain in a state of Embryonic Breathing. Although his heroic nature is a little troublesome, he is still young and will mature as he understands the cruelty of this world.¡± An odd expression appeared on Abin¡¯s face when she saw Zarak¡¯sughing and shouting. She had known her Master for a long time and knew very few things could arouse his excitement. ¡°Master, can I ask a question?¡± Zarak turned to Abin and saw the confusion in her eyes. He smiled, as he already knew what she wanted to ask. ¡°You are wondering why I put Cain in the sight of the Hellzer¡¯s brat, despite knowing the danger that represented.¡± Abin showed no surprise that Zarak figured out her question. She would have found it weird if he had not done it. ¡°People like me and that brat take the Ego Eternal Path of Power as our primary source of strength. Our willpower determines how high our Ego Cultivation can rise, so I will send enemies on his path who can truly test him. That way, his limiter will never stop rising.¡± ¡°But what if he perishes?¡± Abin knew that Zarak¡¯s n made perfect sense, but it would still put Cain in immense danger. Zarak shrugged his shoulders as he heard Abin¡¯s concerns. ¡°I am not his babysitter nor his father. I will use all my power to help him grow stronger, and it will be up to him if the enemies that appear on his path be boulders that crush his body or mere stepping stones.¡± Abin nodded and said nothing else. It was not her ce to question her Master¡¯s guidance. ¡°Did you finish your research on his past?¡± Zarak had already made inquiries about Cain after learning of the youth¡¯s unique Ego Eternal Matrix. Still, it was only after this one entered the First Realm that he went the extra mile andmissioned thorough research. ¡°Yes, Master. His initial Wave Talent assessment dered himplete trash with a Low Tier 1 Wave Talent, but he suffered from the spontaneous awakening of a dormant bloodline. It was also around that time that it seems he killed a ssmate named Kiron Uran.¡± If Cain were here, he would have been shocked to know that Abin could figure out his involvement in the death of Kiron. Zarak showed nothing when he heard about Cain¡¯s assassination. However, interest did appear when he learned about the bloodline awakening. ¡°After that, he entered the military academy and showed no suspicious activity until around a month after the secret trial. Although I am not 100% sure, I believe he is responsible for the death of Nira and Dimitri Kilor, thest being a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior. ording to my information, the duo attempted to ambush the Young Lord, but things did not end their way.¡± Once again, interest appeared on Zarak¡¯s face. Killing a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior while only at Level 2 was an impressive feat. ¡°Does the Kilor Family know about it?¡± ¡°I do not believe so. Young Lord did an excellent job hiding his tracks, and Nira and Dimitri¡¯s bodies have still not appeared. However, they are working very hard to find the truth, so it is only a matter of time.¡± Zarak remained silent for a moment as he considered things before giving amand. ¡°Keep an eye on the Kilor Family. If they discover the truth before Cain reaches Level 5, destroy them.¡± Zarak had no problem sending enemies toward Cain so that this one could grow, but he was not reckless. Magnus Hellzer was already a great threat, and adding another like the Kilor Family so soon could be too much. Abin nodded and did not say a word. It was clear that for her, destroying a Viscount Family meant nothing. After giving the highlights, she sent the rest of the file to Zarak through her A.I. Chip. ¡°I need to rest. Bring that brat to me when he wakes up.¡± Zarak said nothing else before closing his eyes. Chapter 112 112 Almost 1 point Abin stood in front of the capsule that contained Cain with her usual calm expression. Nevertheless, deep inside, she was amazed by what was happening. Unlike the state of the capsule that contained Levi, the liquid of the one with Cain was in turmoil. Cain¡¯s body was in a state of hyperactivity, with every cell growing stronger by the minute. Thanks to Embryonic Breathing, Cain could take full advantage of the immense energy contained in the B-Grade Blood Solution, improving his Astral Wave Cultivation in gigantic steps. And things did not end there since he could use the full power of his Ego Wave to revolve the Blood Refinement Art instinctively. As their name suggests, Blood Solutions were made from the blood of Wave Beasts. A C-Grade Blood Solution contained the blood essence of ten Wave Champion Wave Beasts, so one could only imagine the might of a B-Grade. The Blood Refinement Art was working at full power, using the incredibly pure blood essence inside the B-Grade Blood Solution to temper Cain¡¯s flesh and blood. It advanced at truly amazing speed, and the only thing slowing it down was Cain¡¯s cultivation. Abin¡¯s A.I. Chip was connected to the Recovery Capsule, allowing her to monitor Cain¡¯s condition. She was impressed to see the speed at which his cultivation and body improved. All of Cain¡¯s wounds had healed over the past few weeks, including his left arm, which had regrown even stronger than before. Usually, while the regeneration of a missing limb was not impossible, it would drain a significant amount of vitality and affect an individual¡¯s cultivation. Nira had suffered from those side effects when she restored her missing arm since she could only use a D-Grade Blood Solution, but Cain did not face that problem. Not only did the B-Grade Blood Solution grant Cain all the vitality he could need, but his Blood Refinement Art allowed that blood energy to infiltrate into every single cell. ..... Suddenly, Cain¡¯s eyes began to twitch. His body and cultivation had reached their peak, fully excavating their potential, and it was time for him to wake up. Abin closely watched as Cain opened his eyes. Unlike Levi, despite being submerged in the thick red liquid, Cain did not lose focus, and his eyes immediately glowed with red light as he focused on the woman staring at his naked body. Even though Cain and Levi¡¯s starting points were not the same, with the first being conscious when put in the capsule, it was still impressive for him to show that level of focus and calm just after waking up. The Recovery Capsule began to collect the B-Grade Blood Solution before opening itself, allowing Cain to walk out of it. Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he stared at the woman without showing any emotion. He had no idea who she was and would not show any weakness in her presence. Abin saw how Cain raised his guard in front of her. She did notment on it and handed him a blue robe with a raging ocean engraved on the back before performing a slight bow. ¡°Young Lord, allow me to introduce myself. I am Abin, Lord Zarak¡¯s assistant and her disciple. He is waiting for us, so please wear the robe ande with me.¡± Cain stared at the woman for a moment, and when he felt no animosity from her, the red light vanished from his eyes. The coldness on his face disappeared, being reced by a calm smile. He nodded before wearing the rob, and the moment he put it on, it instantly adapted to his body. ¡°Is this robe a Wave Artifact?¡± ¡°Yes, Young Lord. Although it has no special ability, it has great resilience and can provide a secondyer of protection beneath your Wave Armor. It also has the Valentine Family¡¯s emblem engraved in the back.¡± Cain nodded as he heard Abin¡¯s thorough exnation, but an odd expression appeared on his face. ¡°Why do you keep calling me Young Lord?¡± Cain¡¯s background was extremely humble, even more after losing his father and the initial assessment of Wave Talent. He was not used to people treating him like some sort of scion. ¡°Even though we are both Lord Zarak¡¯s disciples, you are a core disciple, the only one. You are now considered a member of the Valentine Family, with a position just beneath the Patriarch.¡± Abin spoke with a respectful tone, making it clear the difference between their status. Cain was surprised to hear that. He knew that bing Lord Zarak¡¯s core disciple would raise his background, but he did not believe it would be so much. Although the treatment of a scion made Cain feel weird, there was no way he would deny such a lucky chance. ¡°Please apany me. We should not make Lord Zarak wait.¡± Cain nodded and walked alongside Abin. Many thoughts appeared in his mind as he analyzed his new status. ¡°How many people are in the Valentine Family, and who is the best among the young generation?¡± Even though it was not his intention, Cain knew that his status in the Valentine Family would displease many. There were bound to be some youngsters that thought he did not deserve his ce and made things hard for him. It was better to know them ahead of time, so he could figure out a way to handle them sooner rather thanter. ¡°There are only two people in the Valentine Family, you and Lord Zarak.¡± An awkward smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face when he heard that. He was forming all sorts of ns in his mind, and it turned out there was no enemy. ¡°How is Levi?¡± Cain knew that Levi also entered a capsule to heal just like him, so he was not worried that something could have happened to this one. ¡°Cadet Levi woke up ten days ago. He is currently in the fort.¡± Cain nodded before gazing at the ring in his hand. In it, there was a special coffin that held Beelze¡¯s body. The coffin was a gift from Zarak and would prevent Beelze¡¯s body from deteriorating. That would give Cain the time to contact her family and hand her over. Just as they were about to reach the teleportation matrix, Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed since the system had finished its analysis of him. [Scan of Vesselpleted ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 3 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Middle Tier 4¨C>Pseudo Level 5 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.71 Agility: 0.89 Vitality: 0.99 Wave: 0.86 ¡ª Marrow washing: 19%pletion ¡ª Destiny Force: 1259] When he saw those stats, a sense of shock and awe assaulted Cain¡¯s mind. He felt he had grown very powerful when he left the capsule but was amazed that it reached such a level. The Blood Refinement Art had done wonders, vastly improving his strength and body¡¯s endurance. As for the sharp rise in his speed, he took it as a side effect of enhancing his bloodline. However, the one that truly raised Cain¡¯s attention was his vitality. Increasing a stat to 1 point could be considered a bottleneck that only those that reached Level 4 could surpass. In the Godyer Humankind Empire, when your stats are no longer measured in decimal numbers, you are considered to have risen beyond a mere mortal and be a Godyer Human. ¡®I am not even at the limit of Level 3 yet. I should be able to achieve 1 point before entering Level 4, improving my foundation.¡¯ ¡°Is everything fine, Young Lord?¡± Abin¡¯s voice woke Cain from his hindsight. He had been so engrossed in his analysis that he almost forgot he was not alone and stopped walking without saying a word. In all fairness, the changes on him over thest few months, especially after using the capsule with the B-Grade Blood Solution, had been outstanding. ¡°Yes, I got distracted. There is nothing to worry about. Let¡¯s go.¡± Abin did not continue questioning Cain¡¯s behavior and only nodded before the duo reached the teleportation matrix and vanished. As soon as the duo appeared in the room, a blue force flooded it. It was truly mighty, converging at full strength on Cain¡¯s location. Thest time Cain faced Zarak¡¯s Ego Wave, he almost passed out as the pain was too great. Yet, now that he reached the First Realm in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he could stand straight and take it head-on. Of course, Zarak was not using the raw strength of his Ego Wave, as that had the power to crush a Wave Champion to a pulp without a problem. He was just testing Cain¡¯s mental defenses. After a moment, the blue force vanished, andughter echoed through the room. ¡°Hahaha, good, very good. To think you could enter Mind Over Body at fourteen while being a Level 2 Wave Warrior. You are a true genius, brat.¡± Zarakughed again, and there was clear excitement on his face. Chapter 113 113 Visualization Technique Zarak signed for the duo to approach him, and his happy smile made it clear he was in a very good mood. Cain walked until he was less than three meters away from Zarak before sping his hands and bowing deeply. ¡°Master.¡± Cain¡¯s voice carried his deep admiration and gratitude for the man. Zarak saved his life and helped him recover, bing even stronger than before. Zarak adopted a serious expression as he acknowledged Cain¡¯s actions. ¡°I can see that you take full advantage of the B-Grade Blood Solution, improving your bloodline¡¯s purity and Wave Talent. Very good. Although people like you and me take the Ego Eternal Path of Power as our primary source of strength, we must never neglect our Wave Cultivation. Not only does it grant us a stronger body and vitality, but it also nurtures our willpower.¡± Cain nodded and made sure to engrave every one of Zarak¡¯s words in his mind. He knew that even though his willpower equals that of a Peak Wave Champion, he could not express battle power like that without his Astral Wave. Of course, Cain was unaware of the fight between the Red King and the Wave Champion Atrox and how the first beat down the second like a dog without using a single wisp of Astral Wave. ¡°You seem to be training a high-grade cultivation technique and have an auxiliary technique of an even higher level, so there is no need for me to guide you in that aspect. ..... Giving you better Wave Artifacts would be useless as your Astral Wave is not high enough to operate them. Those you currently have will be enough until Level 7. Since your Wave Cultivation and equipment do not need my help, we can discuss our main subject, but before that, I will ask you a question.¡± Zarak¡¯s aura became extremely sharp, and his eyes grew emotionless. ¡°Why do you believe I made you my core disciple?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that question. He was able toe up with an answer right away since this was not the first time he questioned Zarak¡¯s purpose. ¡°After what I have seen and learned from you, I believe there are two reasons. First, you see in me the potential to be a great powerhouse, and there is also the chance I remind you of someone or maybe even yourself. That is why you want to train me, so I can help the Godyer Humankind Empire in the future, bing one of its pirs.¡± Cain paused as he stared at Zarak, focusing on the expression of this one. Zarak stared at Cain for a moment before nodding and signaling for him to continue. ¡°The second reason is more pragmatic and selfish. Somehow you will benefit from having a genius in the Ego Eternal Path of Power by your side. As for how that could be, I have no way of knowing since my understanding of Ego Cultivation is too shallow. As for what reason is more important and has a higher weight in your decision-making, I can not tell.¡± Zarak began to smile again, and it was not before long that he burst intoughter. ¡°Hahaha, good, very good, brat. You are right, but the second reason is somewhat wed. You have entered the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, Mind over Body. Right now, your willpower is strong enough to allow you granr control over your body functions and your brain¡¯s chemistry. That will not only improve your battle power but also improve your cultivation speed and survival skills. It is now time for you to begin the creation of your Visualization Technique.¡± Zarak rose from his throne and signaled Cain and Abin to walk with him as he headed into the center of the room. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with interest. The information he got from Zarak involved the basics of the Ego Eternal Path of Power but did not mention anything rted to some Visualization Technique. Still, it was clear by how the powerhouse spoke that it was important. ¡°Right now, your willpower is chaotic and has no clear path forward, simr to how the Wave finds itself in its raw state. While you will develop your willpower through hardship and experiences, just taking that path will not only make things harder for you but also waste a lot of your potential. It is at this point where Visualization Techniquese into y. I have not mentioned them before, nor did I give you any knowledge since learning it before reaching the First Realm could prove diametrical for your growth.¡± Cain was surprised to hear just how essential Visualization Techniques were, and his eyes began to glow with red light. He was using his Ego Wave to enhance his cognitive abilities. Zarak nodded as he saw Cain¡¯s solemn attitude and carried on with his exnation. ¡°A Visualization Technique is the primary way in which we train. A simple description would be the way we Ego Cultivators visualize our willpower, giving them the form of an avatar, but it is much moreplex than that. It is not just imagination that constructs the avatar, but an intuitive aspect of your willpower that gives it form. It manifests your personality and idiosyncrasy, a reflection of your core beliefs. Once you form the avatar, it is almost impossible to change it. The effects the avatar will have on your body and soul at first are not that obvious, but as it grows stronger, you will notice them more and more until they are an intrinsic part of your battle style.¡± Zarak stopped speaking at this point before standing right in front of Cain and signaling this one to punch him. ¡°Use as much strength as you want and any type of attack you imagine. You don¡¯t have to worry about harming me since, even without any defense, youck the strength to do it.¡± Cain nodded. He clenched his fist before firing a punch toward Zarak¡¯s chest. The punch did not have that much strength because Cain knew that if he used too much, he might fracture his fist since Zarak¡¯s body was bound to be harder than any metal he had seen. However, to Cain¡¯s surprise, when his fistnded in Zarak¡¯s chest, he felt no resistance. It was as if every ounce of strength in his punch faded away. ¡°Continue.¡± That word drew Cain back to reality. He took a deep breath before unleashing his Wave Cloak and making it burst with all its strength. He began to unleash punches and kicks toward Zarak¡¯s body, even enhancing his extremities with lightning to improve their piercing power, but nothing worked. Every time Cain¡¯s attacknded on Zarak¡¯s body, all the momentum and kic force in them would fade. After a minute, Zarak raised a hand, singling Cain to stop before looking at this one straight in the eyes. ¡°Your analysis.¡± Cain did not answer immediately and took a few minutes to review all he felt during those attacks. When he was sure that he thought of everything, he spoke. ¡°It is not like hitting a solid body. All my strength would disperse. If I have to give an analogy, it would be like hitting the water.¡± Zarak showed a radiant smile when he heard that. He was delighted with Cain¡¯s answer. ¡°Awesome. Perfect, brat, your analogy is excellent. Talent and perception do not alwayse hand to hand, but this time they did.¡± Zarak congratted Cain and even patted this one¡¯s shoulders a few times. Of course, he did not waste too much time with that before focusing again. ¡°My unique constitution was not granted to me by my Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Although I am not so arrogant to say that there are no techniques capable of emting such characteristics, they would need the cultivation of a Titan or God. I obtained this power thanks to my Visualization Technique.¡± Zarak then adopted a meditative stance before signaling Cain and Abin to do the same. He took a deep breath, and a peaceful expression appeared on his face as his willpower emerged from his body, generating a blue force field that flooded the room. The blue force field grew more and more powerful before a phenomenon began to appear. Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw a small drop of water on top of Zarak¡¯s head. It did not look special, but when he focused on it, he felt a level of majesty that almost made him lose himself. Slowly that magnificent drop of water began to grow, transforming into a current that surrounded the entire room. In it, there was an incredible vital force that seemed never to stop growing. Cain felt an incredible sense of peace as he stared at that glorious river, but suddenly, he felt a burst of killing intent inside. It was so powerful that it almost suffocated him. Confusion appeared on Cain¡¯s face at the sudden change in the river, but then he saw Zarak¡¯s face full of wrath. ¡®This water is his avatar, a manifestation of his willpower!¡¯ Chapter 114 114 The Red King¡¯s memories Zarak slowly opened his eyes, and the wrath on his face vanished. Slowly his willpower returned to his mind, and the illusion of that mighty river faded away. ¡°That drop of water that evolved into a mighty thriving river full of life before bing a force of nature that could drown thousands was how I visualized my personality. It is my avatar, or more urately, my Alter-Ego, the way I see myself. Thanks to its existence, my body can disperse the kic force thatnds on me, along with an incredibly potent healing power. Without my Alter-Ego, the Abyssal Demon I fought against to save you would have killed me.¡± At that point, Zarak stared at Cain with an extremely severe expression, making the focus on the cadet reach its peak. ¡°You should never try to imitate the Alter-Ego of another person, no matter how incredible the abilities it can grant. That would twist your ego, cripple your potential, and sever your Ego Cultivation¡¯s path. The only reason I have shown you my Alter-Ego is that you have already reached the First Realm, and your willpower is strong enough not to be deviated by someone else.¡± Zarak only continued speaking once he saw that Cain understood the severity of his warning. ¡°Do not get me wrong. You can take inspiration from others and guide your Visualization Technique, granting your Alter-Ego a powerful path, but you should never try to change its core essence to adjust to someone else. Analyze it as two masters of martial arts discussing the principles behind their schools. Each of them had their own path and would not change it for the other but would internalize what they learned, assimting what is useful for them. ..... We, Ego Cultivators, tend to hold discussions without pers from time to time and sometimes even with our enemies. All in the hopes of achieving enlightenment, improving our Visualization Techniques, and increasing the potential and abilities of our Alter-Ego. Thatst point is why I say that your assumption that I want a genius like you by my side because it would benefit me is somewhat wed. You will also benefit significantly from our discussions.¡± Cain¡¯s face showed his absolute focus, and he made sure to engrave every single word in his mind. This knowledge would be essential in his path to power. He knew Zarak was correct about not showing him that Alter-Ego before, and he would have been so engrossed by its might that he might unconsciously try to mimic it. At this point, Cain remembered that he was not alone in the room. As he turned to Abin, he saw that the woman was perfectly fine and was not affected by Zarak¡¯s Alter-Ego. Abin looked back at Cain and softly nodded. Although he could not urately measure her strength, he knew she was at least as strong as Major Luma. ¡°Normally, to start with your Visualization Technique and give form to your Alter-Ego, you would need to reach a secluded location where you could spend your days in peace, not bothered by mundane matters. However, with your permission, I could use my power to hypnotize you and put your mind in a state of lucid dreaming. That will allow your mind and imagination to free themselves from all bindings and reach their maximum potential. You won¡¯t need to force anything as it will naturallye out on its own.¡± Zarak spoke calmly and did not rush Cain to make a decision, patiently waiting for this one. Cain could not hide the interest in his eyes when he heard the part about hypnosis. From the moment Zarak put him in a state of Embryonic Breathing, he had been fascinated by that power. He knew that hypnosis in Aether was unlike anything that happened in the Old World. They were not just some trick to put someone at ease and rx their minds. Zarak could use his hypnosis to grant supernatural abilities to the bodies of Cain and Levi, controlling their brain chemistry. It had incredible potential for good, but you could also use it to stop your enemy from breathing, suffocating them with nothing but your words. It was not hard for Zarak to notice the light in Cain¡¯s eyes and figure out why. He justughed a little as he found it somewhat amusing. ¡°Hahaha, it is weird, but sometimes you behave as a brat should. After this, I can help teach you hypnosis if that is what you want. Oh, by the way, after forming your Alter-Ego, your willpower would have gained enough order to unlock all sorts of standard abilities. One of them being Embryonic Breathing.¡± ¡°Really? That would be awesome.¡± Cain was truly excited by the idea, as hypnosis would greatly assist in battle and daily life. ¡°Ok, let¡¯s stay focused. Do I have your permission to put you under my hypnosis?¡± Zarak asked one more time. He did not really need Cain¡¯s permission, but putting someone under your hypnosis without was considered a great offense. After all, you controlled their bodies and could force them to follow your desires. Cain took a deep breath and nodded. The next second, Zarak handed him two pills. ¡°They will sustain your body¡¯s need for food and water while you are unconscious.¡± Cain swallowed the two pills, and then he saw Zarak¡¯s eyes glowing with a powerful blue light before falling unconscious. ¡°Master, is it alright if I wait with you?¡± Abin¡¯s face was still calm, but her voice showed evident excitement. The creation of a Visualization Technique and the inception of a new Alter-Ego would be when this one showed its most extraordinary might and purest nature. She was curious about what type of Alter-Ego a once-in-a-generation genius like Cain would form. Zarak stared at Abin for a moment before nodding. Although the characteristics of your Alter-Ego were not something you should not show carelessly, he trusted the woman. He knew that she would not reveal any information about Cain to anyone. The duo closed their eyes and began to cultivate. None of them knew how long it would take for Cain to devise his Visualization Technique and form his Alter-Ego. It could be minutes, days, or even weeks. ¡ª Cain¡¯s mind was foggy and full of confusion as he opened his eyes again, and the first thing he saw was a massacre. He was on top of a mountain and could see an army of men in blue attire marching into a city and killing a group of people, all of whom had white hair and red eyes. He was inside the body of a little boy but could not move or speak. Saying that Cain was a mere observer would be wrong, as he felt everything the boy did. He felt the wind on his face and the sun¡¯s warmth, but things did not end there as he could even discern the emotions inside the little boy¡¯s heart. ¡®How could he feel something like that!?¡¯ Cain could not understand it. He felt the emotions inside the child¡¯s heart as if they were his own, but as this one saw that carnage, the only thing that appeared was boredom. A sudden noise drew his attention, and he noticed a group of soldiers approaching. Some showed expressions full of bloodlust, while others had immense guilt and remorse. A fight began between the group of soldiers. Some shouted for the child to run, while others wanted nothing more than to put a bullet in his head. Those soldiers that massacred his people were now fighting for what to do with him, but he showed nothing. They could not even annoy him, as they were so inferior that he barely recognized their existence. Eventually, the child waved his hand, making spikes rise from the ground and kill all the soldiers, not differentiating between the ones that wanted to help him and those who sought to end his life. Cain felt everything the child did, and he also discerned how this one could move the energy that permeated the world using nothing but his mind. It was simr to how Essence Cultivator fired long-range spells, but this one was much faster and more silent. While the child¡¯s behavior perplexed Cain, the abilities this one disyed surprised him. He focused his mind on the feeling as he was sure he would add a powerful weapon to his arsenal if he learned how to do it. ¡°Had I dominated this power sooner, I could have saved them.¡± Cain heard the child¡¯s words, but he knew this one felt not even a wisp of sadness. The death of the people with crimson eyes and white hair meant nothing to the little boy. After saying those words, the child took the blood out of the soldier and made a robe with it. Other than being red, Cain could not discern anything, but as things carried on, a thought appeared in his head. ¡®Are these the memories of my old life?¡¯ That thought frightened Cain as there was no other way to describe this little boy than a monster. Chapter 115 115 Duality While Cain went through the memories of the entity that called himself Red King, something else happened in a remote corner of his soul. Apex stood in front of the massive gate covered by chains of golden-purple me and ck-white lightning. There was a somber expression on the System Spirit¡¯s face as he saw wisps of electromaic energy emerging from the crack in the gate and blending into Cain¡¯s soul. Apex stared at those wisps containing the ego of the Red King. While he wanted to stop them, he could not do it. ¡®Brat, whether this is a divine lucky chance or an abyssal catastrophe is up to you. I can only hope that you will not forget who you are.¡¯ Apex could not do anything but sit down and wait for things to unfold. ¡ª Cain was still confused by all that was happening since Zarak¡¯s hypnosis was supposed to leave him in a lucid dream, not evoke old memories. ¡®Maybe my identity as a Reincarnator made things different.¡¯ That was the only answer Cain coulde up with; whether it was wrong or not, he had no way of knowing it. After watching the massacre of his people, the little boy explored the world while developing his powers. No life form could threaten him, so he tested his abilities against nature. ..... He rose to the highest mountain peak in the world while running the entire track at full speed, suppressed a volcano¡¯s eruption, and fought back a tornado capable of crushing entire cities. All those were feats that would make the blood of any young man burn with excitement. Even Cain, who lived in a world with Titans and Gods, was amazed by those experiences. However, the only emotion in the boy was boredom. Nothing in this world could challenge him anymore, so there was no reason to feel excited about those feats. One day the boy remembered a certain anniversarying up. He rose from the bottom of the deepest ocean and reached the sky before flying at full speed. Cain saw how the boy reached arge city full of millions of people. He was invisible to normal people and spent the next few days watching how they lived and learning from their culture. Cain could feel the boy¡¯s emotions and thoughts and knew that the way he looked at all those people was simr to how humans would look at chimps. They did not consider themselves superior; they knew they were superior! As the boy lived among those people, Cain could not help but have mixed emotions. Imagine yourself in a world where you could not form a bond or connection with anyone as they were all so primitive. Have the power to fight off natural disasters, but have no path ahead. ¡®A life like that would drive anyone mad.¡¯ That thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind when he saw the boy interrupting a military parade. An ominous feeling assaulted his mind as he felt that what would happen next would be truly horrible. And it was. Cain saw and felt everything as the boy massacred the entire city, showing no mercy at all. Man, woman, and child exploded to pieces under the might of his spells! Some might think that the boy unleashed such carnage to obtain revenge for his people, but Cain knew this one only wanted to see if he would feel anything by performing this massacre. The answer was no. Even after killing the person directly responsible for the death of his entire n, the boy showed nothing. On the other hand, Cain¡¯s soul burned with rage. He saw himself as a hero, and that level of cruelty was not something he could tolerate. The wrath in Cain¡¯s heart was only worsened by the fact he felt everything the boy did as if he was doing it himself. As Cain¡¯s mind was about to be overwhelmed by that rage, he felt something. For the first time since he awoke in these memories, he felt a genuine emotion inside the boy. Cain saw the sun rising on the horizon, and he and the boy felt the same. That was their path! ¡ª Zarak and Abin waited patiently for Cain. They were using wave crystals to cultivate, as the density of the Life Wave in this area was far from enough to satisfy their needs. Suddenly the duo opened their eyes and stopped their cultivation as they saw a red force field emerging from Cain¡¯s mind. ¡°It took him ten days, but it seems he already came up with the first stage of his Visualization Technique,¡± Zarak spoke with arge smile. He and Abin focused on Cain¡¯s red force field. The most exciting part came after the Visualization Technique was already in ce. The formation of the Alter-Ego. Every Alter-Ego is a metaphysical representation of how you look at yourself and embody your ego and idiosyncrasy. The one of someone whose true nature was of a hero like Cain was bound to be full of life and thrill. Cain¡¯s red force field only grew stronger and stronger as the Alter-Ego slowly came into existence. Unlike the excitement in Zarak and Abin, Apex showed a somber expression when he saw that more and more wisps of the Red King¡¯s Ego Wave emerged from the crack and fused into Cain¡¯s soul while this one formed the Alter-Ego. Zarak and Abin were not worried about anything since they were sure that no matter how impressive the Alter-Ego of Cain would be, it could not affect people with their cultivation. That probed a great mistake since the instant the power of Cain¡¯s red force field reached its zenith, a crimson orb appeared, and a wave of utter shock assaulted the mind and soul of Zarak and Abin. The crimson orb was smaller than a grain of rice but unleashed that aura that flooded the entire room. Zarak¡¯s eyes burst with blue light, just as powerful as the one disyed during his life-and-death battle against the Abyssal Demon powerhouse. His mind regained its calm, but his eyes grew sharp as he focused on the other person in the room. He saw how Abin¡¯s face showed two different emotions while her eyes were glued to the red orb as if nothing else mattered in the entire world. The half-right of her face showed peace and happiness, while the left had absolute terror. Zarak did not hesitate before pointing his hand at the woman and using his Ego Wave to send a powerful mental attack that knocked her unconscious. Blood leaked from Abin¡¯s ears and eyes due to the sudden brain trauma, but Zarak knew he had done the right thing. Had he waited a little longer, Abin¡¯s ego would have surrendered to Cain¡¯s willpower, destroying her spirit and free will. After making sure that Abin was fine, Zarak focused his attention on Cain¡¯s Alter-Ego and was surprised not just by its ability to influence others but by its power. That red orb could give you a sense of belonging that some might only find in the people they love the most while simultaneously sowing a feeling of utter terror as if you have lost everything you ever held dear. Zarak understood the origin of the kind and gentle force since Cain saw himself as a hero, but he was baffled by the second one. While it infused a sense of terror in people, it was not really evil. The fear in those that saw it was an instinctive response of their minds and souls when faced with a force capable of absolute destruction, just like what a little child would feel seeing an earthquake shatter an entire city. Such a unique Alter-Ego confused Zarak a lot. The avatar was supposed to embody the most primitive and honest way you look at yourself, but Cain showed twopletely opposite paths. On one path, Cain would be a radiant hero, with people rising by his side, while on the other, he would be a tyrant to whom all needed to bow. Zarak was not so arrogant to say he knew everything about the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Still, his knowledge did reach the peak of the Godyer Humankind Empire, and he had never heard of an Alter-Ego capable of duality. A serious expression appeared on Zarak¡¯s face as he stared at the Alter-Ego and remembered the shock he felt when he came to this one¡¯s rescue and found out the Atrox Wave Champion¡¯s soul was gone. Initially, he thought that some hidden powerhouse had taken care of the Atrox, and since he was about to enter a fight to the death, he had no time to ask questions. However, now that he saw Cain¡¯s Alter Ego, another exnation came to his mind. ¡®A Wave Warrior capable of shattering the soul of a Wave Champion. Just what kind of secrets are you hiding, brat?¡¯ Zarak could not help but wonder whether having someone like Cain as his core disciple was a good idea. Nevertheless, he had already made the decision and was not someone that would go back on his word. Chapter 116 116 Free Ego Finally, the energy sphere began to stabilize, unleashing a dual intent capable of both thriving and destruction. It was certainly impressive but no longer released that overwhelming aura that could corrupt the mind and will of others. It was not the raw strength of Cain¡¯s Alter-Ego that almost corrupted Abin¡¯s ego but the unique nature and forces in this one. Those forces are in their purest state during the Alter-Ego¡¯s birth, so they have a much easier time influencing others. As the Alter-Ego finished its formation, Apex saw how electromaic force stopped emerging through the crack in the gate. Whatever goal was behind those actions, the Red King fulfilled it. Apex was very worried about all that had happened. The System Spirit knew that the soul of anyone else would have shattered if it came in contact with the Red King¡¯s ego, but Cain¡¯s situation was unique, and it nurtured his soul. The problem was that Apex had no idea just how much it affected Cain¡¯s ego and personality. He already noticed changes after the Red King¡¯s awakening, and things might only grow even more severe. In the room where everything happened, Zarak noticed that Cain¡¯s eyelids were twitching and knew that this one was about to wake up. Zarak turned toward Abin, and his eyes glowed with a monstrously powerful blue light as he spoke. ¡°Leave and forget what happened here. You had an important matter to attend to, which is why you were unable to see Cain¡¯s Alter Ego.¡± The moment she heard those words, Abin stood up, and her eyes lost focus. She walked toward the teleportation matrix and vanished. ..... Zarak made sure Abin would not be here since he did not want to exin to Cain the effect the crimson sphere had on the woman. That might involve some of Cain¡¯s secrets, and Zarak did not want the boy to know that he knew. It might not sound very honest, but he was wary of his new disciple and wanted to be careful. Cain finally opened his eyes, and they had a deep confusion. It took him almost an hour before he could focus again and remember what was happening around him. His facial expression changed multiple times before a radiant smile appeared in it. Zarak rxed as he saw that smile since it was full of heroism. Before, he was not very happy with Cain¡¯s true nature, but now he was d for it. The crimson sphere told him that boy had an immense potential for destruction, so it was lucky that this one did not take that path. ¡°How long did I sleep?¡± That was the first question that came out of Cain¡¯s mouth. The memories from the boy covered ten years, but Cain did not see every single moment. That was very lucky since spending ten years inside a body he could not control could have shattered his mind. Although he did not have an exact number, Cain felt he experienced roughly ten months inside that dream. It was still a lot, but not so much that someone like him with willpower at the First Realm could not endure. ¡°You sleep for almost ten days.¡± Cain nodded toward Zarak before looking around and seeing they were just the two of them. ¡°Abin left. She had important matters to attend to and could not wait.¡± Zarak¡¯s words made perfect sense to Cain. After seeing that the boy was focused, he spoke solemnly. ¡°Before anything, I will give you a warning. You should have your Alter-Ego hidden at all times.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that. It was clear there was something special about his Alter-Ego that could cause some trouble. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and saw it. A crimson orb the size of a grain of rice shone with a marvelous light. It released heat that could warm your body and fill you with energy, but at the same time, it could set you aze until nothing but your bones remained. Cain was surprised by what he perceived inside the crimson sphere. He felt the warmth belonged to him, but the destructive nature was foreign yet familiar. ¡®It is simr to how I felt inside those memories.¡¯ Cain opened his eyes once he was over with his retrospection. Zarak saw that Cain stared at him, waiting for an exnation. ¡°An Alter-Ego with duality is something I have never seen before. Technically there is nothing wrong with it, but it is impossible to tell what others might think when they learn about it, so it is better to be safe than sorry.¡± Cain frowned when he heard that. ¡°Master, your Alter-Ego was also able to express duality. At first, it showed thriving life before manifesting a suffocating killing intent.¡± Zarak understood Cain¡¯s misconception and immediately shook his head before rifying things. ¡°My Alter-Ego indeed showed those states, but they were not simultaneous. Those were stages it went through while it developed throughout dozens of years. Your case is like two egos held inside the same avatar, like a small boat with a saint and assassin, each using one oar.¡± With that exnation, Cain finally understood the uniqueness of his Alter-Ego and was sure that those experiences inside the dream had something to do with it. ¡°I will be careful, Master.¡± Zarak nodded when he saw that Cain understood the severity of the situation. He wanted the boy to faceplex challenges, but it would be stupid to draw the attention of powerhouses that not even he could fend off. ¡°You don¡¯t need to release the Alter-Ego to use its powers, so there should be no problem regarding battle. We usually only disy it when we talk to others about the principles of our Visualization Techniques, and no one can force you to do that, so you should be fine. Now that is out of the way, we should address a happier subject, like the powers you have just gained ess to.¡± Cain began to smile and while the unique condition of his Alter-Ego still bothered him, growing stronger was something that always made him happiest. ¡°Now that you have already formed the Alter-Ego, you will use your Visualization Technique to make it evolve and expand its potential. The only thing that will limit the growth of your Alter-Ego is your willpower, and the only thing limiting its abilities is its potential and your imagination. The special abilities and evolution of your Alter-Ego will depend on you, so I can only provide some advice on that aspect. However, I can offer you a lot of information regarding the standard abilities you have gained ess to. As someone at the First Realm, you can use Embryonic Breathing and Free Ego. You have alreadye in contact with Embryonic Breathing, but there are different levels ording to its potency and how difficult it is to enter it. As for Free Ego, that is the ability to allow our Ego Wave to emerge from our Ego Eternal Matrix, allowing us to explore the surroundings with something other than our eyes and ears and also helping us measure the cultivation of our enemies. You saw an example when the Abyssal Demon covered the entire forest with a force field.¡± Zarak made a pause and signaled for Cain to attempt thest one. Cain focused, and his eyes glowed with red light before an electromaic force field of the same color emerged from his brain. Wonder immediately appeared in his eyes as he felt that he could see, hear, and even smell everything inside the red force field. He could manipte it as if it was an arm and send it toward Zarak¡¯s body, but to his surprise, he could not reach it. ¡°Hahaha, brat. Your Ego Wave is too weak to surpass my energy defenses. As you grow stronger in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, your Ego Wave will gain all sorts of wonderful abilities. With enough training, you can make it invisible.¡± Zarakughed a little before guiding Cain. Cain nodded and retracted his Ego Wave. Free Ego was terrific, and while the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s [A.I. Chip Module] could fulfill simr roles, there was a dy as the system would have to ry the message to him. However, if he received those signals with his Ego Wave, he would know it immediately. Of course, that did not mean he would stop using the [Basic Scan Force Field] and [Pseudo Cellr Analysis]. Both couldplement each other. Zarak took a crystal card from his space ring and handed it to Cain. ¡°There is a precise guide to tackle Embryonic Breathing and Free Ego, along with some basics that could help you with your Visualization Technique. You should go through each point, and if you have doubts, you can call me.¡± Cain bowed after taking the crystal card and storing it in his space ring. He would definitely analyze everything once he returned to his residence. ¡°Ok, now that we finished with our main subject, I guess it is time for me to teach you how to be a Hypnosis Master.¡± Chapter 117 117 Back to the pirs ¡°Ok, now that we finished with our main subject, I guess it is time for me to teach you how to be a Hypnosis Master.¡± Cain smiled as he heard that, and excitement appeared on his face. Hypnosis was an unfathomable power, and he wanted to be able to control it. Zarak focused on Cain, and a sharp and cold stare appeared in his eyes. ¡°Stand up!¡± Cain was surprised by Zarak¡¯s sudden yell and stood up the next second. Once that happened, Zarak¡¯s face returned to normal, and he smiled at Cain. ¡°Congrats, you have been hypnotized by me.¡± Cain remained silent and began to analyze everything that had just happened. Zarak¡¯s actions and how he responded to them had a deep meaning, and his eyes glowed with enlightenment after a few minutes. ¡°Is all about a sh of wills. You gave amand, and the will you expressed in that order surpassed my will to resist it.¡± ..... ¡°Hahaha, brat, you sure are a genius. That is exactly right. Hypnosis is all about a sh of wills. To be a Hypnosis Master, you need granr control over your Ego Wave, along with great intelligence and superb imagination.¡± After that, Zarak¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light as he focused on Cain¡¯s. ¡°Now I will show you true hypnosis.¡± That was thest thing Cain heard before the room began to change. The walls and ceiling broke to pieces, and giant waves came crashing down on him. Cain understood this was an illusion, but the feeling of drowning and the pressure that assaulted his body were genuine. A sense of death attacked him, but the giant oceanic waves vanished the next second. He was back in the room, and despite everything being fake, he could not help but take deep breaths and have a pale face. ¡°A Hypnosis Master can make you see things that are not there, do things that you don¡¯t want to do, and they could even take control over your brain to induce cardiac arrest or stop your lungs from working.¡± Zarak waited for Cain to recover before continuing with his exnation. ¡°You can perform hypnosis by taking different paths, with the most basic one being directly sending your Ego Wave toward your target to induce a sh of wills. With enough training, you can induce the sh of wills by speaking to your opponent. True masters can achieve it with nothing more than a simple gaze.¡± Cain adopted a serious expression as he engraved every word in his mind. These are the basics one must never forget. ¡°Up to now, I have only spoken about the damage that Hypnosis Masters can do, but they are also capable of incredible good. For example, everybody with an Alter-Ego can enter Embryonic Breathing, but a Hypnosis Master can help others into that state. Wealthy families constantly seek Hypnosis Masters to assist their children¡¯s cultivation or help those suffering from trauma, such as Heart Nightmares.¡± The mention of Heart Nightmares made Cain understand just how valuable the help of a Hypnosis Master could be to some people. He was sure some would be willing to pay any price to get rid of them. ¡°Hypnosis Masters are divided into ranks, like most things. They are ssified ording to the strength of the target they can hypnotize. The lowest rank is Pseudo-Hypnosis Master. They can only hypnotize ordinary people and are not considered true Hypnosis Masters. The first proper rank is Elementary Hypnosis Master. They can hypnotize Wave Warriors and are divided into stars. A 1 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master can hypnotize a Level 4 Wave Warrior, and so on. Nextes the Grand Hypnosis Masters, who can hypnotize Wave Champions. Even among Noble Families, they are treated with great respect and charge fortunes for their help.¡± Zarak finished with the ranking of Hypnosis Master before moving on to the next point. ¡°Since the basis of hypnosis is being able to ovee the will of your target, facing someone that is purposefully lowering their guard is much easier than when they resist with all their strength. For example, a 3 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master can easily put a Level 6 Wave Warrior into a state of Embryonic Breathing since the target knows it will benefit them. However, if that same Hypnosis Master attempted to hypnotize a Level 6 Wave Warrior to do them harm, the target would resist, and the hypnosis would most likely fail. Of course, almost every Elementary Hypnosis Master is a Wave Champion, so they could use their brute strength to defeat Wave Warrior. Not everybody is a freak like you.¡± Cain only smiled as he heard that. To be a Hypnosis Master, you must be able to deploy Free Ego, something only those at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power can achieve. ¡°Bing a Hypnosis Master is not easy and requires a lot of training, so unless you have talent, do not waste your time on it.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice was severe as he wanted to make sure Cain did not waste time and potential in fantasy. Cain nodded, and if he really did not have talent, he would not pursue that path. Zarak saw that Cain took his words seriously, and then he took another crystal card from his space ring and handed it over. ¡°In it are the basis of the Hypnosis Master Path. Learn them, and then go to the Licence Bureau to take the Hypnosis Master Trial and gain your license. If it takes you more than two weeks to be a 1 Star Hypnosis Master, you should give up.¡± Cain was happy with the crystal card and knowing there was a training facility, but he frowned when he heard about obtaining a license. Although he was not afraid of the spotlight, that did not mean he would like people to know his abilities. Zarak figured out the thoughts crossing Cain¡¯s mind and corrected them. ¡°While it doesn¡¯t matter in a fight, no one would hire a Hypnosis Master without a license. But you should not worry too much since the identity and exact power of a Hypnosis Master are a secret.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you, Master.¡± Cain understood that the license was not for him but for the people that would be hiring him in the future. ¡°You can leave now. What I gave you should be enough to guide you for a long time in both the Ego Eternal Path of Power and the Hypnosis Master Path. Oh, before I forget. I handed over the broken body of the Atrox Wave Champion to the Imperial Lightning Fort¡¯s Science Department. You and that other brat will get 50.000 military credits each.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. He had spent more than a month doing dangerous missions after his first marrow washing and barely collected 20.000 military credits, but now he got more than double for a fight thatsted less than ten minutes. Of course, the danger Cain faced in those ten short minutes was the greatest in his entire life. Cain bowed to Zarak before walking to the teleportation matrix and vanishing. Once he was out of the Titan Tower, he was about to return to the cadet section, but he remembered something, and arge smile appeared on his face. ¡°I wonder just how strong I am?¡± ¡ª The Pirs of Trial had be extremely popr over the past few weeks, especially for the cadets. It was not long before the year ended, and they wanted to leave their names in the Cadet Ranking before that happened. Lumir and Zamir were also here and were not with the other cadets but by the side of a handsome young soldier with blond hair. There were smug expressions on the duo¡¯s faces as they nced at the rest of the cadets, and while that drew the ire of many, none dared to offend them. Not only had the duo formed a rtionship with a Vice-Captain, but they were also both Level 3 Wave Warriors. Lumir stared at the Pir of Streght¡¯s Cadet Raking with a cold expression when he saw the N¡ã10 position. ¡°Hmph, next week, I will reach the second level of my auxiliary technique, and my raw strength should rise to Level 4. That will be more than enough to surpass that man.¡± Lumir¡¯s eyes were full of poisonous hatred as he stared at the name Blood Inferno. He had taken the trial many times before, but his strength never surpassed Late Level 3. ¡°You better. I don¡¯t like to have garbage by my side.¡± Lumir almost trembled when he heard those wordsing from the blonde soldier. He was about to reassure this one when he noticed how everybody began to look into the distance. ¡°So he finally returned.¡± Lumir and Zamir were surprised to see the severity in the eyes of the blonde man. They followed his gaze, and the one that appeared was someone they knew very well. ¡°Cain Laurifer.¡± Chapter 118 118 Late Level 4 Strength Cain felt the gazes of all those people, and he did not find it odd. Thest time he came to this ce, he made quite a ruckus, and things would not be different this time. Suddenly Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he noticed someone. Coldness appeared on his face as he stared at the young blonde soldier that once attempted to incarcerate him. The blonde soldier was surprised when he saw how Cain looked at him. It was full of confidence and coldness. ¡°Hmph.¡± The Vice-Captain only sneered but did not do anything else. He was smart enough to understand that it was not an ident that a captain like Oliver would have appeared out of nowhere to protect Cain. The people around them noticed the way the duo looked at each other, and they began to speak among themselves. It was clear there was bad blood between the two. Cain did not bother too much with the young man and walked toward the Pir of Strength. He did notice Lumir and Zamir with the soldier but did not even nce at them. The duo was not a threat before he reached the Mind Over Body, much less now. Lumir and Zarmir noticed Cain¡¯s indifference, and their faces twisted with rage. The only thing worse than being disdained by an enemy was that person not even recognizing your existence. The thoughts of the duo meant nothing to Cain. When he reached the Pir of Strength, he put a hand over it and vanished. Cain found himself in a white square room two meters wide. He looked up and noticed a metallic ck ceiling. ..... ¡°Cadet, prepare yourself. The Trial of Strength will begin in two minutes. The ceiling will fall, and every certain amount of time, more weight will be added. You must maintain it above the mark.¡± That message reached Cain through the [A.I. Chip Module], and then he saw a red line covering the walls, roughly one and a half meters above the ground. Cain adopted a battle stance as he raised his arms, waiting for that massive piece of ck metal that made the ceiling. As the voice said to him, the ceiling fell once the two minutes passed. Cain was able to hold it in ce without his knees giving away. It should weigh hundreds of kilograms, but he could resist it without a problem. His strength was more than thirty-five times that of an average person, so it was not odd for him to achieve something like this. A minute passed, and Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt something heavy fall on top of therge ck square he was holding. The sudden sh made his knees and shoulders tremble, but he endured. Another minute passed, and more weight fell on top of the ck metallic square. Cain¡¯s arms and legs began to tremble, but he was able to carry on without the need for his Astral Wave. However, once the weight increased for the third time, his knees bent, and the ck metallic square almost reached the red line. Cain immediately summoned his Wave Cloak, allowing his strength to rise exponentially. He was able to straighten his back and raise his body. Time passed, but unlike before, it was not one minute but two that Cain had to endure before the next weight was added. As soon as he felt it, he made his Wave Burst to 200%. ¡®I can endure for two minutes without a problem, but the next weight would be more than I could handle. Or at least that would be if I were a normal Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior.¡¯ Cain smiled, and his eyes glowed with red light as the two minutes were about to pass. Before the new weight could fall, he made his Wave Burst rise to 500%! The new weight would have been almost impossible to endure with a 200% Wave Burst, but for someone like Cain, who could use Ego Wave to achieve granr control over his Astral Wave, it was not a problem. Two minutes more passed, and the new weight that fell made Cain¡¯s eyes widen. ¡°Ahhh!¡± He roared as his Wave Burst rose to 1000%! Cain¡¯s arms and legs trembled as he kept the ck square above the red line. ¡®The ck ceiling must weigh several tons already!¡¯ Cain clenched his teeth as he kept the ceiling up and waited for the next rise in weight. He had to resist for three minutes before it happened. ¡°Boom!¡± Whatever fell on top of the ck ceiling was so heavy that it unleashed a st that echoed through the entire room. Cain pushed his Wave Burst to the limit, reaching 2000%. That allowed him to endure the weight, but he knew it would not be enough for the next level. An idea appeared in Cain¡¯s mind as he noticed how he distributed his Astral Wave through his Wave Cloak. It waspact and evenly spread, perfect for battle. ¡®I am not in a battle.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes burst with an even stronger Ego Wave as he deployed Wave Focus, concentrating all his Astral Wave in his arms, legs, and back. The next second, Cain began to smile as he felt the weight he held onto diminished by a lot. Of course, what truly happened was that by concentrating all his Astral Wave on his extremities and spine, the amount of physical strength he could deploy increased exponentially. Once the three minutes went by, new weight was added to the ceiling, and the fall of this one unleashed an even mightier burst. ¡°?BOOOM!¡± ¡°AHHHH!¡± Cain roared, doing all he could to unleash every single iota of strength left in his body so he could endure this horrific weight. Unfortunately, with every second that passed, he grew a little more tired, and the ceiling fell a little closer to the ground. Almost two minutes passed since thest increase in weight before Cain could not hold it anymore, and the ceiling reached the red mark. As soon as the ck metallic square touched that red line, it stopped falling before rising back to its original position. On the other hand, Cain fell to the ground and was having difficulty breathing. Although he did not move nor use a single spell or skill, his Astral Wave had drained until thest iota. At 200% Wave Burst, Cain could fight for hours, but when risen to 2000%, he could not go for more than twenty minutes. After resting for a few minutes and feeling that his body was in a better condition, Cain sent themand, and the Pir of Strength teleported it out of the white room. The moment he stepped out of the Pir of Strength, Cain saw how he had be the center of attention again, and everybody was looking at him with awe. It was simr to the reactions people gave him when he left the Pir of Mind, but this time he remained calm. The next second, he turned to the pir and saw his name on the Cadet Ranking, putting arge smile on his face. N¡ã1 Earth Fiend ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã2 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 4 N¡ã3 Gigantomaquia ¨C Late Level 4 Cain had not taken the first ce, and while he had the same mark as the number three, he must have endured longer, which is why he was number 2. Although it would have been nice to take first ce, Cain knew his physical strength was not that impressive. Thanks to Blood Refinement Art, it rose to the level of a standard genius. If it wasn¡¯t for Wave Burst and Wave Focus, Cain suspected his strength could have barely reached the mark of Late Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior. Cain did not have a problem with being number 2. He did not leave the pirs but calmly walked toward the Pir of Resilience before adopting a meditative position next to this one. Everybody understood Cain¡¯s goal. He wanted to recover his strength before taking on another of the pirs. There was nothing odd about that, but cadets and soldiers were shocked when they saw this one taking a wave crystal from his space ring! The wave crystal was of the lowest quality but still worth more than ten thousand military credits. While it would indeed help Cain recover exponentially faster, using it like this was too opulent. Some high-level soldiers could make tens of thousands of military credits each week, but that did not mean they could waste their entire savings on wave crystals that could onlyst a few hours. Lumir and Zamir were utterly astounded by that sight. Cain was able to show a strength none of them could equal and was using wave crystals without worries. Not even they, scions from powerful Noble Families, could match that level of strength and wealth. As they remember the animosity they had built with the young man, fear and apprehension emerge on their faces. Chapter 119 119 Pir of Resilience (I) ¡°What childish behavior. A mere Level 3 Wave Warrior is incapable of using a wave crystal entirely. He is just wasting money.¡± The blonde soldier sneered as he saw Cain using a wave crystal. Lumir and Zamir showed ugly smiles as they heard that. It was true that wave crystals were beneficial for cultivation, but if your body¡¯s ability to draw energy was not high enough, much of it would disperse. Usually, Level 4 would be the minimum requirement to use wave crystals. One could understand the blonde soldier¡¯s criticism of Cain. ¡°Hmph, Lord Uriel, what could you expect from a brat that came from the slums? He might not even know what wave crystals are.¡± Lumir did not lose the chance to mock Cain, trying to diminish the fame this one obtained by reaching such a high level in the Pir of Strength. Zamir was about to join in when he noticed how Uriel and the other high-level soldiers looking at Cain showed surprise. He did not know what had happened. If he were strong enough, Zamir would have seen that Cain¡¯s body absorbed the energy from the wave crystal without letting any of it disperse. That baffled many soldiers as they did not understand how a Level 3 Wave Warrior could do that. The answer was very simple. Cain entered Embryonic Breathing, exponentially increasing his ability to draw energy. The events in the Pir of Strength spread like fire, and soon hundreds of soldiers and cadets arrived at this location. All of them focused on Cain, waiting to see what he would achieve once he took the Trial of Resilience. ..... Many cadets, especially those with the highest talent and scores, recognized Cain. The tales of this one had already reached the ears of all of them. Everybody knew of Cain¡¯s amazing disy of martial skill and Wave mastery during a fight against a teacher and how he led a group of cadets and soldiers against a Wave Beast Horde for almost two weeks. There was even a more fantastic rumor about him being part of a force that fought and killed an Atrox Wave Champion. Lumir and Zamir saw how the other cadets looked at Cain and felt like they were eating dirt. They could not ept that a meremoner would draw that much attention, taking the spotlight away from them. It would be hard to tell what the duo¡¯s expressions would be if they knew that Cain¡¯s background had recently risen to a level none of them could even dream of achieving. Zamir heard the cadets whispering among each other, praising Cain¡¯s abilities, and his face twisted before he shouted. ¡°Hmph, many people perished under his watch, including one of his close friends.¡± Those words echoed around the Pirs of Trials, making everybody silent for a moment before beginning to whisper again. Yet, this time they were not praising Cain but discussing his failures. That is the way mob mentality works. It only goes to the most exciting topic, not caring about what is true or not. Zamir¡¯s smile grew wider as he saw the effects of his words. He saw that Cain continued training as if nothing had happened and carried on with his poisonous words. ¡°He does not even defend himself. I am sure the guilt does not let him. Who knows? He might have sacrificed some people to save his life.¡± Zamir began to spout allegations without any form of evidence, but he did not care. This ce was not a court, and he only needed people to speak of it before it became a reality in their minds. Just as he was about to keep ranting about Cain¡¯s despicable behavior, he heard a voice. ¡°A boy that had never entered a true battlefield dares to question the actions of a soldier who did it. How pathetic.¡± Zamir was surprised to hear that voiceing from where the cadets had gathered and showed immense rage. He could question and insult Cain, but others could not do the same to him. That was the mentality of the scion. ¡°Who dares to mock a proud son of the Jarken Family!?¡± Zamir shouted his family name, immediately putting his background forward. The one that spoke did not hide and immediately rose from the group of cadets. He was a young man with ck hair and blue eyes. ¡°I did it, but I am only mocking you. Of course, if you want us to bring on our families, I have no problem with that either.¡± Zamir¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that the young man was Lurin Sinar, and apprehension appeared on his face. Not only was Lurin¡¯s cultivation simr to his, but this one was also the son of a Count. Actually, Lurin¡¯s background could be considered even higher than that of Zamir. If it were any other cadet, Zamir would have used abination of his strength and background to push them, but that would be futile against someone like Lurin. The only path that he could take now was using words. ¡°Hmph, did I say something wrong? We all know that the cadet Beelze died fighting beneath him.¡± Lurin did not hide his disdain as he stared at Zamir before turning toward Cain, and then his eyes glowed with mighty respect. ¡°We all fought by his side and not beneath him. More than once, he put his life on the line to secure the life of those following hismand. You me him for one person¡¯s death but do not consider all those he saved.¡± Lurin¡¯s voice grew increasingly cold as he turned toward Zamir. ¡°I assume you are ready to say that if you ever led people into the battlefield, no one would ever die, and if they do, you should be the sole responsible.¡± Zamir froze when he heard that and saw everybody focusing on him. There was no way he could say yes, but that was precisely the standard he was using to me Cain. Just as Zamir was about to try and use some excuse, his face grew pale. He felt like a monster was targeting him, and when he looked into the distance, he saw two eyes glowing with red light. Cain¡¯s red eyes unleashed a clear intent. He heard everything that Zamir said and did not care about any of it, but everything changed when this one mentioned Beelze¡¯s death. There was no need for words. That time had already passed. Cain would take care of Zamir the moment the chance presented itself. Since he could not act here, with so many witnesses, Cain no longer focused on the cadet but instead analyzed his Embryonic Breathing. Unlike the one that Zarak put him into, his Embryonic Breathing could not make every single cell on his body enter a state of hyperactivity. Cain¡¯s Embryonic Breathing put his body in a state ofplete rxation, making one hour of rest count as half a day of sleeping and improving the speed at which he drew Wave into his body. While those effects could notpare to the one drawn by Zarak¡¯s Embryonic Breathing, Cain understood that after enough training, he would reach that level. ¡®Once I am over this, I will carefully look at Embryonic Breathing information.¡¯ Cain did not let his thoughts wander off for long before putting his hand on the Pir of Resilience and vanishing. Cadets and soldiers saw Cain¡¯s figure vanish and waited to see if this one would perform another impressive feat or if his tale would end with just the Pir of Strength. Cain had just appeared in a small white room before a voice arrived in his mind through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Cadet, prepare yourself. The Pir of Resilience will begin in two minutes. You will be submitted to increasing levels of heat while the oxygen diminishes. Please store all your protective equipment and do not activate any Wave Artifact during the trial.¡± Cain understood the rules of the trial and stored his blue robe in his space ring along with his gauntlets and boots. He did not remove the Wave Artifact covering his spine since there should be no problem with it as long he did not activate it. After two minutes, the room was set aze while the oxygen diminished very fast. Cain felt his skin burning and immediately noticed how hard it was for him to breathe. Although it would be easy for him to hold his breath for several minutes, that would be unwise since it would only work to exhaust him faster. The heat would force an average Level 2 Astral Wave Warrior to push their Astral Wave to the limit so they could endure it, and their lungs would be working at full capacity. Luckily, Cain¡¯s vitality was already impressive for a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior, so while he was notfortable, it was far from enough to push him to the limit. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he monitored his body, ensuring his lungs, heart, and brain worked adequately. The Pir of Resilience was said to be the hardest as it forced you to push yourself to the absolute limit. Chapter 120 - 120 Pillar of Resilience (II) 120 Pir of Resilience (II) The heat in the room slowly increased while the oxygen took the opposite turn. Cain closed his eyes as he adopted a meditative position, ensuring his body would require less energy to work correctly. The level was still far from enough to ovee his resistance, but the Pir of Resilience was not a test of defense but one of attrition. On the battlefield, you might have to spend entire days on high alert, enduring a harsh environment, and knowing how to preserve your energy was essential. Twenty minutes went by before the heat in the room reached such a high level that it forced Cain to summon his Wave Cloak. He kept his eyes closed and pushed Synergy Flow to the peak to ensure his Astral Wave wouldst long enough. Another ten minutes went by before Cain activated Wave Burst. Instead of immediately pushing it to a high level, he slowly raised the Astral Wave output so it could go hand-to-hand with the increase in the heat. Time passed, and the heat reached such a high level that an average human would have been burned to ashes by now. Cain was sweating profusely, and his lungs were doing their best to capture the little oxygen in the room, so he would not suffocate. His Wave Burst had already risen to 2000%, but the heat still managed to sear his skin even with that. Cain¡¯s eyes opened as he felt his Wave Cloak about to vanish due to the depletion of his Astral Wave. Although he had a rough estimate of how much energy he had left, he couldn¡¯t be 100% precise. Any other Wave Warrior would have to give up when they felt their Wave was close to depletion. If they did not do it, and the heat was still active when their Wave Cloak vanished, they would suffer severe burns. ..... However, Cain was unlike other Wave Warriors since there was a system fused with his soul that could give him a perfect assessment of how long his Astral Wave wouldst. ¡®System, assess how much time I have left until I deplete my Astral Wave and my Wave Cloak vanishes.¡¯ As soon as Cain gave thatmand, he heard the system¡¯s voice in his mind. [Task received. ... ... ... Taskpleted. ... Vessel¡¯s Astral Wave will deplete in 2:43 seconds. 2:42 seconds. 2:41 seconds. ...] Cain focused on the virtual screen that appeared in his mind, forgetting everything else. Every second that passed was hell, but he would give his all. There were already mes in the room, covering everything, including Cain. If not for his Wave Cloak, he would be enduring severe wounds by now. [2 seconds. 1 second] ¡°Stop!¡± Cain shouted that word, and the mes vanished a fraction of a second before his Wave Cloak turned off due to theck of Astral Wave. He fell to the ground and took huge breaths of air since his lungs had been unable to receive any form of oxygen for thest two minutes. There were burn marks all over his body. Even if his Wave Cloak protected him from most of the heat, it was not impervious to the mes¡¯ power. Cain took a container with blood and began to consume it while mobilizing his Blood Refinement Art. That would help him heal his wounds. ¡®Impressive. It has immense vitality, but that is to be expected from the refined blood of a Level 5 Wave Beast.¡¯ Cain was thrilled with the amount of blood energy that circted through his body. It took around ten minutes before most of his wounds healed. Although there were still some, they could not affect him at all. Only after making sure he was fine did he leave the Pir of Resilience. He might not care about showing his wealth, but he did not want people to know about his Blood Refinement Art. Cain did not have a choice during the battle against the horde. Besides, he doubted one of the soldiers could decipher the nature of his technique, but he had no idea who was looking at him inside the fort. The moment Cain appeared outside the Pir of Resilience, he saw people looking at him with a clear sense of awe. He turned toward the Cadet Ranking and saw his name in the upper section. N¡ã1 Blood Lord ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã2 Saint of Killers ¨C Limit Level 4 N¡ã3 Earth Fiend ¨C Late Level 4 Once again, he ended up in the second position, but that did not discourage Cain. He did not bother topare himself with others. The only one he had to defeat was his previous self, and he had advanced at gigantic steps recently. Three months ago, he could have barely entered these rankings, but now he had reached the top. That was worth celebrating. After giving one final nce at the Pir of Resilience¡¯s Cadet Ranking, he walked to the Pir of Speed before adopting a meditative position and taking out his wave crystal. As the Wave inside the crystal filled his body, Cain frowned. He felt something different and used his Ego Wave to analyze it but could not find anything. Cain¡¯s Ego Wave was powerful but far from enough to measure the changes happening at a near-cellr level. Luckily, he had the system for such a delicate task. ¡®Apex?¡¯ Although the system would give him a direct answer, it would be pure data without context. Apex could summarize the information, giving him the gist of it. ¡°Your foundation is growing more solid. Each time you push yourself to your limit and drain your Astral Wave, your meridians be thicker and more resilient. Just like with muscles, once they reach their limits, they suffer micro-tears and heal stronger. Of course, that is considering you give them enough rest and energy to heal, and the damage is not exaggerated. Your Blood Refinement Art and wave crystal overflow your body with vitality and Wave, so you will be fine as long as you know when to stop.¡± Cain nodded as he understood what the System Spirit told him. Pushing himself to his limit would help his foundation, but if he did not allow his body to rest or did not grant the proper energy for this one to heal, it would have a diametrical effect on his cultivation. After an hour, Cain felt his Astral Wave had refilled entirely, and his body was in peak condition, so he put his hand over the Pir of Speed and vanished. Cain found himself in a long white corridor, four meters wide. A ck line was two meters ahead of him, and there was another in the distance. The Astral Wave concentrated on his eyes, and Cain could see the golden line a thousand meters away. A message reached his mind the next second through the [A.I. Chip Module]. ¡°Cadets, the trial will begin once you cross the ck line. You must reach the golden line as fast as possible. Objects will appear in your path at random intervals.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard that. Clearly, this trial would not be as simple as just running in a straight pattern. If it only measured how fast you could run in a straight line, the mark given would mean nothing in battle, as it would not consider reflex and reaction speed. Cain got close to the ck line before unleashing his Wave Cloak and making it burst at 2000%. There was no need to start slow as this trial would not take more than a minute. Just unleashing his Astral Wave at full power was far from enough. He focused his Astral Wave on his legs and spine. While the first would be the one in charge of his speed, he still needed control over his upper train to move through the obstacles. Once he finished that, Cain used Lightning Armament, transmuting part of his Astral Wave into lightning, enhancing his speed and reflexes. Cain adopted a sprint position near the ck line before taking a deep breath. His eyes burst with red light as he shed forward at full speed. In less than a second, Cain had already covered fifty meters, and then he saw small pirs rising from the ground. Although they were fast, thanks to Lightning Armament and his Ego Wave, Cain¡¯s speed of thought was outrageous for a Wave Warrior. In his sight, those pirs moved in slow motion, and he was able to jump over them without losing momentum and carrying on at full speed. More and more obstacles appeared in Cain¡¯s path, each faster and moreplicated than the previous one, but he managed to pass through them without slowing down. Cain carried on like that until reaching the 600 meters mark when he saw a wall descend from the ceiling, leaving a small aperture less than thirty centimeters high. Cain¡¯s speed of thought was high enough to react to the wall, but his body was not. He had to slow down a little before sliding down beneath the wall. Things only grew harder from that point on. Chapter 121 - 121 Asura Form 121 Asura Form Cain moved as fast as he could, but while his mind was quick enough to perceive the obstaclesing his way and figure out a path through them, his bodycked the speed to do it. Eventually, Cain reached the golden mark, but there was a deep frown on his face. Unlike the previous trials, this one felt different for some reason. It was as if he had yet to reach his limit. ¡®It doesn¡¯t make sense. I gave it everything I had.¡¯ After some thought, Cain sent themand and was teleported out of the Pir of Speed. He did not even bother to nce at the cadets and soldiers watching him and immediately focused on the Cadet Ranking. N¡ã1 Swift Air ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã2 Silent Lightning ¨C Limit Level 4 N¡ã3 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 4 A speed equal to a Late Level 4 Wave Warrior was very impressive, but when Cain saw that, his frown grew. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about his position in the ranking, but he felt dissatisfied when he saw that his top speed was still within the boundaries of Level 4. ..... Unlike the previous pirs that drained every iota of Astral Wave in him and left himpletely exhausted, there was still plenty of energy left in Cain after the trial. He did not wait a second before putting his hand in the Pir of Speed, vanishing again. That behavior surprised the cadets and soldiers looking at Cain. Nothing would change in a few minutes, and they saw no point in doing it again. A couple of minutester, Cain appeared outside the pir and immediately turned toward the Cadet Ranking. He could not help but clench his fist when he saw that everything remained the same. Cain put his hand in the was sent back into the pir, only to appear again a few minutester. He did it again and again, making odd expressions appear in the people watching him. ¡°Hmph, despite his talent, he is just a child.¡± The blonde soldier with Lumir and Zamir did not hide his voice and ensured everybody listened to him. Uriel saw that people focused on him and showed a dignified expression before continuing with his words. ¡°On the battlefield, someone that doesn¡¯t know how to recognize his limitations and take the same wed path would only lead people to their death.¡± Everybody already knew that Uriel had bad blood with Cain, but that did not mean his words were wrong. There was no perfect leader, and everybody made mistakes, but someone who could not recognize them was definitely no one they would want to follow. Despite the change in the way most people were looking at Cain, a group still showed nothing but respect. Lurin and the small group that fought by his side against the horde of Wave Beasts had absolute faith in his abilities. They knew that every action he took had deep meaning behind them. Cain noticed how the soldiers and cadets began to look at him, but he did not stop and kept trying. He did it almost thirty times before being forced to rest due to his depletion of Astral Wave. As he refilled his Astral Wave, he took a deep breath and went through all his endeavors. ¡®I don¡¯t understand. Why do I feel so firmly that I can do better?¡¯ Cain was not stupid and knew he would gain nothing by retaking the trial. No technique or skill in his memories could help him with it. ¡®Wait! My memories!¡¯ A sh of enlightenment appeared through Cain¡¯s eyes. He had nothing that could help him move faster, but there was something in the boy¡¯s memories that was useful. The boy could do all sorts of wonders with his mind, manipting elemental forces better than any Essence Wave Cultivator and enhancing his body with the world¡¯s energy with more proficiency than any Astral Wave Cultivator. Cain would have gained nothing from them if they had been only images. But in those memories, he felt everything the boy did and knew how this one manipted flesh and energy. Cain could not do most of those things as he could not mimic the outrageous mental power of the boy, but there was one technique he could try. It was very basic and only involved control over the heart and brain. Slowly, a smile appeared on his face as he went through those memories and remembered every tiny detail. As someone that reached the First Realm in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he had a terrific memory. Although he was eager to train it, Cain would not do it in the open, so he put his hand over the Pir of Speed and vanished. As soon as Cain entered the pir again, the cadets and soldiers continued with their derogatory remarks. Of course, since he did not care when he could hear them, why would they bother him now? Cain adopted a meditative position inside the white corridor. Since the test would only begin once he crossed the ck line, he could stay here as long as he wanted. Slowly, he went through every single second of the memories during which the boy created the technique. As he analyzed it, Cain noticed a wonderful thing. Instead of learning from scratch, Cain felt he remembered something he had already mastered but had forgotten due to the passage of time. The technique itself contained two parts that Cain must trigger simultaneously. The one involving the brain consisted of releasing several drugs that pushed your body to a hyperactive state. The other focused on the heart, concerning heart rate eleration and increase in blood pressure. Cain erased any unnecessary thoughts and focused solely on the technique. The technique only required using his Ego Wave to achieve granr control over his brain and heart. He started with his heart, and raising his heart rate and blood pressure to the level required for the technique was not thatplicated. However, things got a little tricker when he started with his brain¡¯s chemistry. Luckily, he just had to mimic the boy¡¯s actions, and everything went smoothly after a few attempts. After roughly an hour, Cain stood up and took a deep breath before triggering the technique. Cain¡¯s heartbeats grew louder by the second and soon were so mighty that they echoed through the white hall. He saw his skin growing red, giving him a ferocious appearance, and felt he could achieve incredible speed even without using a single iota of his Astral Wave. Arge smile emerged on Cain¡¯s face when he felt the changes in his body and perceived the might he had gained. ¡°Hahaha, this is awesome.¡± Cain began tough, making him look like a fiendish creature, and as he saw his new appearance, a contemtive expression appeared on his face. ¡°What should I call this technique?¡± Although the original creator was the boy, this one never gave it a proper name. Cain found nothing wrong with naming the technique since he and the boy were supposed to be the same person. Cain thought for a moment beforeing up with a name that, ording to him, was perfect. ¡°Asura Form: First Gear.¡± After patting himself on the back foring up with what he considered a name worthy of generating awe in all who heard it, Cain walked to the ck line. Cain made his Wave Cloak explode at full power and focused his Astral Wave on his legs and spine before activating Lightning Armament. He then adopted a sprint position before shing forward with all he got. ¡ª The soldier and cadets were waiting for Cain to get out, but as the minutes went by, the gossip only grew worse. The Trial of Speed did not take more than two minutes, but Cain had been there for over an hour. ¡°Hahaha, he must be too embarrassed to show his face and doesn¡¯t dare toe out. He is arrogant and conceited, yet at the slightest setback, he falls into a spiral from which he can not return.¡± ¡°Hmph, that temperament is not fit for a soldier of the Imperial Military Force. Following someone like that into battle would only get you killed.¡± Lumir and Zamir did not waste the opportunity and had been yelling negative remarks about Cain this entire time. The duo then saw how the young man appeared outside the pir, with a pale face and blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. ¡°Hahaha, what a pitiful look. He must have run into a wall inside the trial. So foolish, don¡¯t you think, Lord Uriel?¡± Zamir continuedughing as he spoke to the blonde soldier but immediately noticed something weird when this one did not reply. ¡°Lord Uriel?¡± Zamir saw the shock in Uriel¡¯s eyes, and as he followed this one gaze, he saw the changes in the Cadet Ranking. ¡°Im... impossible.¡± Zamir could not believe what he saw. N¡ã1 Saint of Killers ¨C Middle Level 5 N¡ã2 Swift Air ¨C Early Level 5 Chapter 122 - 122 Late Level 5 122 Late Level Cain showed a radiant smile as he saw his mark. Combining the boy¡¯s skill with his Astral Wave allowed his speed to reach Middle Level 5, granting him the N¡ã1 position! Silence reigned among the pirs as all the cadets and soldiers stared at Cain with awe. Many of the ones that achieved one of the top 3 positions in the Cadet Ranking did it because their bloodlines and techniques specialized in one aspect. Those like Earth Fiend that did it in more than one were legends that had reached high levels in the military and positions of great power. None among them had outrageous and yet bnced power like Cain, taking the second spot in both the Pir of Strength and Pir of Resilience while securing the N¡ã1 in the Pir of Speed! Their shock only grew stronger as they saw Cain moving to the Pir of Destruction and adopting a meditative position next to this one. Slowly chatter reignited among the cadets and soldiers, but this time none dared to utter the slightest negative remark against Cain. Some soldiers and cadets went away, as they did not have the face to remain present after insulting the new genius. Cain couldn¡¯t care less about those people and solely focused on recovering. ¡®Asura Form puts immense stress over my circtory system, increasing the already excessive pressure I endure when pushing my Wave output beyond my body¡¯s natural resistance. If it wasn¡¯t for Blood Refinement Art, I could resist for less than a minute. Still, I should not use it in long battles.¡¯ Despite all the precautions that Cain had to take with Asura Form, there was still arge smile on his face. Deep down, he knew that Late Level 4 was not his limit and trusted his gut, achieving what others could only dream. ..... Minutes passed as Cain used the wave crystal to refill his Astral Wave and revolved the Blood Refinement Art to heal the damage to his blood vessels. Once he was back in his peak condition, he put a hand on the Pir of Destruction and vanished. All the cadets and soldiers remained silent and focused on the Cadet Ranking. Members of the military considered the Pir of Destruction the most important, as it involved just how much battle power they could show on the battlefield. Impressive strength did not necessarily mean you could disy that same level of destructive power. For example, Earth Fiend had strength at Early Level 5, taking the N¡ã1 position in the Strength Pir, but his mark in the Pir of Destruction was just Middle Level 4 and was the N¡ã6. The reason behind that low mark discrepancy was theck of speed and martial skill of this one. Cain was teleported to a white room roughly two hundred meters wide, with three faceless puppets near him. They were ck, blue, and yellow. ¡°Cadet, the trial will begin when you get within ten meters from the puppets and willst ten minutes. You must do as much damage as possible to them. Your mark will be determined by the total sum of the damage divided by three. However, if one puppet received fifty percent less damage than the others, the sum will be split in six.¡± That message reached his mind through the [A.I. Chip Module] before silence reigned in the room. Cain focused on the puppets as he got right next to the ten-meter mark. If he just concentrated on one puppet, it would significantly affect his level, so he needed to attack all of them. He took a deep breath and activated Asura Form and a 2000% Wave Burst. The moment his power reached its peak, he shed forward. The instant Cain got within ten meters of them, the puppets moved, all dashing in different directions. If they were to remain static while he attacked, that would have been pointless since there was no way a true enemy would act like that. Each of those puppets was extremely fast, but Cain was even faster. A fist covered in lightning arcsnded in the head of the yellow puppet before a kick found its way to the blue puppet¡¯s chest. Cain saw how the ck puppet managed to get more than fifty meters away from him as he sent the other two flying away. Thanks to Asura Form, he got near this one in less than a second and unleashed a ferocious barrage. Besides Asura Form, Cain also gained a lot of martial knowledge from the boy¡¯s memories, and every attack carried his body¡¯s full weight and momentum. ¡°Boom.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± Every punch and kick from Cain carried so much strength that they unleashed small sts, just like the sound of small missilesnding on buildings. Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he attacked the ck puppet. He then connected a kick on the puppet¡¯s head, which sent this one flying away right toward the blue puppet. The blue puppet managed to dodge the ck one but could not evade that red hand that grabbed its head and used its entire body as a hammer. Cain crashed the blue puppet against the ck one, rotating his entire body to generate a massive torque that would increase his brute strength. After hammering for roughly ten seconds, Cain sent the blue puppet toward the yellow one with such strength and speed that this one could not avoid it. Before the yellow puppet could get up, Cain dived into its chest, unleashing a st. The blue puppet was about to run when a hand grabbed its head and pushed it back to the ground, hammering it again and again. Cain was crashing both puppets when suddenly, the blue managed to push him away before shing at even greater speed. ¡®The more damage they receive, their resilience and speed be greater.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that. He did not pursue the blue puppet but continued striking the yellow one before sending it flying away toward the ck one¡¯s path. ¡ª A little over ten minutes went by, and when Cain emerged from the pir, everybody focused on the Pir of Destruction¡¯s Cadet Ranking. What they saw left them in a state of utter shock. N¡ã1 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 5 N¡ã2 Lightning Death ¨C Early Level 5 N¡ã3 Divine me ¨C Early Level 5 Chapter 123 - 123 Old friends 123 Old friends N¡ã1 Saint of Killers ¨C Late Level 5 Cain looked at his mark and showed a radiant smile. He was far from reaching Level 4, but his destructive power neared Level 6! Although there was immense pride and a powerful sense of aplishment, he did not let that get over his head. Cain had seen many times what beingcent with your own strength could get you. Not to mention that his current power would still amount to nothingpared with the Atrox God that almost destroyed the entire fort. Cain nced at the Pir of Mind, but there was no point in him taking it as his name was already on the N¡ã1 position. As for retaking the Pir of Strength and the Pir of Resilience, now that he had Asura Form, he knew that would be pointless. Asura Form improved his speed and allowed him to generate an impressive torque that could transform into brute strength. However, that would not help him carry a higher weight or improve his resilience. Cain gave one final nce at the pirs before walking toward the cadet section. His face was serene, but red light burst from his eyes when he saw how many cadets and soldiers were about to walk toward him. The fact he did not bother with their sarcastic remarks while taking the Pir of Speed did not mean he would just forget about it. There was a coldness in Cain¡¯s eyes, and it was clear he had no interest in having any form of rtionship with people that thought they could speak behind his back. Almost all cadets and soldiers moving toward Cain froze when they saw those red eyes, but a small group kept walking forward. Unlike the coldness Cain showed to the others, a small smile appeared as he focused on the small group. ..... ¡°It has been long since west saw each other.¡± ¡°You have been using that time very well. Your cultivation took a giant step forward in less than a month.¡± Lurin spoke with a friendly tone, and there was a deep sense of awe in it as well. ¡°Hahaha, I got some lucky chances recently that helped cover some ws.¡± Cain¡¯s voice had no arrogance, nor did he attempt to show any form of superiority, but there was no way to hide his innate aura. Those with powerful willpower tend to draw people around them, especially if mixed with a heroic spirit like Cain¡¯s. The group began to walk together toward the cadet section. Lurin and the others did not even realize it, but they adopted a formation with Cain at the center. After following him into battle and putting their lives in his hand, they unknowingly began to see Cain as their leader. ¡°Did you alle to take on the pirs?¡± When they heard Cain¡¯s question, the six cadets that came with Lurin showed odd smiles. Lurin only sighed as he saw that and nced at the Pir of Streght¡¯s Cadet Ranking before shaking his head. ¡°I was going to take on the Pir of Strength and was sure I could take the N¡ã10 position, but now that one has risen to Early Level 4.¡± ¡°Hahaha, sorry about that.¡± Cainughed as he heard that since he found it funny. His addition to the Pir of Strength¡¯s Cadet Ranking took away Levi and made it much harder for Lurin to get in. ¡°You don¡¯t seem very sorry.¡± Lurin sent an annoyed look toward Cain as he heard this oneugh and how the others giggled at his misfortune. Of course, he was not really angry. There was still time before the year ended, and he was sure he could enter Level 4 before that. Cain, Lurin, and the others made small talk as they walked away under the gaze of the cadets and soldiers around the pirs. Many cadets and soldiers showed envy toward Lurin and his group as it was clear they formed a good rtionship with one of the rising stars of the Imperial Lightning Fort. The way they looked at Lurin¡¯s group was theplete opposite of the gazes they directed toward Lumir and Zamir. The duo had formed a deep animosity against a genius capable of showing a battle power that allowed him to fight Level 5 Wave Warrior while being at Level 3. Lumir and Zamir knew they had gotten into serious trouble. While in their minds, their background was mightier than Cain¡¯s, it would not be very useful in the military. Unlike in any other profession or field, a powerful background was diametrical in the Imperial Military Force. When it came to granting positions of power and influence, the higher-ups would first choose those from humble origins since they would truly give their heart to the military and not other forces. Lumir and Zamir knew they could return to their homes after the year ended, but that would forever leave them in the shadows of their older brothers. The only way to rise after making a powerful enemy was to hold on to a stronger backer. The duo looked toward Uriel since they knew this was their only chance. No one else would side with them against a genius like Cain. Uriel remained silent for a moment as he focused on Cain before ncing at the duo. ¡°You two will tell me every single interaction you had with that man. After that, I will decide how to proceed.¡± Uriel wanted to know more about Cain and what kind of man he was. If Uriel could fix the bad blood between them, he would certainly do it since there was no gain from him antagonizing a genius, but if not, he had other ns. Lumir and Zamir were wise enough to see the hidden meaning behind Uriel¡¯s words. While it would certainly help their case if they lied, they did not believe they could trick the soldier. Their only path now was telling the truth and hoping that, in the end, Uriel would side with them. Chapter 124 - 124 Genetic Coding 124 Gic Coding Cain kept walking when a boy from the group spoke to him. He had a bulky body and long ck hair. ¡°By the way, have you considered enrolling in a Profession ss?¡± ¡°What? That is still going on?¡± Cain was honestly surprised by that question. ording to the original schedule, the time for Profession ss enrollment was two months ago. The attack of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses clearly messed up the whole thing. Cain was not interested in taking any Profession as they would drain much of his time, and he did not find any useful. What truly drew his attention were Military Specializations, and since the enrollment for Profession sses was still open, it should be the same with these. ¡°Although the courses originally were meant tost for six months, the higher-ups decided to change things, generating crash courses that will onlyst three months. You still have a month to enroll in one of them.¡± Lurin deduced that Cain was unaware of that information, so he shared it. When the other cadets saw Cain¡¯s smiling, they mistook it as this one being excited to take on a Profession, so they all began to share their thoughts. ¡°Since you are interested, how about bing a Wave Crafter? No matter where you find yourself, everybody needs Wave Artifacts.¡± A young man with a thin frame spoke to Cain. Although he was the smallest of the group, his cultivation was the second highest, having reached Level 3. ..... ¡°Green, are you stupid? Wave Crafters need insane precision over their Wave to form the matrixes that give the weapons and armor their power. That is a Profession that only Essence Wave Cultivators take, not someone like Cain, that is an Astral Wave Cultivator.¡± The same bulky man from before berated the thin one named Green. Despite his thin body, Green was not a pushover and shouted back. ¡°Hmph, the only idiot here is you, Josef. It is true that most Wave Crafters are Essence Wave Cultivators but is not Cain¡¯s mastery over his Astral Wave better than almost every Wave Warrior?¡± When Josef heard that, he knew that Green was right. Still, instead of backing down, he shouted even louder. ¡°How did you just call me!?¡± Lurin and the rest of the group onlyughed as they saw that. It was clear they were ustomed to the duo fighting over anything. Cain only shook his head as he saw that but did not n to intervene. He knew they meant well but was not interested in taking a Profession. A girl from the group moved closer to Cain. She had a small face and short golden hair. Although she was not as gorgeous as Beelze, she was still very pretty. ¡°Would you be interested in bing a Gic Coder alongside Lurin and me?¡± The girl¡¯s name was Ophelia, and she was one of the few Astral Wave Cultivators from the group. She did not think much of the proposition and just wanted to take her chances. There was no way she could have imagined that the moment she finished speaking, Cain would turn toward her with sharp and cold eyes. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Ophelia began to tremble as she saw two red eyes focusing on her. Cain immediately noticed the girl¡¯s state and knew he had made a mistake. He was not angry or anything like that. It was just that when he faced something that shocked him, he would enter that default state as it would be easier to handle things. He took a deep breath, calmed his bursting Ego Wave, and smiled radiantly at the girl. ¡°I am sorry about that. The words Gic Coder have a deep meaning for me, but I was unaware there was a Profession like that. Could you please exin it to me?¡± Emotions can change rapidly ording to the circumstances. All the fear in Ophelia¡¯s heart vanished the moment she saw the radiant smile and green eyes. Although Cain was not originally too handsome, his looks improved drastically after going through marrow washing. That, plus his maic aura and strength, made him very attractive to the opposite sex. ¡°Yes!¡± Ophelia could not help but shout before thoroughly describing what a Gic Coder was. ¡°A Gic Coder is someone that can manipte the fundamental blocks of life. Back in the Old World, humans already had the ability to influence our genes, but our technology still limited us. However, after reaching Aether and gaining control over the Wave, we have advanced to the point where all gic diseases are long gone. And a Gic Coder¡¯s skills are more than just fixing mistakes. They can generate all sorts of Wave Viruses capable of granting extraordinary abilities and expanding your lifespan. Some are even able to synthesize or even modify bloodlines.¡± Ophelia just described the basics of the Gic Coding Profession, but it was what Cain needed. Lurin could see a meaningful light in Cain¡¯s eyes as this one heard that description. ¡°If you are interested in bing a Gic Coder, I could share some knowledge my father shared with me.¡± Lurin wouldn¡¯t normally make an offer like that but forming a good rtionship with a martial genius and master strategist like Cain would only bring good things to him. Originally Cain had no interest in any Profession, but things changed drastically after finding out there was one simr to one of the Absolute Life Form System¡¯s modules. ¡°I will think about it,¡± Cain said nothing more before making his way back to the cadet section with the rest of the group. Once they were there, he said goodbye and went to his residence. ¡°Apex?¡± There was no need for more words as the System Spirit knew what Cain wanted to ask. ¡°Brat, I told you from the beginning that the Absolute Life Form System can not make something out of nothing. That goes for its modules as well. You will learn more in the future if you grow powerful enough.¡± Cain could only sigh and nod after hearing that. Apex had helped him, but he knew that this one was not his babysitter. The System Spirit would not provide any knowledge unless he asked for it specifically. ¡°Gic Coding. I could take a look at it.¡± Chapter 125 - 125 Training new skills 125 Training new skills There were many things on Cain¡¯s mind once he reached his residence, but he was too tired. After bowing to his father¡¯s altar, taking a shower, and eating a small meal, he went to bed. Although he could use Embryonic Breathing to shorten the time, it was good to rx from time to time. A bow¡¯s string had to be tense, but if pushed too much, it could break. Only after a good night of sleep did Cain begin to address his affairs. He took out the crystal card with information about the Visualization Technique, Free Ego, and Embryonic Breathing and went through every point. It took more than four hours for Cain to grasp the essence of all the knowledge Zarak left in the crystal card. ¡°Embryonic Breathing has different levels. I am currently at the first level, where my body recovers much faster, and my mind can find tranquility with little effort. I can also revolve my Astral Wave much faster, improving my cultivation and energy recovery. As for Free Ego. It is more than just allowing my Ego Wave to leave my brain. I can train it to grow stronger and more resilient. With enough training, I can make it invisible and silent to the point that it could enter the body of someone, and that person would not even notice it. Currently, there is not much I can do with my Visualization Technique. I need to give some time for my Alter-Ego to grow and show its nature and power. After that, I can begin to harness it.¡¯ Cain took a few deep breaths, and soon he entered Embryonic Breathing. He could achieve that state without much effort as long there were no threats nearby affecting his concentration. He stood in that state for a few minutes and felt that all the fatigue from reading for several hours had vanished. After that came his Free Ego training. ..... A red electromaic force field emerged from Cain¡¯s brain and moved around the room. Everything it touched appeared in his mind clearer than if he was seeing it with his own eyes. It took him around three hours for the red color to fade slowly. Cain had to focus all his mind on that task, and any w would make it visible again. Cain practiced his Free Ego for an hour before allowing his Ego Wave to return to his brain. ¡®It will be long before I can make it invisible without effort and much longer before it is imperceptible for anyone with a weaker willpower than mine.¡¯ After practicing the knowledge he gained from the first crystal card, Cain took the second Zarak gave him. The information about the Hypnosis Master Path was very obscure andplex, but its essence was simple. Cain needed to generate a sh of wills with the opponent. The key was not just defeating the opponent; he had to leave it susceptible before uttering amand that would carry an impulse. He would have to ensure that impulse would reach the target¡¯s psyche and force this one to act a certain way. There were even ways to generate powerful illusions or imnt specificmands that would activate with a keyword. ¡®Bing a 1 Star Hypnosis Master is incredibly challenging in just two weeks.¡¯ Cain understood the task¡¯s difficulty, but he trusted Zarak¡¯s guidance. If he could not do it, that meant he had no talent in the Hypnosis Master Path and would not waste his time in it. After going through the information in both crystal cards and grasping his new abilities, Cain addressed a different subject. ¡°How many military credits do I have?¡± One of the reasons he went through the pirs was to test his strength but also secure as many military credits as he could. [Military credits: 194.340] Cain showed a great smile as he saw that massive quantity of credits. The pirs¡¯ rewards, Wave Champion Atrox¡¯s body, and the ones he gained for battling Wave Beasts¡¯ hordes added up to a massive number. He almostughed as he had no idea what to do with so many military credits. Of course, the military¡¯swork had things much more expensive than 190.000 credits, but none of them were useful for a Wave Warrior like Cain. It did not take long for Cain to pick up the things he needed. He bought several wave crystals along with Dragon Grass. Those would help his cultivation and training in Blood Refinement Art. Even for scions that had the full power of their Noble Families behind them, Cain¡¯s purchase was insane. Of course, using such high-quality resources would trante into a powerful foundation. Once Cain saw the number of credits left after buying a few crystals and grass, he did not know whether tough or cry. ¡°Hahaha, I have less than 20.000 credits left, and what I bought will notst me more than a couple of months. It is true what they say; there is never such a thing as too much money.¡± Cain did not spend all his credits on resources as there was onest thing he needed to buy. ¡°Apex, did you find the object I requested from you?¡± ¡°I have found several ways to acquire it. There is one that involves certain risks, but with your current strength, there would be no problem. It would actually benefit our purpose to take that path, but it all depends on if you are willing to do what needs to be done?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that. The object he wanted to obtain was instrumental in fulfilling a promise he made to himself. ¡°Please exin.¡± ¡°I can get it using several fronts to hide the real buyer, but someone will know that it was sold in the Copsing Lightning Sector. However, there is a way to obtain it and hide any trace of its sale. A merchant is willing to sell it for a very low price, but they would only do the transaction in person.¡± Cain understood what a physical transaction of this type meant. After a moment, his eyes grow decisive and cold. ¡°Do it. Settle the transaction to happen in twelve days.¡± ¡°Done.¡± Chapter 126 - 126 Clash of wills 126 sh of wills There was arge forest not too far away from a small city. Ordinary people did not visit this ce, and even soldiers knew better than to get into it since it was where criminals went to do shady business. You might see something you should not and end up dying, so everybody knew better than to get near it. There was a full moon in the sky, and an old man waited in a deste part of the forest. He had short gray hair and a thin build, and there was arge scar in his neck. Despite his ferocious appearance, the man looked incredibly peaceful, and his smile seemed capable of putting people at ease. Suddenly the old man¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw a figureing out of the forest. Although the person had a robe covering his entire body, it was clear he could not be more than fifteen years old. Seeing that the person he was about to meet was so young made a sharp light appear in the eyes of the old man. Still, he immediately hid it, showing nothing but friendship on his face. ¡°Is he alone?¡± The old man did not utter those words but sent them through his A.I. Chip. ¡°Yes, Young Elephant and Young Monkey surveilled the surroundings, and there was no one else in a radius of five hundred meters.¡± When the old man heard that, his smile grew wider, but still, it showed no evil thoughts. Clearly, he had done this many times and knew how to hide his emotions. ¡°Great Tiger, Prepare to act. Like always, I will speak with the buyer for a while and will give you the signal if he is someone that we can get rid of.¡± ..... No answer came, but the old man knew that the ones hiding in the dark were ready to act the moment he gave the signal. ¡°Hello, my friend. Who would have thought that someone so young would be interested in my services? Allow me to introduce myself. I am Old Fox.¡± The old man spoke warmly before approaching the young man and stretching his hand. When the young man grabbed Old Fox¡¯s hand, a small device was activated and scanned him, sending the information about his cultivation to the old man. Old Fox was surprised to see the information that reached his A.I. Chip. ¡®Less than fifteen years old and already a Level 3 Astral Wave Warrior! A scion of a Noble Family?¡¯ Deep inside his gut, Old Fox felt great resentment as he saw such a young genius. He was also a Level 3 Wave Warrior, but his age had already neared seventy. Of course, as someone that had lived long in this business, Old Fox knew how to keep a cold head. Some people could disappear with no one bothering to look for them, while the vanishing of others could raise hell on earth. ¡®I guess today will be regr business.¡¯ That thought crossed Old Fox¡¯s mind just as he was about to let go of the boy¡¯s hand. However, Old Fox¡¯s eyes widened when he felt the boy hold his hand in a tight grip, and the next thing he saw were two red eyes looking directly at him. The man who had spoken with Old Fox and watched everything from the shadows could not help but frown as he saw Old Fox staring nkly into the boy¡¯s eyes before talking in a low tone. Just as he was about to ask what was happening, Old Fox againmunicated with him through the A.I. Chip. ¡°He is a Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior, but he is just some bastard with no background. We can act without fear. Tell Young Elephant and Young Monkey to cover the escape routes. You wille into the open and disy your strength, destroying his fighting spirit and making things easier for us. I have already activated the jamming device, so nomunication will go in and out of this ce.¡± Great Tyger was confused by thatmand. Everything would be easier if he attacked from the shadows and killed the boy before this one even noticed that something was happening. Still, he did not dare to refute Old Fox¡¯s words. Just as Old Fox got away from the boy, Great Tiger emerged from the darkness. He was a middle-aged man with arge body covered in green armor, holding a dagger and sword. ¡°What is the meaning of this!?¡± The young man shouted as he saw Old Tiger¡¯s figure. Great Tiger found the boy¡¯s reaction extremely normal, but something bothered him. ¡®His bodynguage is that of a terrified man looking for a way out, but his eyes show no fear. Something is not right.¡¯ Great Tiger was no newbie, and his instincts were top-notch, but there was not much he could do now other than go ahead with the n. ¡°This is the price of doing business in the dark. There is nowhere to run for you. The only thing you gain by fighting will be making things harder for you.¡± Old Fox spoke calmly while moving away from the young man and positioning himself safely behind Great Tiger¡¯s body. Great Tiger¡¯s instincts kept telling him something was wrong, so he decided to end this as fast as possible. He took a deep breath as his Essence Wave burst with power, generating powerful gales. ¡°Brat, I am a Level 5 Essence Wave Warrior. The difference between us is like heaven and earth. There is no way you can escape this ce alive. If you don¡¯t resist, I promise to make it painless.¡± Great Tiger¡¯s dagger and sword began to glow as a sharp wing circted them. The boy only showed greater fear as he saw the strength of Great Tiger and moved back, ready to run away. Great Tiger only shook his head when he saw that, and he dashed forward at an incredible speed. He was less than twenty meters away from the boy in a second, ready to fire a spell that would kill this one in a swift movement. However, it was at that point that everything went south for Great Tiger. He had just raised his weapons and loaded them with his Essence Wave when a red force field emerged from the boy¡¯s head and shed against him. Chapter 127 - 127 Killing a Level 5 Wave Warrior 127 Killing a Level 5 Wave Warrior Great Tiger was surprised and felt a powerful force crashing against him, making its way to his brain. After a second, the force managed to ovee his willpower and put him in a susceptible state of consciousness. ¡°Sleep.¡± Thatmand reached the deepest part of his mind and instilled in him an intense desire to let go of everything, close his eyes, and fall asleep. ¡°NO!¡± Great Tiger shouted as he fought with everything he had thatpulsion. A harsh life had granted Great Tiger a powerful will, so he was able to ovee that drive imnted in his mind. Actually, he could have resisted from the beginning, but he was so sure of his victory against the boy that he lowered his guard. Although Great Tiger regained control of his mind, that did not mean everything was fine. Fighting off thatpulsion granted the boy all the time he needed to burst with immense power. Not only was the boy unleashing a Wave output equal to a Late Level 4 Wave Warrior, it wasn¡¯t Essence Wave but Astral Wave! Great Tiger saw how a ck armor extended from the boy¡¯s back and covered this one¡¯s body, just as two fists charged with an immense amount of Astral Wave and lightning came toward him. Even if the amount of Wave that Great Tiger could unleash surpassed the boy¡¯s, Essence Wave was unsuitable for physical defense. ..... He directed much of his Essence Wave toward the front of his body while raising his weapons. ¡®I will take that blow. It will harm me, but after that, I will be able to put some distance between us before unleashing a barrage of Wind des.¡¯ Great Tiger was a seasoned fighter, so he devised a n in a fraction of a second. Unfortunately, he was unable to predict what would happen next. Great Tiger¡¯s eyes widened as he felt a sharp pain on his back and saw that Old Fox had just buried a knife in it. The old man had charged almost all his Essence Wave into the knife, which did a lot of damage. ¡°Dammit!¡± Great Tiger shouted as he stuck Old Fox with the back of his hand, sending the old man flying away. Great Tiger did not understand what was happening but did not have time to think as the lightning fist was about to reach him. He could only put his free arm on its path, protecting his chest from the blows that would have undoubtedly shattered his sternum. When those fistsnded on him, Great Tiger felt as if a massive truck was about to run him over, but things only worsened. The matrixes in the gauntlets glowed, generating an extremely powerful kic st thatpletely shattered Great Tiger¡¯s right arm and sent him flying away while puking blood. ¡°BOOM!!¡± Great Tiger felt how every single one of his internal organs trembled and was sure that his right arm would have exploded if not for his armor. Despite the immense pain and damage he endured, the man managed to shout an order in mid-air. ¡°Young Elephant, Young Monkey, kill him!¡± By this point, everybody could tell that the young man responsible for all this mayhem was no other than Cain. Cain¡¯s arms trembled for a moment as they went over the bacsh of triggering a double level 2 Kic st. Thest time he used it, the bones on his hands almost broke, and it drained most of his Astral Wave. Although he coped with it much better this time, it still temporarily froze him. Less than a second after Great Tiger¡¯s shout, two figures emerged from the darkness. One was a thin woman wielding a metal staff, while the other was arge man wearing brown armor full of spikes. The first was an Essence Wave Cultivator, the second an Astral Wave Cultivator, and both were Level 4 Wave Warriors. Cain did not even nce at the duoing at him full of killing intent, but his Ego Wave dashed toward them, generating a sh of wills. Young Monkey and Young Elephant were shocked by the sudden sh. Although they were on high alert and aware of their danger, none could face off Cain¡¯s willpower. ¡°Freeze!¡± The duo wanted nothing more than to kill Cain, but their bodies froze when they heard thatmand. What they desired did not matter since the order Cain imnted in their minds was stronger. Cain¡¯s Ego Wave showed him how the duo froze thirty meters away from him. Once his body recovered from the bacsh, he took a deep breath and activated it. ¡°First Gear.¡± Cain softly uttered those words as his flesh turned red. ¡°Thump!¡± Great Tiger was just about to rise from the ground when he heard a powerful heartbeat that echoed through the forest. He saw that sounding from the boy¡¯s chest; before he could ovee the shock, this one appeared in front of him. ¡®What a monstrous speed!¡¯ That was thest thought that crossed Great Tiger¡¯s mind before a fist carrying outrageous strengthnded on his chest, overwhelming his armor¡¯s defenses and shattering his ribs and sternum. ¡°AHHHH!¡± Great Tiger screamed in pain as blood carrying pieces of his inner organs came out of his mouth. However, he could not yell for long since a barrage of punches began tond on his head, shattering every bone in it. Cain¡¯s entire body rotated after every punch, generating a greater and greater momentum and torque that would enhance the next blow with even more strength. Young Monkey and Young Elephant could do nothing else but see as a young boy punched the head of their leader with so much strength that small sts echoed every time the fists connected. It was not long before they heard the sound that marked the end of the massacre. ¡°CRACK!¡± Great Tiger¡¯s skull finally gave up under that barrage and shattered, marking the end of the man. Cain¡¯s eyes showed no mercy at all as he turned toward the duo with bloody hands. Chapter 128 - 128 No mercy 128 No mercy The way Young Elephant and Young Monkey reacted to Great Tiger¡¯s skull cracking was very different. Absolute terror invaded the woman¡¯s heart while the man¡¯s eyes burst with pure rage. ¡°Bastard!¡± Young Elephant roared with rage as his Astral Wave burst with immense strength, making a golden light cover his entire body. Cain saw how the man managed to ovee thepulsion and dashed toward him with immense strength. He was in no position to counter or dodge that attack, so he could only block it. However, that was not all Cain did. As he raised his guard and focused his Astral Wave in his arms, he turned toward Young Monkey. ¡°Stop breathing.¡± Emotions have an effect on a person¡¯s willpower. Anger could drive your focus to the point that you could break a weakpulsion, while fear could make you even more susceptible to it. Young Elephant¡¯s burning rage allowed his willpower to rise to the point where he could resist Cain¡¯s control, but Young Monkey was so terrified that the moment she heard those words, her lungs stopped working. Young Elephant did not notice the plight of his ally. There was nothing more in his eyes than the young man in front of him. He knew deep inside that the only way toe out of this ce alive was to kill that person. ¡°?Boom!¡± ..... A st echoed through the forest as Young Elephant¡¯s fist shed with Cain¡¯s arms, sending this one flying away. Cain¡¯s eyes remained calm, but he was inwardly surprised by the strength of that attack. ¡®That yellow light seems to improve his body¡¯s hardness and increase the weight behind each punch.¡¯ As he figured out the enemy¡¯s skill, Cain rotated his body mid-air, recovering control beforending on his feet. Young Elephant was shocked by Cain¡¯s martial skills, but he threw away all those useless thoughts and dashed forward, full of killing intent. ¡°Stop moving,¡± Cain uttered thatmand again, but it had no effect other than making Young Elephant frown. ¡°Your tricks will no longer work on me!¡± Young Elephant shouted, trying to give himself more courage while the golden light that covered his body grew even stronger. Cain noticed that the enemy¡¯s mental fortitude had risen to a level where this one could resist thepulsion of a 1 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master. Although it would make things harder, he showed no fear toward an enemy like Young Elephant. His Wave Burst went down to 1000%. That diminished his raw power but allowed him to fight for a longer time. Young Elephant¡¯s fury grew stronger when he saw Cain¡¯s Astral Wave output diminished. He thought thst the young man was looking down on him. ¡°Die!¡± Young Elephant sent a vicious punch toward the boy¡¯s head, showing surprisingly good martial skills. Unfortunately for Young Elephant, Cain easily dodged the blow, and things did not end there. Cain used Young Elephant¡¯s momentum to counter with his own punch to the head. Young Elephant felt his head would fly away from his body, but he clenched his teeth and sent another attack. Sadly things repeat themselves. Cain countered every attack that Young Elephant fired. The Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior had immense strength and durability but severelycked speed. Having lower speed than your opponent did not mean you could not touch them, as you could use superior martial skills, feints, or attack from blind spots. However, the [A.I. Chip Module] generated a small virtual screen in Cain¡¯s vision, showing him a prediction of Young Elephant¡¯s following movements. Cain used it for the first time against the Atrox Wave Champion, and there was no way he would let such a powerful tool go to waste. He had even given it a name. Virtual Sight. Cain continued countering Young Elephant¡¯s punches, adding the strength of this one to his own attacks. After a few minutes, he saw the man¡¯s eyes beginning to lose focus due to all the blows to the head. He dodged another strike but did not fire a counter this time. Instead, he lowered his body and struck Young Elephant¡¯s knee with his elbow. Young Elephant¡¯s eyes widened with pain as he felt his right knee almost shattering due to that blow. However, he endured the agony and used that same leg to strike back. That attack surprised Cain as Virtual Sight showed him that Young Elephant¡¯s stance would crumble after that strike. Of course, Cain did not blindly trust what Virtual Sight showed him since he knew the predictions were not 100% certain. He moved back and put his arms in front of his chest just before that kick sent him flying away. Young Elephant would have wanted to carry on with his attacks, but the damage he had received was too much, and his right leg no longer worked. He could not rest for even a second before Cain shed back to the fray andnded a ferocious kick on his jaw. Cain saw Young Elephant¡¯s eyes grow dim after that kick due to the brain trauma and immediately continued with another kick toward the temple. That second kick sent Young Elephant crashing to the ground before a third kick connected to the back of his head, destroying the cervical vertebrae and cutting the spinal cord. Cain¡¯s deactivated his Wave Burst, Lightning Armament, and Asura Form the moment he killed Young Elephant. He kept Wave Cloak activated since it would not be wise to lower his guard in a ce like this. The battles against Great Tiger and Young Elephant were short but drained almost all of his Astral Wave and pushed him to his limit. He focused on Old Fox and saw that the man was unconscious before turning toward Young Monkey. The woman was twitching on the ground while grabbing her neck, desperately attempting to breathe. Even if a Level 4 Wave Warrior could go for several minutes without breathing, it did not mean asphyxiation did not affect them. Cain walked to the woman and saw the terror in her eyes that pleaded for mercy. He put his hand over her chest before whispering two words. ¡°Stop working.¡± Young Monkey heard those words before her heart stopped beating, and she perished. Chapter 129 - 129 Low gains 129 Low gains Cain¡¯s Ego Wave vanished as he looked around the battlefield. He saw the Great Tiger, Young Elephant, and Young Monkey corpses and showed nothing in his eyes. After experiencing killing millions in his past life memories, murder could no longer affect Cain¡¯s mind. Especially if the ones he killed were people that would not have hesitated to end his life so they could take his belongings. Cain¡¯s true nature was that of a hero, but his own version of what a hero meant. He would protect the people he cared about, save any innocent he found on his journey, and butcher all evil in his path. Cain went toward Old Fox, and after ensuring that the man was unconscious, he sat by this one¡¯s side and rested for a little while. He felt mentally exhausted. Although hypnosis was an extremely powerful technique and seemed very easy tp disy, nothing could be farther from the truth. It required immense mental effort to ce someone¡¯s mind under hypnosis, and just the most basicmand required all of Cain¡¯s focus. After a few minutes, Cain was able to recover a little and turned toward Old Fox before putting a hand over this one¡¯s head. ¡°Wake up.¡± The target being unconscious did not mean Cain could not put this one under hypnosis since the brain still worked perfectly fine. In any case, it only made things easier as this one¡¯s mental defenses were lower. Old Fox opened his eyes, but they had lost their focus, making it clear to everybody who saw him that his mind was in an altered state. ..... ¡°Who else knows about youing to this ce and doing this transaction?¡± Old Fox showed no resistance and immediately answered Cain¡¯s question. ¡°No one else in the organization knows about it. The only ones privy to this deal were the men I came with.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard those words. He did not doubt that Old Fox belonged to some criminal group, but the fact that this one used the word organization disturbed him. ¡°Exin to me what organization you belong to.¡± ¡°I am part of the Ancient Feral Organization. We are a criminal group with our headquarters in Jarken County. We use animals as our code names, and the prefix determines our status in the organization. Juvenile, Young, and Great are used for warriors, while those that handle logistic affairs use Aged. Those with the Old prefix are special, meaning they have a strong background within the organization. A council formed by nine people lead our organization. Each is called an Ancient Beast, with my big sister being one of them. I am unaware of the strength of the other eight, but my sister is a Level 9 Essence Wave Warrior.¡± Cain showed an awkward smile as he heard all that information. ¡®It seems I have kicked a ho nest. My luck is truly unbelievable. Well, there is nothing I can do about it now.¡¯ Although Cain was a little annoyed that the criminals he had just killed had such aplicated background, there was no way to turn back time now. Besides, even if he could, he would not change anything. Before, an organization with Level 9 Wave Warriors and possible Wave Champions would have been an existential threat to Cain, but now they were just a problem. ¡®Usually, in a criminal organization, the higher-ups will always get their cuts from anything the underlings did. I guess Old Fox did not share this endeavor with anyone else because he wanted to secure all the profit.¡¯ Cain confirmed his guess after asking it directly to Old Fox before asking more questions about the Ancient Feral Organization. He wanted to know everything he could about them in case they came knocking on his door in the future. After roughly thirty minutes, Cain was able to get aprehensive understanding of the Ancient Feral Organization. ¡°Last question. How many people have you killed with this type of scheme?¡± ¡°Forty-eight.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Cain said nothing else before pping Old Fox¡¯s head with all his strength, making it explode like a balloon full of blood. There were many ways to handle Old Fox, but Cain chose to use the more definitive. Everybody from the Ancient Feral Organization that came to this forest was dead, and no one could reveal Cain¡¯s involvement. During the interrogation, Cain had asked for Apex to hack Old Fox¡¯s space ring, and he could now use it. He stored the old man¡¯s belongings in it before doing the same with the trio¡¯s artifacts and sting their heads. The blood will attract the Wave Beast from the surroundings, and they will not leave a single hair of those energy-rich bodies. Cain could have also stored the corpses in his space rings, but he had no idea if there was a way for people to track them somehow, so it was better to be safe than sorry. Once he finished handling the corpses, Cain scanned the surroundings with his Ego Wave and [Basic Scan Force Field], making sure there was no evidence of his presence here before leaving. Cain jumped from one tree to another on his way back, ensuring he left no tracks on the ground. As he left the battlefield, he issued amand to the Absolute Life Form System. ¡°System, how much Destiny Force did I gain from thisst encounter?¡± Immediately a robotic voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind. [Destiny Force obtained: 2.3 points] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw how little he had obtained. He could understand that Old Fox would not grant him much since the old man did not have much time left and was weak, but the other three were rtively young and with high cultivations. ¡°Brat, do not expect much from people like that. For starters, low-level criminals have weak destinies. Most are considered nothing more than disposable pawns in the eyes of the higher-ups. Not to mention that your destiny had risen a lot, so the fact you gained anything from them was already impressive.¡± Cain showed an awkward smile as he heard that. He had forgotten just how much he had grown over thest few months. Chapter 130 - 130 Basic Genetic Enhancement 130 Basic Gic Enhancement Cain knew he could steal the destiny of the people he killed. However, the stronger his destiny, the less Destiny Force he would gain. That is why he earned almost nothing despite having killed a Level 5 and two Level 4 Wave Warriors. ¡°How much is my current Destiny Force?¡± [Destiny Force: 1664] Cain was surprised by thatrge number but immediately figured out the reason for the sudden rise. The fame and glory he obtained in the Cadet Ranking helped him improve his destiny. He had not gone to the Pirs de Trial for that, but it happened nheless. ¡®Ahhh, figuring out my destiny¡¯s growth is too hard. If I try to do it, the only thing I will do is waste my time. The best path is to carry on with what I usually do, always striving to improve.¡¯ ¡°Well thought, brat. You are too young and weak to attempt and decipher destiny¡¯s mysteries. You are on the right path. Just keep walking forward.¡± Cain showed a small smile as he heard Apex¡¯s encouraging words. As he saw the massive amount of Destiny Force he had gathered, ideas came to his mind. ¡°System, show me the [Gic Coder Module].¡± ..... Less than a second after Cain uttered that order, a virtual screen appeared in his sight. [Gic Coder Module: -Basic Gic Stimtion -Basic Gic Suppression -Basic Gic Enhancement.] ¡®I have no use for [Basic Gic Stimtion] since I have already awakened my dormant bloodline. [Basic Gic Suppression] could help me with my bloodline¡¯s emotional outbursts, but that is no longer a problem after I reached Mind Over Body. The only one usable right now is [Basic Gic Enhancement].¡¯ Cain did not look down on the [Gic Coder Module] by no means, as he knew that the only reason he was able to shine in the early months of the military academy was his bloodline that he obtained thanks to [Basic Gic Stimtion]. However, two of its three tools have lost their use. Of course, that would change once Cain evolved the module to the next stage. Although he would have wanted to do it right now, things were not so simple. He had already obtained the 1000 Destiny Force points needed to evolve the module, but his soul was not strong enough to endure the pressure of an evolved [Gic Coder Module]. That is why Cain focused on [Basic Gic Enhancement]. He had always been interested in the tool, but each use cost 100 Destiny Force, so he was not in a position to use it before. However, things have changed now. ¡®Disy the possible gic enhancement I can obtain.¡¯ The Absolute Life Form System carried on with themand immediately. [Disying avable gic enhancements: ... ... Due to the Gic Coder Module¡¯s current capabilities, enhancing specific genes would negatively affect others. The projected oues are specific to the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. Different bloodlines will generate different oues as the effect on the genome will vary. ... -Enhanced Gic Strength: Enhance genes focused on physical strength. Projected oue: Increase strength by 9%. Diminish speed by 7%. -Enhanced Gic Speed: Enhance genes focused on physical speed. Projected oue: Increase speed by 5%. Diminish strength by 1.2%. -Enhanced Gic Vitality: Enhance genes focused on vitality. Projected oue: Increase vitality by 10%. Diminish speed by 3.5%. Diminish strength 3.5%] When Cain saw the avable enhancement, he did not know whether tough or cry. Increasing his vitality by 10% or strength by 9% would be immensely helpful, but the drawbacks were not worth it. The only one that was cost-effective in Cain¡¯s mind was [Enhanced Gic Speed] as a rise of 5% on his already high speed would greatly improve his battle power, and he could endure a 1.2% loss in his physical strength. Nevertheless, paying 100 Destiny Force for it was not something that Cain was willing to do. Each point was incredibly difficult to obtain, and he never knew when he would need them. ¡®I am in no urgent need to improve my speed right now, so I will save the points. I should gain even better oues after evolving the [Gic Coder Module], and there may be even better tools at my disposal at that time.¡¯ Cain made the virtual screen vanish as he continued running, and after another two hours, he finally left the forest. He appeared close to his military truck and got up on it beforemanding the vehicle to drive back to the Imperial Lightning Fort. Once Cain was safely inside the military truck, he rxed. The journey had been bloody, but he came out of it immacte. ¡®Time to see the real gains.¡¯ Cain thought with a smile as he began to analyze all the wealth in his new space ring. The Wave Artifacts he took from Old Fox, Great Tiger, Young Elephant, and Young Monkey were not that impressive, but they could amount to roughly fifteen thousand military credits. Just like he did with all the other artifacts, he would leave them to Apex so that this one could exchange them for resources using the empire¡¯swork. Initially, Cain expected to find a significant amount of wealth stored in Old Fox¡¯s space ring, but luck did not shine on him. There was a great deal of paper money, fine wine, and delicious food, but had no cultivation resources. ¡®I guess it makes sense. Old Fox probably had already given up on his cultivation, so there was no reason for him to have stuck up cultivation resources. There might have been a great deal of Imperial Military Credits in his ount, but I could not ess those.¡¯ Cain would have no problemmanding Old Fox to transfer military credits to his ount using hypnosis, but that would have left a log of the transfer. It would have been the same as yelling to the world that he killed the old man and the other three. There was one thing that Cain found inside the space ring that drew arge smile on his face. He took out a small red piece of metal and put it on top of the artifact covering his spine. The piece fused wlessly with the inactive Nullity Armor, and when Cain sent the signal, both activated together. A ck armor covered Cain¡¯s body, but this time, instead of a ck helmet, a red one appeared. Chapter 131 - 131 Inspiring others 131 Inspiring others The moment the red helmet showed itself, it emanated a small electromaic force field that distorted light and other forces, making it impossible for most to decipher Cain¡¯s appearance. Things did not end there since, with a singlemand from Cain, the helmet also began to modify the Nullity Armor¡¯s appearance, making it resemble a standard mercenary. Cain did not know why but the moment the red helmet covered his face, he felt a sense of peace that was hard to describe. ¡®How odd. It is as if I can show a different part of myself.¡¯ Unknown to Cain, inside his soul dimension, the crimson sphere that was his Alter-Ego began to tremble. It did notst long, and Cain was unaware of it, but something happened inside it. After a moment, Cain sent anothermand, and the helmet vanished, turning the Nullity Armor to its original appearance. He intended to use it for criminal activities, so he could not go around showing it. Cain was delighted with the helmet and looked at the virtual screen with its information. ¡®Red Hood. A good name.¡¯ The military truck drove at full speed toward the Imperial Lightning Military Fort, and Cain did not waste a minute. He used Embryonic Breathing to enhance his recovery speed, focusing on his mental powers as he needed to be in peak condition for the next task. ..... It did not take long for the military truck to enter the fort. Cain got out of it before walking away. ¡ª There was a group of young cadets near the gate that led out of the cadet section. Most were at Level 2, and some were at Level 1. It was easy to decipher from their clothes and demeanor that none of this group came from a Noble Family. They were allmoners with decent enough talent to pursue a promising career in the military. Their goal was to reach the Pir of Trials and test their strength. Of course, none expected to enter the Cadet Ranking, but measuring their power was always good. It could show their strong and weak points so that they could work on them in the future. ¡°That is why we came here, Sir.¡± A young woman with tan skin and defined muscles spoke respectfully to the old man guarding the gate. She seemed to be the group¡¯s leader, and her cultivation was the highest of all, reaching theter stage of Level 2. Oliver showed a small smile as he saw the fighting spirit in the cadets. He especially valued those from humble backgrounds as they made him remember his younger self. ¡®Young and full of courage. Some of these little brats have the potential to reach Level 7; with some help, they could grow to be rising stars.¡¯ Oliver was already making ns for these young cadets. After they left, he would send the word out, ensuring that the other vice-captains and captains help them. That solidarity made many people in the Godyer Humankind Empire see the military as their family, especially those from humble backgrounds who did not have to choose between forming part of the Imperial Military Force or their own families¡¯ forces. Just as Oliver was about to give the cadets some encouraging words and let them pass through the gate, he saw a figure in the distance. The cadets were surprised to see Oliver¡¯s eyes open wide before rising from his meditative position and adopting a respectful stance. None of them knew the strength or status of the old man, but they were sure it was high, so they were surprised that he acted like that. Some of the cadets guessed that an influential person wasing toward the cadet section, so they all focused on the gate leading toward the fort¡¯s central area. ¡°Wee, Young Lord.¡± Oliver sped his hands and performed a small bow. The cadets were shocked to see that the one that provoked such a reaction from Oliver was not a big shot from the Imperial Military Force but another cadet that was walking toward them. ¡°There is no need to call me like that, and much less bow toward me. I understand why you do it, and I appreciate your respect, but I don¡¯t like to see elders bowing to young people.¡± The one that spoke was a young man with ck hair and green eyes wearing an impressive blue robe. ¡°You... you are Cain Laurifer!¡± One of the cadets could not help but shout as he saw Cain, making the eyes of all the others glow with interest and awe. A few months ago, Cain Laurifer was just one of the many talented cadets in the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. Still, there was nothing truly remarkable about him. Although he had made a name for himself by showing a Late Wave Champion¡¯s willpower, taking the N¡ã1 position in the Pir of Mind, none of the cadets understood the true meaning of strong willpower as they knew nothing of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. However, everything changed in the past few weeks after disying a speed and destructive power worthy of the N¡ã1 position in the Cadet Ranking. It did not take long for rumors about Cain to begin cirction, like how he almost killed one of the teachers and the amazing military skill that allowed him to lead one hundred men against thousands of Wave Beasts. The most famous legend around Cain was his involvement in the killing of an Atrox Wave Champion! Cain turned toward the cadets and smiled at them before nodding. He had no idea who they were since they had different sses, and he was not precisely the sociable type, but there was no reason to show coldness toward a group of futurerades. ¡°Good day to all of you.¡± Cain greeted the group before turning back to Oliver. ¡°I need to pass. Open the gate, please.¡± Unlike the other cadets, who needed to state their purpose before leaving the cadet section, Cain did not need to say anything else for Oliver to wave his hand and open the gate. ¡°Do you needpany, You.., Cain?¡± Oliver corrected his words mid-way. He would never show this type of deference toward a scion from a Noble Family, but Cain was the core disciple of his teacher, one of the strongest life forms in the entire Copsing Lightning Sector. ¡°No, thank you.¡± Cain did not say anything else before arcs of lightning covered his body, and he shed away. The cadets saw Cain run into the fort¡¯s central area, and their eyes were full of admiration. Their reactions were quitemon, as the Godyer Humankind¡¯s culture valued strength above all things, and Cain Laurifer was the strongest cadet in the Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°So that is Cain Laurifer. He is around the same age as us, but I hear he can easily kill Level 4 Wave Warriors. And ording to the rumors, he is also amoner.¡± The same cadet that shouted Cain¡¯s name before spoke again, and thosest few words made the eyes of the other cadets glow with excitement. If someone from a humble origin could reach such a high level, would that not mean they could also do it? ¡°Do not let rumors get over your head. I doubt that someone so amazing as him could be amoner. He might have hidden his background so people would not approach him with false intentions.¡± The young woman that led the group poured cold water into the cadets¡¯ spirits. She was not trying to be cruel but did not want them to chase impossible dreams under false information. Actually, she had also grown excited the first time she heard the N¡ã1 Copsing Lightning Cadet came from a humble background, but now that she saw him, his demeanor was too striking. When she saw Cain¡¯s eyes, it was like looking at a man that had been groomed from birth to rule. ¡°Cain Laurifer is an orphan. Regarding backgrounds, Cain¡¯s was as humble as you could get.¡± The cadets turned toward Oliver as those words reignited their dimmer spirits. ¡°Is that true?¡± The group¡¯s leader spoke with shock in her voice. She found it hard to believe that an orphan could have that royal aura. Oliver was not fond of gossip, but he saw the light in the cadets¡¯ eyes when they heard about Cain¡¯s background. Talent was important, but the will to rise and an objective to follow were just as essential in your cultivation path. ¡°Cain Laurifer is an orphan that came to the Copsing Lightning Sector, and at that point, he was nothing more than a newly advanced Level 1 Astral Wave Warrior. That young man had no wealth when he arrived at the military academy, but he never allowed his origin to dictate how high he could rise, and neither should you.¡± Arge smile appeared on Oliver¡¯s face as he saw the burning fighting spirit in the cadets. ¡®Good, very good.¡¯ Chapter 132 - 132 Breaking the illusion 132 Breaking the illusion Cain shed through the streets at an impressive speed, leaving residual arcs of lightning on his path. Although his figure was startling, it was not odd to see something like that in the main area of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Many other soldiers ran through the streets incredibly fast, showing great control and not touching anyone else. The Imperial Lightning Fort was massive, being one of the greatest cities in the entire sector, so it would take days to reach from one end to the other just walking. The higher-up incentivized soldiers to move throughout the city using their own power instead of vehicles. It was good training for the battlefield, as driving anything through it was practically suicide. After roughly one hour of running, Cain reached a massive building with the words ¡®Licence Bureau¡¯ in the front. Many people wereing in and out, and the one thing they all had inmon was that none was a cadet. The moment Cain entered the building, many people focused on him. There was no reason for a cadet to be in this ce, so the people working there did not understand what he was doing. Cain looked around the building and saw two soldiers on the corners of the first floor. Their auras told him they were possible Level 4 Wave Warriors. Less than half a year ago, that strength was something that Cain would have to push himself to the limit and risk his life to fight. Now, he could paralyze both guards with nothing more than his words. Of course, Cain knew that they were just for show. The building itself was the true guarding, and it could surely disy a crushing pressure that could shatter his body. Despite his current background, possibly the highest of any cadet in the entire fort, Cain was not an egomaniac and walked calmly toward the reception before greeting the woman behind the table. ..... ¡°Hello, I came here to obtain a license. Could you show me the way?¡± Like everybody else, the receptionist was surprised by the presence of a cadet in the building. However, since Cain was so courteous and had the demeanor of a scion, she did not make things harder for him. ¡°Sure. You just need to use that teleportation matrix and your A.I. Chip to determine the floor you want to reach. What type of license are you hoping to obtain?¡± ¡°I am not at liberty to say that information. Could you show me the information about all the floors?¡± Cain wanted to hide the fact he was a Hypnosis Master for as much time as possible. Although the ones handling the license would know, Zarak assured him they would not reveal any information. The woman¡¯s interest rose when she heard those words, but she knew better than to ask questions about things unrted to her. The building¡¯s A.I. protected everybody in this ce but also monitored the employees¡¯ activity; if any of them were foundcking, they would be fired and reced. Although that work behavior could incite wrath in some people, the Imperial Military Force did not care about their feelings. The only thing that mattered to the higher-ups regarding logistic jobs was efficiency. ¡°Sure, I will send the information to your A.I. Chip immediately.¡± A second after the woman said those words, Cain saw that a file reached his [A.I. Chip Module]. He opened it and saw a description of each license type and what floor he should go to apply for one of them. ¡°Thank you.¡± Cain thanked the woman for her assistance before walking toward the teleportation matrix and vanishing. A blinding light hindered Cain¡¯s vision before finding himself on arge white floor. There were paintings on the walls, all unleashing a strange aura, giving the illusion that the pictures woulde out at any moment. Cain had never liked things like paintings, but the ones here seemed capable of grabbing hold of his mind and even generating feelings of peace. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± However, all that serenity shattered when Cain heard those words, and his eyes widened as shock assaulted his heart. The reason for his reaction was that the words came from behind him, but even now, he perceived no one. Cain looked back, and his shock grew even stronger as no one was there. ¡°I will ask onest time, what are you doing here!?¡± The voice was even louder this time, and Cain felt it yell right next to his ear, making him frown. Cain did not understand what was happening. Instead of acting rashly, he took a deep breath and analyzed everything that was happening. After a few seconds, a sh of enlightenment crossed Cain¡¯s eyes. Just as the voice was about to appear again, Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he pushed his Ego Wave to the limit. Cain felt how the world around him was changing. He was under an illusion and needed to act fast if he wanted to get out of it. ¡°AHHH!¡± Cain roared with all his strength when he practically made his Ego Wave explode. ¡°WHAT!?¡± A voice full of shock echoed through the floor, apanied by a cracking sound. ¡°Crack.¡± The floor remained the same, but Cain could now see a middle-aged man five meters in front of him. The ck-haired man was small and with a bulky frame, simr to Razmun¡¯s fantasy dwarf constitution. He gasped for air on the ground while blood leaked from his blue eyes. Cain grabbed his head as he felt immense pain and was having difficulty focusing. The sudden burst of his Ego Wave had overloaded his Ego Eternal Matrix, but that was the only way in which he could break the illusion. He stared at the middle-aged man who was having difficulty breathing and was sure this one must be in pure agony. Hypnosis Masters can do more than simply make a target follow amand. They can put their minds into illusions, manipting their senses. Those that specialize in that field are called Illusion Masters. While the power of Illusion Masters is amazing, they need to maintain a direct sh of wills at all times, and if the target were to break the illusion, they would suffer a severe bacsh, just like the middle-aged man did. ¡°You... little bastard.¡± The middle-aged man was in great agony but was still able to utter those words while looking at Cain with eyes full of rage. When Cain felt the rage in the middle-aged man¡¯s face, his eyes grew cold. Not only had the man put him in an illusion without his consent which was severe abuse, this one dared to show anger at the fact he managed to break free. Cain¡¯s mind was still in disarray, and he was having a hard time just remembering where he was. So, when he felt the middle-aged man¡¯s rage, his instincts kicked in. His current state was simr to the one he entered when Wink knocked him out. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he used his Ego Wave again, making the pain and fogginess affecting his mind even stronger. The middle-aged man¡¯s rage transformed into confusion as he saw Cain¡¯s using the Ego Wave. It did not take long for those emotions to be terror when he saw how the young man¡¯s Astral Wave burst with great power before this one concentrated all in two fingers. Cain felt his mind would break apart due to the immense pressure he faced. He clenched his teeth as he transformed all the Astral Wave loaded into his two fingers into lightning before attacking. The middle-aged man saw those two fingersing at him like a lightning spear. He was a Late Essence Wave Champion, but his mind was in such disarray that he could not summon his Wave Cloak to protect himself. Even if the middle-aged man followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power, his body was still very strong since he was a Late Wave Champion. Cain¡¯s full-power attack could only leave a deep wound on his body. However, the problem was that the lightning spear did not aim at the middle-aged man¡¯s chest but at his right eye. ¡®Am I going to die?¡¯ That was thest thought that crossed the middle-aged man¡¯s mind before a small, delicate hand grabbed Cain¡¯s fingers centimeters away from his right eye. A gorgeous woman with golden hair and a delicate frame appeared out of nowhere and stopped Cain¡¯s attack. She was not using her Wave, but the lightning charged in those fingers could not harm her skin at all. Cain¡¯s eyes finally lose focus, bing emotionless. He turned toward the woman who had stopped his attack and sent a kick toward her head using his body¡¯s momentum. The woman¡¯s face showed nothing as she saw that kick approaching her face. Just as the attack was about tond, she let go of Cain¡¯s fingers before gently tapping his chest. Cain¡¯s body trembled as he fell to the ground unconscious. Chapter 133 - 133 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master 133 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master Cain slowly opened his eyes and was immediately assaulted by immense pain. He grabbed his head as he felt his brain would split in two. Even in that state, when he saw himself waking up in an unknown room, he immediately rose from the couch on which he had been sleeping and focused on the surroundings with a sharp gaze. It was a white room with onerge painting on each wall, and other than the couch, there was only a desk behind which one of the most beautiful women Cain had ever seen was sitting. ¡°You finally woke up. It was about time.¡± The woman spoke with a calm voice that echoed through the room. She did not look at Cain as her eyes focused on the crystal cards in her hands. Cain stared at the woman for a moment and had no idea of her power, but the feeling he got from her was simr to what Zarak gave him. She was like a force of nature capable of unimaginable destruction. ¡°I am Cain Laurifer. Who are you?¡± Before saying anything else, Cain wanted to know the woman¡¯s identity. He was not afraid since he did not think someone would purposely dare to harm him inside the Imperial Lightning Fort, as they would have to face the Zarak¡¯s wrath. Of course, Cain was unlike other scions that blindly trusted their background. There were all kinds of people in the world, and there was no shortage of madmen that did not care about who they killed. The woman raised her gaze from the crystal card in her hand and stared at Cain¡¯s before golden light emerged from them. Cain¡¯s eyes immediately responded by showing a red light. ..... ¡°So you are Zarak¡¯s boy. You two are really alike, killing anyone that gets in your way.¡± Cain grew confused when he heard those words. He had managed to break free of an illusion, but everything after that was foggy. ¡®Wait!¡¯ Suddenly, a memory came back, and he remembered transforming his arm into a lightning spear and thrusting it toward a man¡¯s eye. Everything after that was nk; he was unaware of what had happened to that man. A solemn expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, they were empty,cking any emotion. That was a state he found very easy to enter as it seemed to be his default behavior in his past life. ¡°Did I kill him?¡± The woman saw the emptiness in Cain¡¯s eyes, and there was a sh of surprise in her eyes. ¡°What would happen if you did?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes were still empty of every emotion. He did not say a word, making it clear he was not in the mood for games. After a moment, the woman shrugged her shoulders before looking toward the door. The next second, a middle-aged man entered the room. When Cain saw the man, his gaze grew normal, and emotion returned to his eyes. Still, he showed pure calm and had his guard up. ¡°Jack, do you have something to say?¡± The woman¡¯s voice was soft, but it seemed to carry a force that made the middle-aged man tremble. Jack stared at the woman before turning toward Cain and sighing. ¡°I am sorry for my rude behavior. I should not have put you under an illusion. In my defense, I thought you were just another of those dumb scions and wanted to teach you a lesson so you would not waste our time. Since you almost killed me, what do you say if we call it even?¡± Cain could see that the man was not too happy about apologizing, but he also noticed no falsehood in hisst words. He was still angry about the illusion, but since he almost killed the man, calling it even was not too much. The duo walked toward each other and shook hands, resolving their initial animosity. ¡°Good. Jack brings Cain to the Hypnosis Chamber and tests his abilities before handling the matters of his license.¡± Jack did not say a word and only nodded before walking to the gate and signaling Cain to follow him. Cain stared at the woman onest time before giving a slight bow and walking away. The duo walked through the hall and did not say much for the initial part of the journey. The fact there was no animosity among them did not mean they were friends. Finally, it was Cain the one that broke the silence. ¡°I did not catch her name. Can you tell me a little about her?¡± Jack nced at Cain for a moment before nodding. ¡°She is Lady Akary. A member of the Hypnosis Association¡¯s Council. Also, like Lord Zarak, she is one of the Nine Pirs of the Copsing Lightning Sector.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. He knew nothing about the Hypnosis Association but was aware that the Nine Pirs were the mightiest warriors beneath the Copsing Lightning Duke. Who would have imagined such a delicate woman was powerful enough to erase entire cities with a wave of her hand? Although Cain still had many questions, he knew better than to ask. Powerful individuals value their privacy and would take offense at anyone infringing it. The duo kept walking for another minute before entering arge room. A ss wall divided it in two. ¡°The people on the other side of the ss can not see us, but they will be able to hear your voice, and your Ego Wave can reach them without a problem.¡± Cain nodded to Jack¡¯s words. He needed to test his power on real people to see the strength of his hypnosis. The ss worked to protect his identity but also to prevent the people on the other side from being influenced by the Hypnosis Master¡¯s aura. ¡°Since this is your first time, nine Wave Warriors wille. First, there will be three Level 4, then three Level 5, and finally three Level 6. To be considered a 1-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, you must at least be able to hypnotize two Level 4 Wave Warriors and put them in a basic state of Embryonic Breathing.¡± When Jack saw that Cain nodded, he sent a signal through his A.I. Chip, and three soldiers appeared on the other side of the crystal wall. Clearly, this was not their first time, as they put themselves in position before calming their minds. Cain took a deep breath as he focused on the group. The next second, his eyes glowed with red light as his Ego Wave emerged and reached the trio. The eyes of the three soldiers twitched for a moment as a sh of wills happened. ¡°Rest.¡± Cain¡¯s voice echoed through the room as the eyes of the three soldiers lost focus, and then they adopted a meditative position on the ground. Jack was surprised to see that happen. Hypnotizing multiple people at the time was much more challenging than just doing it with one. It demanded the same mental powers, but the intellect, focus, and imagination required were much higher. Cain was supposed to do it one at a time, not all three simultaneously. Jack had not mentioned it because he did not think he needed to do it. ¡®So this is the might of a divine genius.¡¯ That thought crossed Jack¡¯s mind as he saw the powers of Cain. Jack had not recognized Cain when he first saw this one, but the name Cain Laurifer was one that everybody that trained the Ego Eternal Path of Power in the Imperial Lightning Fort knew. After all, he was the fourteen-year boy that reached the N¡ã1 in the Pir of Mind with willpower equal to a Late Wave Champion. ¡°Did I pass?¡± Cain¡¯s voice brought Jack back to reality. The middle-aged man saw the data in his A.I. Chip that showed all the Level 4 Wave Warriors were in a state of Embryonic Breathing. ¡°Yes, congrattions. You are officially a 1-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master.¡± Cain smiled, but he was not surprised. During his fight against the warriors from the Ancient Feral Organization, he was able to hypnotize them against their will, so doing it with people that intentionally lowered their mental barrier was easy. ¡°Now, the three Level 5 Wave Warriors wille.¡± People in white clothes entered the room and took the three Level 4 Wave Warriors before another trio came in. Cain¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he stared at the three Level 5 Wave Warriors. Theoretically, his mental powers should allow him to put them in Embryonic Breathing, but it would not be easy. His Ego Wave reached the trio, but this time Cain did not take the trio simultaneously but one at a time. ¡°Sleep.¡± The first Level 5 Wave Warrior heard those words, and his eyes trembled for a moment before he adopted a meditative position on the ground. Cain stayed focused and concentrated on the second. ¡°Sleep.¡± Just like before, the Wave Warrior¡¯s eyes trembled before being hypnotized. Cain smiled as he saw that. He had already put two of the Level 5 Wave Warriors in Embryonic Breathing, so he was technically a 2-Star Hypnosis Master. Chapter 134 - 134 The red orb acts 134 The red orb acts There was no need to carry on, but Cain did not like to leave a job half done, so he focused on thest Level 5 Wave Warrior. As soon as Cain focused on the woman, he noticed she was different from the others. There were scars all over her body, and her eyes released a constant sharp light as if she was always in a state of high alert. The soldiers that took part in this test were told to put their minds in a state of rxation, just like a person who hired a Hypnosis Master for their services would do. However, it was clear that the woman¡¯s mind was not at peace. Cain took a deep breath and ensured his powers were at their peak before sending his willpower toward the woman. He was able to win the sh of wills with ease. That did not surprise Cain since his willpower was already at the First Realm and capable of fighting against even the mind powers of a Late Wave Champion. Even putting the woman in a susceptible state was not hard. Cain frowned when he saw that everything was going so well. The woman was a Level 5 Wave Warrior, yet her mental fortitude was so weak that if Cain wanted, he could have stopped her heart with a singlemand. ¡®No, it is not that her mental defenses are weak. They are no different than the other two, but something has weakened them. A trauma?¡¯ Cultivation affected an individual¡¯s willpower, which is why it was weird for soldiers above Level 3 to suffer from things like post-traumatic syndrome. Still, it was not impossible if the trauma was strong enough. Hypnosis Masters could help people suffering from Heart Nightmares and all other forms of trauma. The most basic way would be to put the target in Embryonic Breathing. ..... A state of deep sleep, like Embryonic Breathing, can allow your psyche to consolidate those emotional memories and make them less distressing. ¡°Sleep.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes twitched as she heard thatmand. She was susceptible enough to harm herself if Cainmanded it, but her mind was so chaotic that putting it in a state of profound rxation was proving challenging. Cain frowned when he saw that he could not induce Embryonic Breathing in the woman. ¡°Sleep.¡± He uttered themand again, but the woman failed to enter Embryonic Breathing. ¡°Ahh, poor woman.¡± Jack could not help but sigh as he stared at the scarred soldier. Cain turned toward the man with a questioning gaze. ¡°Her name is Shara. She had applied for this type of work for over a year and finally got her chance, but I am afraid not even a 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master could help her.¡± Jack felt pity for the soldier as he understood the desire in her heart to get better. Although the Hypnosis Master treated them as guinea pigs, the number of soldiers willing to take on this task was endless. After all, even a single session of Embryonic Breathing could help them rify their minds, granting immense help for their cultivation. Cain was surprised when he heard that. A 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master could hypnotize Level 7 Wave Warriors, yet not even they could help her. ¡°Could you exin to me a little about her situation? I understand that trauma can make it harder for the target to enter a state of deep sleep, but it should not be this hard. After all, I have already put her mind in a state where I haveplete control over her actions.¡± Jack turned toward Cain and simply shook his head. ¡°Tell me, how much effort do you need to break the bones of a Level 3 Wave Warrior?¡± Cain found the question strange, but he answered it. ¡°Very little.¡± ¡°Now, how much effort and knowledge do you need to heal it?¡± Jack¡¯s words generated a sh of enlightenment in Cain¡¯s eyes. ¡°Destroying something is easy, but healing it is much harder. Just because her wounds are of psychological nature, it doesn¡¯t mean they are easier to recover. It is actually the opposite. There is a specialization among Hypnosis Masters that focus on that type of work. They know how to reach the core of the person¡¯s trauma and help them solve it. It is called Healing Hypnotism. Many of them are actually Illusion Masters as well. They use illusions to bring the trauma in an individual¡¯s mind to a visible ne, making recovery much easier. ¡± Jack¡¯s voice carried a deep respect, making it clear how much he respected those Healing Hypnotists. Cain nodded and understood the respect in Jack¡¯s heart. The amount of effort to be a Healing Hypnotist must be astronomical, but in a world where personal strength reigns above everything, the number of people that would take that path was very small. ¡°Don¡¯t feel discouraged. Even I could not help her. Since you put two of the Level 5 Wave Warriors in Embryonic Breathing, you are officially a 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master.¡± Jack was about to call the bureau members to bring out the soldiers from the room, but he heard Cain¡¯s voice. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Jack frowned when he heard that. He figured out that Cian wanted to keep trying, but that was not only futile, it was also cruel and dangerous. Attempting to heal a mental trauma by force was the most stupid thing you could do. It was not impossible, but 99% of the time, the person would end up even worse. The middle-aged man was about to negate Cain¡¯s desire, but when he saw the determination in the young man¡¯s eyes, he decided to give this one a chance. ¡°I will allow you to try one more time.¡± Jack¡¯s eyes began to glow with blue light as he prepared in case anything went wrong. Cain nodded toward Jack, and he understood the apprehensions of the middle-aged man. While obtaining a perfect score would have been nice, there was no way he would endanger a soldier¡¯s life for that. ¡®My nature is that of a hero, but up to this point, I have only killed those I saw as evil. If that is the extent of my path, then I am just a destroyer. A true hero should also help those in need who have proven themselves worthy.¡¯ Cain didn¡¯t know Shara, but since she took the soldier path, he would give her his favor until she proved him wrong. His father engraved in his heart the loyalty of brotherhood, and he would march into the battlefield for every soldier fighting by his side. ¡®I want to help her.¡¯ Cain¡¯s actualization of his heroic nature and the deep sense of loyalty and passion toward the military generate a reaction in the crimson orb inside his soul dimension. The Alter-Ego showed a dual state that seemed capable of burning your soul to ashes or filling it with endless warmth. It had been dormant since its creation, and even now, it was impossible to harness its power directly, but Cain¡¯s intense desire generated a reaction from it. The crimson orb trembled for a second, inundating Cain¡¯s Ego Matrix with a marvelous force. At that exact moment, the red in Cain¡¯s eyes began to shine. Jack had been focusing on Sahara and Cain all this time, ready to act in case of any danger. A sense of wonder assaulted him when he saw the radiant red light in Cain¡¯s eyes. There was no increase in the raw power of Cain¡¯s Ego Wave, but its nature became so gentle and warm that Jack almost lost himself in it. ¡°Sleep.¡± Cain uttered the samemand for the third time, but things were much different this time. Shara was in a semi-unconscious state. Everything was dark and strange whispers surrounded her, stopping her mind from achieving peace. That sensation was not foreign to her, as she found herself in it every time she went to sleep. She came to this ce hoping that someone could help her, but even after feeling a force trying to put her mind in a state of rxation twice, she could not escape this nightmare. ¡°Sleep.¡± The voice appeared for a third time, but Shara felt no hope. However, this time it did note alone; along with that word, a radiant light overwhelmed the dimension! The light destroyed the darkness and left everything in silence before unleashing a sense of warmth. Shara turned her eyes toward the source of that warmth and peace; what she saw was the most wonderful sight in her life. Jack¡¯s focus on Cain¡¯s eyes broke when he saw Shara¡¯s face showing a state of absolute peace before falling to the ground. She did not adopt a graceful, meditative state like the other two Level 5 Wave Warriors, but that only surprised Jack even more. ¡®She entered such a profound state of rxation, despite her trauma. Incredible!¡¯ Jack stared at Cain as if this one was a monster. ¡®Are divine geniuses really that incredibly gifted!?¡¯ Chapter 135 - 135 Obtaining a license 135 Obtaining a license Cain showed a radiant smile as he saw the woman fall into a profound sleep. Although he could not say for sure, he felt that her state of mind was changing drastically. The brightness in the red light of his eyes began to fade, and Cain had no way to summon it back. He understood that his hypnosis worked this time because of his Alter-Ego¡¯s power. However, he had no way of directly harvesting its power yet. ¡®It is still too soon for me to use my Alter-Ego, but once I have the ability, my battle power and everything else will rise exponentially!¡¯ Cain clenched his fists as he thought of the might of his Alter-Ego. After a moment and having regained focus, he turned toward Jack and saw this one looking at him with pure shock. He grew a little confused by the awe in the middle-aged man. Although it was surprising that he could help the woman, he was sure that it was something any other Healing Hypnotist could have also done with ease. Cain was not wrong, and any decent Healing Hypnotist could have helped Shara without a problem. However, to achieve that level, they required years of training, and even then, they could not have healed her trauma with just one session as Cain did. Jack only expected that Cain could have some trick due to the status of this one as a divine genius to put the woman into Embryonic Breathing. That would have been the first step in a long journey of recovery. Never in his wildest dreams did Jack expect that Cain could have reached the root of Shara¡¯s trauma and burned it to ashes in a few minutes. ¡°Is everything ok?¡± ..... Cain¡¯s voice brought Jack back to reality, and he turned toward the young man before silently using his Ego Wave to put his emotions under control. ¡°Hahaha, everything is better than ok. You have done a great service by helping that woman. I am sure she will remember it for the rest of her life.¡± Jack¡¯s admiration was sincere as he truly respected Healing Hypnotists from the bottom of his heart. ¡°Since you obtained a perfect score with the Level 5 Wave Warriors, you can take your chances with those at Level 6. Don¡¯t push yourself. Just use this chance to train.¡± Cain could barely hypnotize those Level 5 Wave Warriors, so the chances he could do it with Level 6 were almost null. Still, it would help him to know just how far he was from the 3-Star ssification. Jack sent the signal, and people from the bureau came into the room and took the three Level 5 Wave Warriors before another trio went in. Cain focused on the Level 6 Wave Warrior on the left, a 1.90 meters tall man with a bulky body full of vibrant life. He initiated the sh of wills and won it easily, but when it came to putting the soldier underpulsion, he failed. The Level 6 soldier was not resisting and put his mind in a state of rxation, but his natural mental defenses were too high for Cain¡¯s current hypnosis powers. Cian epted his failure with the first soldier and attempted to hypnotize the other two but also failed. ¡°I guess that 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master is your limit. You are young and full of potential, so you will surely rise very fast. You might even catch up to me in a few years.¡± Jack smiled at Cain before guiding this one out of the room. The duo walked through the halls before reaching another room. Jack opened the door, and Cain saw a middle-aged woman in military attire sitting behind a desk. The woman seemed about to fall asleep, but the sound of the door opening woke her. ¡°Aaa, someone new... Lord Brier!¡± The woman¡¯s slumber vanished the moment she saw Jack entering the room. She almost jumped out of her chair and adopted a military stance. Jack did not give the woman a hard time. This ce was where Hypnosis Master¡¯s licenses were processed. Hypnosis Masters were very rare, so it was odd for even one license to be processed once a week. Since that was the case, all the woman did almost every day was just waiting, so one could not me her for herck of focus. ¡°At ease. I will send you some information. Send it to the Hypnosis Association, process the license, and create the crystal card.¡± Aplicated expression appeared on the woman¡¯s face as she heard Jack¡¯smand and nced at Cain by his side. ¡°Lord Brier, there are formries that he must fill along with a period of surveince and background checking before a final review of any past criminal activity.¡± The woman did not try to antagonize Cain, but there was a protocol. All Hypnosis Masters were extremely dangerous, as even the weakest could plunge an entire city into mayhem without leaving a single trace of evidence. ¡°I will handle all those things. Just do as I say.¡± Jack did not waste time and went straight to the point. When Cain saw that, he only smiled and remained silent. While he would not disy his background to oppress others or show off, he was more than willing to use it to go around all this red tape. ¡°Yes, Lord Brier!¡± The woman did not dare to refute Jack¡¯smand and went to work. This job was very secure and paid exceptionally well, so she was not willing to risk losing it. She went to the back of the room and used a weird machine before processing some documents. Cain saw her return in less than ten minutes with a crystal card in her hand. Jack took the crystal card and handed it over to Cain once he saw that everything was in order. ¡°Your name and status as a 2-Star Hypnosis Master are registered in the Hypnosis Association¡¯s database. You can use this crystal card to present yourself to future employers.¡± Cain nodded and stored the crystal card. As he was leaving the room, he nced at the woman onest time. She, Jack, and Akyra were the only ones that knew he came to obtain his Hypnosis Master¡¯s license. ¡®If she has a job like this, Lady Akyra must trust her. There might be ideas imnted in her psyche that prevent her from sharing information about what she sees in this ce.¡¯ Cain knew that powerful Hypnosis Masters could imnt ideas in your mind that you would not even know until it was toote. Of course, people capable of that were powerhouses with the power to destroy entire cities like Zarak. ¡°If there is not anything else you need, I will guide you to the outside.¡± Cain nodded to Jack, and the duo walked toward the teleportation matrix before the first one used it and vanished from the room. When Cain returned to the first floor of the Licence Bureau, people nced at him but did not pay much attention. Obtaining any license took a long time, so it was not odd for Cain to vanish in the morning and return at night. Those people did not know that the reason Cain took so much time was not a bunch of bureaucracy, but he cked out shortly after breaking the illusion of a Late Wave Champion. Cain greeted the receptionist, who helped him when he arrived before leaving the building. ¡®Should I go to Master and tell him I became a 2-Star Hypnosis Master?¡¯ Cain considered that for a moment before shaking his head. ¡®With his power andwork, he would surely find out in a few minutes.¡¯ Since there was nothing else for him to do here, Cain summoned his Wave Cloak and Lightning Armament before vanishing. ¡ª While Cain dashed toward the cadet¡¯s section, Jack was in Akyra¡¯s room. The moment Cain left, Jack ran toward the woman before reciting every single thing the young man had done. ¡°Oh, so he was able to heal that Level 5 Wave Warrior¡¯s trauma with a single treatment, and he seems to have done it almost effortlessly.¡± Akyra¡¯s voice was in, making it impossible to decipher anything from it. ¡°Yes. Once that brightness overflowed the red light of Cain¡¯s eyes, that young man¡¯s powers seemed to have obtained a qualitative evolution.¡± Jack made a small pause as he considered his following words. ¡°My Lady. I think you should use your influence in the Hypnosis Association to pull that young man away from the battlefield and guide his path toward bing a Healing Hypnotist. It would be a great sin to allow such a divine genius to fall into the ws of war.¡± Akyra¡¯s eyes narrowed when she heard Jack¡¯s words. The path the middle-aged man spoked would give Cain incredible fame as a Healing Hypnotist but would cripple his battle power. Of course, the Hypnosis Association would give Cain all the cultivation resources he could need, but developing his power that way would extinguish his battle drive. ¡°I heard you. Leave.¡± Jack bowed toward Akyra before leaving the room. The moment he did, a figure appeared. The neer had an imposing body and blind eyes that glowed with blue light. Chapter 136 - 136 Enrollment 136 Enrollment Akyra¡¯s eyes began to glow with silver light as she stared at the man in front of her. She knows just how dangerous and wild this person could be. ¡°Although Jack did not exactly take Cain¡¯s feelings into consideration, there was no malice in his heart when he proposed that idea. Besides, your boy seems inclined to a righteous path, so bing a Healing Hypnotist is not a bad idea.¡± Zarak nced at Akyra, but the coldness in his eyes remained the same. His invisible Ego Wave emerged and instantly reached Jack, invading the middle-aged man¡¯s brain. Jack had no idea that a force capable of immense destruction had invaded his body. With a single thought of Zarak, it would flood his mind with a killing intent that would destroy his ego. ¡°Enough!¡± Akyra shouted as a silver force field emerged from her brain before crashing toward Zarak. That force field could level a building but could not reach the target, shocking the woman. Akyra was a seasoned warrior and was able to adapt immediately, infusing her Essence Wave into her Ego Wave, enhancing its power, and forcing Zarak to focus all of his attention on her. Zarak¡¯s eyes narrowed as the blue force field concentrated around his body, facing off Akyra¡¯s silver one. Unlike the woman, he did not need to add his Astral Wave to it. ¡°Oh, you want to fight against me!?¡± The blue force field exploded with immense power, making the room tremble and cracks emerge beneath Zarak¡¯s feet. ..... Akyra grew solemn as she heard those words and knew that the man in front of her had no reservations about starting a fight between powerhouses in the center of the Imperial Lightning Fort. Her Wave Cultivation was higher than Zarak, but she fell far behind the man regarding the Ego Eternal Path of Power. While at the initial stages, it could only grant auxiliary skills, at a higher realm, your Ego Wave was all you needed to fight. Akyra took a deep breath and retracted her silver Ego Wave before calming her heart. ¡°The Copsing Lightning Pirs can not fight among themselves. If we want to fight with someone, we must first battle against Leader.¡± When Zarak heard that, instead of fear, a thriving battle spirit emerged in his eyes. It was clear that the idea of fighting against the one Akyra referred to as Leader made his blood burn. Akyra could not help but shake her head when she saw how Zarak reacted. She remembered how this man managed to be one of the Copsing Lightning Pirs and knew how battle-hungry he was. ¡°Jack will not meddle with that boy. I¡¯ll give you my word.¡± Zarak¡¯s face grew serious as he heard that. Although unruly, he was not so arrogant as to think he could push Akyra around. ¡°I will hold you ountable. Also, if any of those geezers in the Hypnosis Association try to meddle with Cain¡¯s path, I will take it as a personal offense.¡± Akyra¡¯s eyes widened when she heard that since she knew perfectly well what Zarak meant. ¡°Do you really think you could face the association on your own?¡± Akyra knew that Zarak was extremely powerful, but the Hypnosis Association was one of the strongest organizations in the empire, with a military power that couldpare to any Dukedom. ¡°Maybe I am not, but I have no bindings, so I could easily go on a rampage, killing many before vanishing from the empire.¡± Akyra took a breath of cold air when she heard that. Even if the Hypnosis Association had Titans in its ranks, they were not omnipresent, and if Zarak wanted to hide, there was little they could do about it. She took a moment to consider everything before speaking again. ¡°That boy has a heroic nature. Although he is usually immensely wise and careful, hecks self-awareness when ites to helping others. He might want to pursue the Healing Hypnotist Path on his own. What would you do then?¡± ¡°Heroic nature?¡± A strange smile appeared on Zarak¡¯s face when he heard that. He had seen Cain¡¯s Alter-Ego and knew the boy¡¯s incredible potential for destruction. Zarak gave onest nce toward Akyra before turning around and vanishing from the building. Even then, his voice still echoed inside the room. ¡°If he chose that path, everything would be fine. However, I will not allow anyone to interfere with his free will, no matter how careful or crafty they are.¡± Akyra sighed as she heard that and knew she had to forget any n she could have for Cain. ¡ª Cain was unaware of everything that happened inside the License Bureau. He returned to his residence and, after bowing to his father¡¯s altar, taking a shower, and eating a small meal, began to go through the avable courses. The military specializations and Professions courses would begin in two weeks, and he needed to enroll in them before that happened. There was one specialization that Cain had to take no matter what. ¡°Assassination.¡± Now that Cain finally got the helmet that could hide his appearance from most surveince devices, he was one step closer to taking care of cius, the fat Mayor from Rouk City. Cain still remembered the bodies he buried in the forest that night after his first mission. Although he took care of the responsible, cius was just as guilty as them in Cain¡¯s mind. During the Dark Races¡¯ invasion of Gai, hundreds of thousands perished inside the Copsing Lightning Sector, but cius managed to survive. It is like they said; cockroaches are truly resilient. Cain¡¯s current strength was more than enough to handle cius and the Level 4 Wave Warrior guard. However, killing a Mayor was much moreplicated than killing a bunch of criminals in the forest. The military would investigate cius¡¯ death, and if Cain left the most minimal evidence, they would find it and brand him as a criminal, forcing him to live his life on the run. Cain would not rest until that man died but would not give his life for that mission. That is why he needed to learn to y someone, leaving no trace of his presence. He went through the enrolling process with his [A.I. Chip Module], but just as he reached thest part, shock assaulted him. ¡°What! 10000 military credits to enroll in this ss!¡± Cain was shocked by that number. He had done some research, and in previous years, the ss had only cost between 1000 and 3000 military credits. Just 3000 military credits were very hard for most cadets to obtain, but 10000 was almost impossible unless they diminished the number of cultivation resources they used. ¡®ording to what I have read, the teacher decides the ss¡¯s value. I hope he is as good as the price he is asking for.¡¯ There was nothing much Cain could do other than pay the military credits. After finishing that, Cain began to look at the Profession sses and read the description of each one. Initially, he had no interest in them, but the fact there was one called Gic Coder changed everything. ¡°Rune Crafter, Wave Crafter, Alchemist Master, Gic Coder, Refinement Master.¡± Cain was sincerely amazed by just how useful each of those Professions was and how much help they could provide a warrior. However, they also required a significant amount of time to master, and time was the most important resource of all. If he just took them on a whim and did notmit himself to mastering those Professions, it would be a great mistake. Now that he was young was the most crucial time for his training, and wasting time would be a great sin. Although those Professions could help his battle power, there was no need for him to take them when he could just buy what they made. Of course, it would not be cheap, but one of the reasons he became a Hypnosis Master was so wealth would not be a problem. After much deliberation, Cain decided to enroll in the Gic Coder ss. ¡°The Absolute Life Form System is a fundamental part of my power, and I can not neglect something connected to one of its modules. It will only be three months, so even if I am wrong, it is not something I could not amend with enough hard work.¡± Now that everything was in order, it was time for Cain to decide what he would do during theing weeks. First, he sent a message to Lurin, informing this one that he enrolled in the Gic Coder ss and asking if the offer was still in ce. After that, he took a wave crystal and a Blood Dragon Grass to train in the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique and the Blood Refinement Art. Thanks to his Ego Wave, he could circte both techniques at the same time, and the effect was even greater when he added Embryonic Breathing on top of that. He stopped every few hours to allow his Rebirth Heart to rest and would use that time to improve his Hypnosis Master skills. Chapter 137 - 137 You two remain 137 You two remain Cain spent the next two weeks whollymitted to his cultivation. He focused on three main factors, his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, the Blood Refinement Art, and his Hypnosis Master training. His Wave Cultivation was the most important since it was the core of his battle strength and had an essential role in everything else. The higher his cultivation, the easier it would be to train the Blood Refinement Art. It would also improve his willpower, enhancing his Ego Eternal Path of Power and Hypnosis Master¡¯s skills. Although the Blood Refinement Art was just an auxiliary technique, and his cultivation base limited its growth, it was fundamental in allowing his body to show all of Cain¡¯s abilities. Without the body enhancement granted by the art, Cain¡¯s body could not endure a 2000% Wave Burst or its Asura Form. The Hypnosis Master Path was extremely helpful as it allowed Cain to weaponize his Ego Eternal Path of Power while at the First Realm. Usually, Elementary Hypnosis Masters did not use it during battles, as they were all Wave Champions, but Cain was special. Cain was actually interested in the Hypnosis Master¡¯s specialization of Illusion Master. However, ording to Zarak¡¯s crystal card, it was better to be a 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master before thinking of that since he had to focus on his foundation at the beginning. Cain consumed wave crystals and Dragon Blood Grass very fast. He showed no reservation since they not only improved his cultivation speed but also helped his foundation. There were endless ways to get more money, but that was not the case with time. There was no time to rest, and Cain never deviated from his task. He was not a machine, and the boredom and monotony of cultivation affected him, but as someone at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he could push away those feelings. Whenever he felt that tedium and solitude were too much, he only needed to focus on his space ring and remember the coffin in it. Knowing that everything would have been different if he had been stronger was all the motivation Cain needed to keep training. The night before the courses began, Cain decided to take a break from his training and rest properly. He would allow his body and brain to rx and not just enter a state of semi-unconsciousness while he kept cultivating. ..... Before going to bed, Cain sent amand to the Absolute Life Form System. ¡®System, scan me.¡¯ It was not long before a virtual screen appeared in Cain¡¯s sight. [Scan of Vesselpleted ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 3 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 5 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.71¨C>78 Agility: 0.89¨C>1.0 Vitality: 0.99¨C>1.2 Wave: 0.86¨C>9.7 ¡ª Marrow washing: 19%pletion] Cain could not contain his thrill as he saw his agility and vitality cross into the 1-point realm while still being a Level 3 Wave Warrior. Although by the amount of Astral Wave inside his body, it would not take long before he finally crossed into Level 4. The fact that his marrow washingpletion did not increase did not affect Cain since he knew that it usually urred during cultivation breakthroughs. He was sure that during his advance to Level 4, he would experience it again. Of all the data the Absolute Life From System showed to Cain, only one point did not make him very happy. ¡°Apex, can my bloodline improve more?¡± One of the reasons for his impressive cultivation was his Lightning Lupus Bloodline, which had improved more than once. If there were a way to raise it even higher, he would pursue it. ¡°Sorry to disappoint you, brat, but your bloodline is already at its peak. Its purity was low initially, but the B-Grade Blood Serum fixed that. You should not expect any more from the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. After all, Lightning Lupus are Wave Beasts that reach the Peak Wave Champion upon maturity, and very few manage to cross to the next level. Instead of trying to improve it, which will be futile, you should try to acquire a new bloodline.¡± When he heard Apex¡¯s suggestion, Cain did not know whether tough or cry. Obtaining a new bloodline was not impossible, but it was incredibly hard. For your body to assimte a new bloodline and truly ingrain it, you needed more than just the blood of a powerful Wave Beast. You needed a technique that would allow you to fuse that bloodline into your genes. And since Cain already had the Lightning Lupus Lineage, he needed a stronger bloodline than the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. If he obtained a weaker one, it would just remain dormant inside his body. Cain thought that even for someone with the power of Zarak, it would be hard to get a bloodline stronger than the Lightning Lupus Bloodline, along with the technique to ingrain it into his genes. ¡°It is fine. I can improve my Wave Talent by improving my foundation and marrow washing. Besides, I can also enhance my cultivation speed by using high-level resources such as wave crystals.¡± If the chance to obtain a new bloodline presented itself, Cain would use all his power to take it, but he was not to worry about it. All in all, Cain was delighted with his achievements. He went to sleep and woke up one hour before the ss began. After eating a small meal and bowing to his father¡¯s altar, he shed toward the auditorium. It was the same ce where he took the rest of his sses during the first half of the year. When Cain entered the auditorium, he was surprised to see the number of cadets in it. He initially thought that due to the price of the Assassination Military Specialization, the ce would be almost empty, but more than fifty cadets were present. Although Cain was surprised by the number of cadets, those in the auditorium were astonished by his presence here. His physical power was already at the highest peak among the cadets, and he now wanted to be an assassin. Wasn¡¯t that like adding wings to a T-Rex? Cain noticed some familiar faces among the cadets, like Zamir, but he did not pay too much attention and went to his usual seat. The cadets began to speak among themselves as they looked at Cain. Some wanted to get close to him, but he did not show a friendly attitude. ¡®I wonder how many of them will remain after the test.¡¯ Unlike Professions courses, where you will secure your ce after paying the fee, for Military Specialization, you also need to pass an exam to prove your abilities. Cain nced at the seats around him, and a sh of immense sadness appeared in his eyes as he remembered the woman that used to sit by his side. Suddenly, all of Beelze¡¯s memories vanished from Cain¡¯s mind as his instincts began to scream like crazy. A feeling of absolute doom assaulted him as he felt the threat of death even closer than when he faced the Atrox Wave Champion. Cain always had the [Basic Scan Force Field] activated, and it sent no warning. Still, he trusted his instincts, and his eyes burst with red light as he used the full power of his Ego Wave and Astral Wave. ¡°?AHHHHH!¡± The cadets were shocked by Cain¡¯s shout and saw how this one unleashed a powerful aura while triggering his Wave Armor bathed in lightning arcs. [Warning: An individual entered the Basic Scan Force Field range. He is at eight o¡¯clock] Cain almost shouted in rage at thete warning, but at least he now knew the enemy¡¯s direction. He focused all his strength on his legs and jumped to the roof. The chair he was using broke due to his body¡¯s momentum, and once he touched the ceiling, he ricocheted, dashing toward a corner of the auditorium. Whoever entered the range of his [Basic Scan Force Field] was extremely fast, so running would be futile. That is why he chose to put himself in a position where he could see whoever came at him. The rest of the cadets in the auditorium were extremely confused by Cain¡¯s reaction. Many wondered if there was a hidden enemy, but they did not detect anything. Some began to think that something was wrong with Cain until they saw another cadet react as if death wasing to get her. The cadet¡¯s name was Orin, and she was in the same ss as Cain and Zamir. She was quiet, and since neither her talent nor cultivation was impressive, people did not show much interest in her. However, she surprised everybody as her Essence Wave exploded with a blinding light, and the power surpassed Level 3. She was a Level 4 Wave Warrior, and by the density of her Wave, she had reached that level a while ago. Orin showed no interest at all in the reaction of the other cadets as she shed to another corner of the room with a speed that matched Cain¡¯s. Cain was surprised to see the woman¡¯s speed matched his. He had no time to trigger his Asura From, but even without it, his speed reached Level 5. While the woman drove his attention, Cain could not allow himself to split his focus as he was still looking for the source of the danger. By now, all the cadets were looking around for the threat. One person could be a mistake, but there was no way two would act like that without reason. Luckily, they did not have to look for long as a blonde man appeared out of nowhere behind the podium. He nced at Cain and Orin before nodding softly. ¡°You two can remain. The others, leave!¡± Chapter 138 - 138 Void State 138 Void State Cain¡¯s eyes widened with shock as he saw the blonde man who seemed to be the teacher of the Assassination Military Specialization ss. It was the same man he once saw talking with Beelze, who she referred to as her family¡¯s servant. The rest of the cadets reacted with the same shock, but it was upon hearing the man expelling them from the ss. ¡°Wait a moment! While it is true that for a Military Specialization ss, an examination will determine who will remain, you can not just expel us without reason.¡± The one that spoke was Zamir. While there was clear indignation on the scion¡¯s face, he was smart enough not to try to use his background. Zamir had seen how other teachers had disciplined cadets, and he was in no mood to be punched until he cked out. Actually, he was not interested in the Assassination Military Specialization, but he had to get into this ss. Assassins operated in the darkness; most of the time, no one knew of their amazing feats. There was no worst job for someone like Zamir, who enjoyed being in the spotlight. However, his father contacted him, forcing him to take this ss. Zamir could not say no to his father, so he was forced to sell many of his Wave Artifacts to gather the 10.000 military credits to enter the ss. Now that someone dared to speak against the teacher, the rest of the cadets gained enough courage also to utter their irritation. ¡°It is not fair to expel us without reason.¡± ..... ¡°Yes, even if you are a teacher, you can not treat us like this.¡± ¡°Why are we expelled, and those two who reacted so exaggeratedly can stay?¡± One of the cadets even brought Cain and Orin into the discussion. Cain did not bother with that person, and Orin did not even nce at her. Both focused solely on the teacher but were also curious about why they were selected to remain. Not to mention they still had no answer to the immense sense of danger that had assaulted them before. The man remained silent as he heard the shouts of the cadets and only raised one finger to his jugr. That confused the cadets, but then one of them touched his neck. A sense of absolute shock assaulted him when he saw the blood in it. The rest of the cadets did the same, and they saw that all had a small puncture wound right on top of their jugr veins. What shocked them the most was that none of them had noticed it until now! ¡°I don¡¯t care if your family told you that you needed to take this ss no matter what, so you could learn my skills. I don¡¯t teach garbage. When ites to assassins, our ability to detect danger is primordial. It will determine whether you end your target or this one ends you. I attacked the neck of every one of you, yet only two could perceive and act in time to move away. The rest detected it toote or did not detect it at all, so there is no point in me wasting my time with you. I will not repeat it a third time. Leave!¡± The moment the man uttered thosest words, a dark force field emerged from his brain and flooded the room. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as his Ego Wave reacted to that of the blonde man, and there was a surprise on his face. ¡®His Ego Wave is above the Wave Champion Stage!¡¯ Alotguth that did not necessarily mean the man was stronger than a Wave Champion, Cain still marked him as extremely dangerous. Cain and Orin did not feel anything from that dark force field, but a horrifying killing instinct assaulted all the other cadets. None of them dared to remain in the auditorium and began to run with all their strength. The man¡¯s dark force field vanished once the cadets left the auditorium, and he stared at Cain and Orin before signaling for the duo to approach. Cain took a deep breath as he walked toward the blonde man, but his eyes soon turned toward Orin. The woman¡¯s appearance was average, but it was not what mattered to him. ¡®She has hidden her real strength all this time, and the only reason she showed it now was her survival instincts kicking in. She belongs to the third type.¡¯ Cain still remembered the ssification Apex gave to him regarding people. The first type were those that did not seek the spotlight, but neither hid from it, while the second were those in constant pursuit of fame. The third type was those that hid their power from everybody and only revealed it when it was time to strike. Of the three types, they were the most dangerous. Orin also nced at Cain, but it was impossible to tell what she thought since her face and eyes were calm. Once Cain and Orin were in front of the blonde man, this one gave the duo a profound look before nodding. ¡°My name is Jonathan. I will be your teacher in the Assassination Military Specialization ss.¡± Cain and Orin adopted a respectful stance before sping their hands and bowing to Jonathan. ¡°You two showed impressive battle awareness, which earned you the right to take this ss. However, if I had gone all out, your fate would have been the same as the other.¡± Jonathan¡¯s words could be misconstrued as bragging or him covering his weakness to the fact the duo managed to dodge his silent attack, but there was a hidden message in it. Even if the instincts of Cain and Orin allowed them to perceive the dangers, it did not matter if the enemy was so fast that their bodies could not react. No matter how good your instincts were, if the power difference were too significant, you would still fall to a silent attack. A small smile appeared on Jonathan¡¯s face when he saw that the duo understood the hidden meaning of his words. ¡°Good. It seems I will not have to repeat myself with you two.¡± Jonathan nodded before carrying on with his words. ¡°I will train you to the best of my skills and not hide anything from you. How much you can learn in these three months depends entirely on you. There are many skills you must master to be a true assassin, such as stealth, disguise, infiltration, patience, and adaptability. You also have specializations like the use of poisons, counterintelligence, or the use of deadly artifacts. I will teach them in detail, and you will choose the best path for you.¡± Jonathan made a small pause before adopting a serious expression, making Cain and Orin react with the same severity. ¡°I can see by the look in your eyes and your auras that both of you are not foreign to the concept of killing people. I don¡¯t care about your past, but you must understand that killing and assassination are very different. You can kill someone by shattering their skull or destroying their heart, but assassination is much moreplicated. Assassination is the finest of arts, but only you and your target should appreciate it. An assassin operates in the darkness, and the best of us leave no trace of our presence. A master assassin could end a target¡¯s life without this one even finding it out. That is the peak of our craft.¡± Cain and Orin made sure to engrave every single word in their minds. The man in front of them dedicated his life and soul to his art, and it would be a great sin not to learn everything he was teaching them. ¡°The first skill we will learn is stealth. You must hide your presence until the veryst moment, bing nothing more than a blur among the crowd. You should always aim at ying your opponent with a single blow before this one even realizes you are next to them. It is not always possible, and there will be times when you will enter a ferocious battle against your target. However, everything will be much easier if the battle begins after you connect a deadly blow through an ambush.¡± Jonathan took two crystal cards from his space ring and handed one to Cain and another to Orin. ¡°You will find the technique I used to hide my presence and attack the more than fifty cadets in the room.¡± Cain and Orin¡¯s eyes glowed with excitement when they heard that. Even after detecting the iing danger, they could not perceive Jonathan¡¯s location. It would be amazing if they could learn the technique that allowed Jonathan to achieve such fantastic stealth. Once Jonathan signaled they could focus on the crystal card, Cain immediately essed it through his [A.I. Chip Module]. [Void State: Auxiliary technique meant to hide your presence and boost your stealth abilities. A total of five levels] Cain¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the basic information of Void State and understood it was a technique at the same level as his Blood Refinement Art. Chapter 139 - 139 Genius level comprehension 139 Genius levelprehension The Blood Refinement Art was a technique that impressed even Zarak. Other than Asura Form, it was the only technique Cain had that he could train beyond the Wave Champion Rank. However, upon closer look, while Void Stage had five levels, only three were in the crystal card Jonathan gave him. Still, just the technique was more than worth the 10.000 military credits he spent to enter this ss. Jonathan saw that the duo had finished analyzing the technique and carried on with his words. ¡°This ss will focus on you mastering the first level of Void Stage. I will also teach you how to hide in in sight, to hide your feeling and killing intent near a target, to act naturally in every situation, and to camouge with your surroundings and the crowds around you. There will also be courses in psychology and mob mentality. It is essential to understand the state of mind of your target.¡± Cain and Orin began their training with Jonathan, and their minds werepletely focused, paying attention to even the most minor details. The first sssted nine hours, with Cain and Orin pushing their minds to the limit so they could remain immersed in it every minute. The knowledge Jonathan imparted to them was vast and epassed all aspects of stealth, not just the one involving you but also the target and surroundings. Only once the ss was over did Cain and Orin allow their minds to rest. Cain was actually surprised by the young woman¡¯s mental fortitude. Even for him, it was not easy to remain focused on such aplex subject, and he had reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, which enhanced his cognitive abilities. ¡®Interesting¡¯ That was the only thought that crossed Cain¡¯s mind as he nced at Orin. ..... Orin seemed to have noticed Cain¡¯s nce, but she did not pay attention. She bowed toward Jonathan before saying goodbye and walking toward the auditorium¡¯s exit. However, she stopped mid-way as she saw that Cain did not intend to leave with her and noticed both men sharing an intense gaze. She was smart enough not to meddle in other people¡¯s business and continue walking. Jonathan saw Orin had left and stared back at Cain before releasing a small sigh. ¡°Can I see the Young Lady?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he used his Ego Wave to hide his emotions before taking out a gorgeous coffin from his space ring. He carefully opened it, showing a beautiful woman with a peaceful expression. The coffin not only stopped the corpse from deteriorating but also closed the wound on her chest. The duo might think Beelze was just sleeping if they did not know better. Jonathan¡¯s body trembled as he saw Beelze¡¯s corpse, and tears began to feel from his eyes. He began to caress her hair with an expression of utter sadness. Cain¡¯s eyes showed nothing but peace, but the raging red light indicated how strong his Ego Wave was acting to hold his emotions. He nced at Jonathan and saw immense love in the man¡¯s eyes, but they did not belong to those between a man and a woman. The love in the blonde man¡¯s eyes was something Cain had seen on his father¡¯s face. Jonathan raised his head and saw the analytic light in Cain¡¯s eyes before showing a small smile and wiping the tear off his face. ¡°I am hundreds of years old, little boy, and I have been by the Young Lady¡¯s side since she was a baby. I came to look at her as my own granddaughter, so you will have to excuse me for getting sentimental.¡± Jonathan took a deep breath and nced at Beelze¡¯s face before closing the coffin and staring at Cain again. ¡°You can return the coffin to your space ring.¡± The red light in Cain¡¯s eyes vanished once Jonathan closed the coffin, and he could not hide his shock when he heard those words. He wanted to hand over Beelze¡¯s body to her parents and did not intend to pass that responsibility to someone else, but he at least expected Jonathan to ask for the coffin. Luckily, Jonathan noticed his confusion and solved it immediately. ¡°I know all that happened in that forest, and how you chose to run toward the Young Lady despite the immense danger you would have faced. You have all the right to bring her back home, but I must warn you that the Aegon Family will not look at you so kindly as I do. Your life could be in danger if you go, and not even someone like Soul Breaker Zarak could protect you in that ce. I could take the coffin and bring the Young Lady home if that is what you wish.¡± Jonathan did not have to wait for an answer as Cain immediately put the coffin back into his space ring. ¡°I respect your courage and decisiveness, boy.¡± Jonathan¡¯s voice carried respect. He took a small ring from his hand and handed it over to Cain. Cain analyzed the ring and saw it was a map leading to a secret location on a massive mountain range deep within the Endless Rain Sector. ¡°In it, you will find the path toward the Aegon Family Household. I advise you not to go before bing a Wave Champion since the path is extremely dangerous.¡± Cain did not take Jonathan¡¯s words lightly and knew that the Aegon Family¡¯s power must be monstrous. They were able to put one of their servants as a teacher of the Copsing Lightning Military Academy, and it seemed that their brute force allowed them to face Copsing Lightning Pirs like Zarak. The duo sped their hands before performing a small bow to each other, with Cain returning to his residence and Jonathan vanishing in the darkness. Once Cain returned home, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and ate a small meal before entering Embryonic Breathing. That state would not only allow his brain to rest but also help him process and integrate all the knowledge he obtained today. After two hours, he woke up and felt refreshed, ready to embark on his new task. Cain essed his [A.I. Chip Module] and saw two folders. One had the name [Basics of viral genome and structuralposition] while the other was [Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide]. The first folder was one he obtained after enrolling in the Gic Coder ss and had to read before the ss started. There was a lot of information, but it involved pure memorization, so Cain already took care of it. The second was much different as it had true Gic Coder¡¯s knowledge, and Lurin just sent it this morning, so Cain had not been able to read it before. Cain made sure his mind was well rested and focused before opening the [Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide]. He began to read it and analyzed every single point, but slowly, a frown appeared on his face. The information in the [Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide] was highlyprehensive, beginning from the basics, detailing every step along with the writer¡¯s personal experiences, and with every point exined in detail. The reason for Cain¡¯s frown was that it was too easy. No matter how intricate the information, he only needed to read it once to gain a full understanding of this one. Even the more challenging parts in the [Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide] that the author stated as highlyplex were simple for him. At first, Cain thought that maybe he was missing the essential parts, which is why he found it so easy, but after reading again from the beginning, he knew that was not the problem. Cain was proud of his cognitive abilities, but he knew they were not that great. Hence, the only exnation for this genius levelprehension regarding Gic Coding had to be the Absolute Life Form System and the [Gic Coder Module]. ¡°Apex, do you have an answer to this?¡± The one that could give Cain an answer was the System Spirit, but he was out of luck. ¡°I told you it would be interesting if you became a Gic Coder. If you want to know more, grow stronger. I will get back to my hacking.¡± Apex did not say anything else, leaving Cain full of questions. Cain could only sigh since there was not much he could do about the System Spirit¡¯s attitude. He did not continue reading the [Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide] since he had already ingrained every point made in it in his mind. There were still several hours for the Gic Coder ss to start, so Cain took a wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass before entering Embryonic Breathing. Cain was not worried about mental fatigue since he had slept yesterday, and Embryonic Breathing significantly reduced the burden of cultivation on his mind. He woke up an hour before the ss started, and after doing his usual ritual, he went to the auditorium. Chapter 140 - 140 Wave Viruses 140 Wave Viruses Cain approached the auditorium and saw Lurin and Ophelia waiting at the entrance. When the duo saw him, they began to wave their hands. He was a little surprised as they never agreed to enter the ss together, but he still smiled and walked toward them. ¡°I am d to see you two. How are you doing?¡± ¡°Very well, thanks.¡± ¡°Everything is great.¡± Lurin and Ophelia answered withrge smiles before the trio entered the auditorium. The moment they did it, everybody focused on them, or more specifically, on Cain. As the N¡ã1 Cadet, everything Cain did became a source of gossip among the other cadets, with most of them already knowing of his involvement in the Assassination Military Specialization. Cain did not bother with their stares and just went to his usual seat, with Lurin and Ophelia sitting by his side. Ophelia would nce at Cain from time to time, but unlike the other cadets, the light in her eyes was much softer. ..... Cain noticed the woman¡¯s eyes but did not say anything. He was not oblivious to her feelings, but they barely knew each other, and she was just going through an infatuation, nothing more. ¡°By the way, I again apologize for sending the Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide sote. However, I could not do it without my father¡¯s permission. He had just returned from a mission yesterday, and before that, there was no time to focus on anything that was not military-rted.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I really appreciate your help.¡± Cain immediately calmed Lurin¡¯s worries before expressing his gratitude. Lurin smiled when he saw the easygoing attitude of Cain and rxed. He knew that some people would grow extremely arrogant and narcissistic as their fame and power rose, and he was happy that Cain was not one of them. ¡°Did you have the chance to glimpse the file before the ss?¡± ¡°Yes, I studied it in detail. It was a very epassing tome and taught me a lot.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that. It would not be hard for someone with the cognitive abilities of Cain to read the entire Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide, but reading and understanding were two very different things. Lurin found it hard to believe that Cain could internalize anything from the guide if he read it so fast, but it was not his ce to question how others study, so he did not push the subject. The trio made small talk for a few minutes before a woman began to walk toward the podium. She was one meter and seventy centimeters tall, with ck hair, blue eyes, and a voluptuous body. Some of the young men in the auditorium showedscivious stares toward the woman, but it did notst long as they all looked away once she unleashed her aura, making it clear that she was a powerful Wave Champion. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt the strength of the woman. He could not say with certainty, but her cultivation seemed to be higher than Major Luma. Nevertheless, there was something that drove Cain¡¯s attention. His eyes glowed with red light as he focused on the teacher. ¡®I can barely perceive the true might of her cultivation base, but her Ego Wave seems to be in disorder. It seems that her willpower reached the Late Wave Champion level thanks to her cultivation, but she had yet to enter the First Realm.¡¯ Cain figured out that the woman had yet to find her true nature, so her Ego Eternal Path of Power could not enter the First Realm. Still, since she took so long for it, her Ego Eternal Path of Power would forever take an auxiliary role in battle. He did not waste too much time in those thoughts and focused on the woman. Even if what she would teach was already exined in Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide, a live teacher would always be better. ¡°My name is Camil, and I will be your teacher for the Gic Coder ss.¡± Camil¡¯s voice was loud, and once total silence reigned in the auditorium, she carried on. ¡°Gic Coding can easily be considered the most challenging Profession. We can do wonders as we manipte the building blocks of life, but a mistake could destroy everything, with people¡¯s lives on the line. I will not tolerate any ipetence or distractions in my ss. If I find one of you not giving your full attention to this ss or my teachings, even if it is just one time, I will expel you on the spot.¡± A tense atmosphere inundated the auditorium when the cadets heard Camil¡¯s words. They did not doubt the woman had the power or the intent to carry on with what she had just said. Any mistake, and she would expel them from the ss, with the military credits they used to enroll going to waste. Camil felt the tension and softly nodded. She needed these cadets to understand just how hard bing a Gic Coder was and that there would be no room for mistakes in their craft. ¡°A Gic Coder can manipte the fundamental blocks of life, meaning the DNA, and they do it through the use of Wave Viruses. We act on an individual¡¯s genes, enhancing their senses, intelligence, emotion control, and even lifespan. Once you reach a high enough realm, you can generate Wave Viruses capable of granting unique abilities like diamond skin, dragon wings, fire breath, and many more. Like our cultivation and almost everything else, Gic Coding is divided into ranks. The key determinant of our rank is the cultivation of the people on whom our Wave Viruses can act. Every time we go through a major cultivation breakthrough like the rise from Wave Warrior to Wave Champion, it is not just our physical strength and abilities that are enhanced, but our entire genome as well. That is why we experience holistic improvement and our lifespan obtains such a massive boost. The first rank is Elementary Gic Coder, and they can generate Wave Viruses capable of affecting Wave Warriors. The effects of the gic alterations made by an Elementary Wave Virus are not permanent and can not cause a drastic change to the genome, meaning they can only enhance what is already there. Nextes the Grand Gic Coder. Those are masters capable of generating Wave Viruses that can alter the genome of a Wave Champion. Grand Wave Viruses not only can ingrain new abilities and traits into an individual¡¯s genome but can even make them evesting.¡± All the information that Camil was sharing was something that Cain had already learned from Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide, but he still paid full attention to Camil. One never knew when a new piece of information could arrive, not to mention that even if it was the same topic, two people could teach it very differently. ¡°As all of you should have already deduced, the key to our craft is the Wave Virus. They are the ones that will infiltrate the target¡¯s body, reach the DNA, and generate gic alterations. To be considered an Elementary Gic Coder, you must be able to create an Elementary Wave Virus.¡± Camil waved her hand, and dozens of metal tes emerged from her space ring and floated toward each cadet. As soon as the tes reached the tables, they expanded, bing small chambers roughly ten centimeters wide and thirty centimeters tall. There was a green liquid inside it, and some of the cadets with better sight could nce at extremely tiny things floating in it. ¡°Those are Gic Chambers and is where a Gic Coder makes a Wave Virus. It would be asking too much for any of you to create a Wave Virus during your first day, but I will need you to build a Vector today!¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard those words. ording to what he learned from Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide, a Vector is responsible for bringing new gic information to the cells, acting basically as a vehicle that will transport the new genes to their target. ¡°Vectors are the part of the Wave Virus in charge of the journey. Since they are responsible for the voyage of the new gic information through the body, a failure meant that the entire Wave Virus would go to waste or, even worse, reach the wrong target. Gic Coders ssify Vectors into Bronze, Silver, and Gold ording to their efficiency and ws. Inside the Gic Chambers are the materials to create ten Elementary Bronze Vectors, which are the easiest ones. Of course, they are also the most inefficient, and no one would buy a Wave Virus with a Bronze Vector. Still, for this exercise, it will be enough. Today, you must build at least one Elementary Bronze Vector. If you fail to aplish that, you will be expelled.¡± If before the cadets were tense, now they were so anxious that they could barely breathe. That forced them to push their focus to the absolute limit. ¡°I will now exin the parts of the Vectors and how to build them. You can ask me as many questions as you want during your work, but after failing ten times or if time is over, I will expel you.¡± A virtual screen appeared above Camil the next second with aplete Vector in it and each of its parts by its side. ¡ª¡ª¡ª Author¡¯s note: Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide is not in [ ] because in this chapter were are speaking of the guide itself and not a folder in the [A.I. Chip Module] like in the previous chapter. Chapter 141 - 141 Genetic Sight 141 Gic Sight Camil finished with her exnation of every part of the Vector, how they could adapt to each other, and the possible mutations that it would go through the process. She noticed many cadets with confused expressions, but she had done her best, and if they could not form a Bronze Vector with their current knowledge, pursuing a path as a Gic Coder would be a waste of time. ¡°There are special capsules in the front of your Gic Chamber. You must use them to store the Vector, allowing this one to stabilize and be ready for the next step. The more proficiency you disy in your work, the lesser the w Percentage in the Vector will be. If the w Percentage is over 30%, the Vector will not survive the next step even if you can stabilize it. You have until the end of the ss to form an Elementary Bronze Vector. Feel free to ask me any questions you have. ?Begin!¡± As soon as Camil shouted those words, all the cadets focused on their Gic Chambers, doing their best to block everything else. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he enhanced his cognitive abilities with his Ego Wave. Although this would grant him an advantage over the other cadets, it would be stupid not to use every weapon at his disposal. Next, following Camil¡¯s instructions, he connected his [A.I. Chip Module] to the Gic Chambers, granting a virtual tform that showed him the Vector¡¯sponents floating inside the green liquid. ¡®Virtual Sight¡¯ ..... The moment that thought crossed Cain¡¯s mind, a virtual screen appeared in the corner of his eyes. He intended to use the live simtion to predict the Vector¡¯sponents¡¯ changes while assembling them. Cain blocked everything else, literally shutting down almost all external sensory information before starting. He had just begun to work before frowning, but it did notst long as he simply shrugged his shoulders. ¡®Whatever.¡¯ Camil looked around the auditorium, ready to help any cadet in need while also paying attention to their behavior. ¡®Good, at least they are giving their all.¡¯ The woman nodded when she saw that a cadet suddenly stopped working before looking around perplexingly. ¡®It has only been ten minutes, and he is already giving up!? Even worse, he seems to want to mimic the work of others to help himself!¡¯ Camil¡¯s eyes grew cold as he saw the cadet¡¯s behavior. She was about to shout at this one when she saw that he had returned to his Gic Chamber and carried on with his work withplete focus. ¡®Oh, Was I mistaken? Maybe he just needed to gain some inspiration.¡¯ Camil saw that a young girl raised her hand and no longer bothered with the male cadet, immediately helping her. She solved the girl¡¯s problem with a loud yet soft voice, so all the others could hear it, just in case they faced the same difficulty. Camil had just finished with the girl when someone else raised his hand. She had the qualities of a good teacher, exining everything calmly and ensuring the cadet understood the idea before carrying on. Just as Camil returned to the podium, she noticed the same cadet from before had stopped working. ¡®His concentration juststed eight minutes!¡¯ Camil¡¯s eyes grew cold, and even though she saw that the cadet had returned to work after a moment, she was not willing to let someone that lost focus so easily in her ss. However, just as Camil was about to shout for the cadet to leave her ss, she noticed his blue robe and felt something was wrong. Even if the cadet were the son of a Marquess, Camil would show no reservations. Still, before saying anything, she looked at the cadet¡¯s profile. Camil¡¯s eyes widened as she saw that under the special section for emergency contact was the name of Abin Fourier. Camil knew Abin¡¯s name and was smart enough to understand that woman would only be someone¡¯s emergency contact if they were important to the one she worked for. ¡®Cain Laurifer, I heard his name many times these past few days due to his feats in the Pir of Trial. How is he rted to that monster?¡¯ Although Camil¡¯s background was impressive, she did not dare to antagonize Zarak Valentine. If she got that man angry, no one could save her. ¡®Hmph, arrogant brat.¡¯ Camil stopped paying any attention to Cain. If he wanted to y and not focus on his words, that was his problem. She would expel him once the ss was over and no Vector was in his possession. Despite doing her best not to pay attention to Cain, Camil still nced at this one from time to time. She saw how he would pay full attention to the Gic Chamber for a few minutes before goofing around and then going back at it. ¡®With such a weak focus, even if his Wave Talent and physical might are impressive, he will not amount to anything.¡¯ Camil continued helping the cadets while asionally ncing at Cain. The young man¡¯s behavior bothered her, but she was able to ignore him until he saw how this one began to speak with the cadet by his side. ¡°Enough! If you don¡¯t want to work, that is fine, but don¡¯t bother the others who are doing their best to be Gic Coders!¡± Camil could endure Cain not focusing on the ss, even though she felt that was a great offense to the Profession she dedicated her life to, but she would not allow him to distract other cadets that were working so hard. That shout drove the entire ss¡¯ attention, and they turned toward Cain. Some of the cadets showed small smiles as they began to whisper among themselves. There were people that liked to see geniuses falling, as that made them feel better about their lesser aplishments. It made no sense, but that was human nature. Cain remained calm after hearing Camil¡¯s shout and turned his Gic Chamber around, allowing the teacher and the entire ss to see the ten capsules, each holding a Vector. ¡°I already used all theponents inside the Gic Chambers and created ten Bronze Vectors. I was now trying to help my friends.¡± The entire ss went silent as they heard that and looked at the capsules in the Gic Chambers withplete awe. Camil¡¯s eyes widened as a sense of utter shock assaulted her. ¡°Im... Impossible.¡± ¡°Go ahead and analyze them.¡± Cain saw the shock on the woman¡¯s face and simply pushed his Gic Chamber forward, indicating she coulde and check with her own eyes. Camil took a deep breath, regaining her focus before walking toward Cain¡¯s Gic Chamber. She then connected her A.I. Chip to the device, and what she saw left her speechless. Not only were there indeed Bronze Vectors in each of those capsules, but they were superb work. ¡®The first has 7% ws, the second 5.5% ws. They grow better and better, and thest four have 0% ws, making them Pseudo Silver Vectors!¡¯ Camil was amazed, and she understood that the moment Cain suddenly stopped working, he was actually resting after finishing a Vector. ¡°Thest four are working perfectly: the head, internal proteins, neck, tail sheath, tail fibers, end te, and pins all merged without w. You... how did you do it!?¡± When Cain heard that question, he showed an awkward smile. The reason why he frowned at the beginning was that as soon as he focused on the Vector¡¯sponents, they all began to fuse in a certain way in his mind. Cain just attempted to replicate the pictures in his mind the best he could, and the closer he got, the better the Vectors became. Camil noticed Cain¡¯s silence, and realization appeared in her eyes before making a small bow. ¡°I am sorry for my rude question. I was wrong to ask about the secrets of another Gic Coder. Please forget I said anything.¡± Camil¡¯s words did not seem proper for a teacher, but the way she began to look at Cain after seeing his superb works was not as a student but as arade that followed the path of Gic Coding. Cain was surprised by the woman¡¯s attitude. She had not left a very good impression on him after that shout, but he understood her anger¡¯s origin and smiled before waving his hands. ¡°There is no reason to be sorry. Actually, I have no problem telling you my method.¡± Cain saw Camil¡¯s smile, but he also noticed the poisonous look in other cadets that seemed ready to steal his secrets. He chose to share some information to avoid having people bothering him all the time about how he does it. ¡°I just see it in my mind. The moment I concentrate on theponents of the Vector, they fuse in a specific way, and I just replicate it.¡± Some of the cadets showed suspicious looks at Cain when they heard his exnations since it seemed very much like a lie he had just made to hide his secret. Cain saw those gazes and knew it could happen. What he would have never imagined were the words that came from Camil the next second. ¡°You have Gic Sight!¡± Chapter 142 - 142 Creating a Silver Vector 142 Creating a Silver Vector Cain¡¯s eyes widened when he heard that, as he had absolutely no idea what Camil was talking about. He believed that his ability to arrange the pieces in his mind automatically was something granted to him by the Absolute Life Form System, but it seemed that it was not so unique. Camil saw the confusion on Cain¡¯s face, and she took a deep breath before speaking again. ¡°What you describe is an ability known as Gic Sight. It is not a gift born from our DNA; its origines from the soul. It is very rare, as only one in every one hundred million has it. I am afraid that is as far as my understanding of Gic Sight goes, but I do know that all those in possession of it have incredible advantages in Gic Coding.¡± Cain nodded as he made sure to engrain all that information. He still believed that his gift came from the system, but he remembered Apex¡¯s words at the beginning of their journey. ¡®The Absolute Life Form System can¡¯t create something out of nothing. My soul should not have that power initially, but it obtained it after the awakening of the [Gic Coder Module] or maybe even from the moment I obtained the system.¡¯ Cain did not lose himself in his thoughts for long since he heard Camil¡¯s voice again. ¡°However, you should not grow too arrogant due to having Gic Sight. Having the picture in your mind and being able to replicate it are two different things. You created ten Bronze Vectors, four of which are Pseudo-Silver, which is awe-inspiring.¡± Camil paused at this point before contemting whether to ask the following question or not. ..... ¡°Can I know if you encountered any form of tutoring regarding Gic Coding before this ss?¡± Cain¡¯s Gic Sight was already a massive boost to his ability, but if he managed to create the ten Vectors without any prior training, that would be incredible. Cain did not hide it and immediately answered Camil¡¯s question. ¡°Yes, I did. I learned from Sinar County¡¯s Gic Coding skills.¡± Technically, what Cain learned about Vector¡¯s assembling from Sinar¡¯s Gic Coding Guide was the same that Camil taught him. Nevertheless, he did not find the need to go into detail, not to mention that it could involve some secret from Sinar County, and he would not repay Lurin¡¯s help like that. Camil immediately nodded when she heard that, making it clear the name Sinar was not unknown among Gic Coders. ¡°Count Sinar is a Grand Gic Coder and a very good one among those at his level.¡± Cain saw that Camil misinterpreted his words, and soon whispers echoed inside the auditorium. ¡°So he was already ustomed to making Vectors.¡± ¡°Hmph, showing off his skills honed by a Grand Gic Coder among a newbie ss.¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe among those who have already learned this craft, he is average and wanted to boast with us.¡± Cain and Camil heard those whispers, but neither of them bothered with it. Cain did not care about the words of some weakling whose only way of feeling good was to push others down. As for Camil, she knew that even if Cain had a gift like Gic Sight and a great teacher, he would not have reached his level without great effort. After all, if someone only needed a good teacher to be a Gic Coder, everyone could be one. Still, the woman did not find the need to waste her words with people that look down on the effort of others. However, not everybody was as magnanimous as the duo. Lurin¡¯s eyes burned with rage as he heard those whispers and giggles, and he was not able to hold on for long before shouting. ¡°Hmph, pack of hyenas!¡± Those words reached every corner of the auditorium, and all those whispering among themselves about Cain turned toward Lurin with cold eyes. None of them would dare to face off directly against Cain since his strength was much greater than theirs, but they did not have the same reservations about Lurin. Lurin showed why he came from a family that made their name on the battlefield, and his head remained high before continuing to speak. ¡°Cain only got ess to my family Gic Coder Guide that has the principles and essential steps of Gic Coding, and he only got it yesterday. If any of you think you can create a Bronze Vector with only that guide, I will dly hand it over. However, if after reading it for an entire day, you can not do it, I will break all the bones in your hands.¡± Lurin¡¯s words shocked the cadets, and no one dared to take that bet. Still, many continued throwing cold nces at the young man as they felt he had humiliated them. It did notst long as a red force field emerged near Lurin and began to extend across the room, installing a crippling fear in the heart of all those that showed coldness. Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he used his Ego Wave to teach those cadets a lesson. He could have easily broken their will and used hypnosis to shatter their minds, but that would be too much, not to mention he would be thrown in jail the next second. Once those cadets looked away, Cain retracted his Ego Wave, and he noticed the look of wonder in Lurin and Ophelia. Camil also nced at Cain with awe, but the one in her eyes had nothing to do with his Ego Wave. ¡°Is that truth!?¡± Cain saw the shock in Camil, and he had no reason to lie, so he nodded, confirming Lurin¡¯s words. ¡®This boy... he is... he is a divine genius!¡¯ Camil almost failed to control her body since the sight of a divine talent in her ss filled her heart with excitement. She took a deep breath, doing her best to regain her focus and gaze at the other cadets. ¡°Do you have the time to get distracted? If you don¡¯t have the Vector for the end of the ss, I will expel you!¡± After hearing those words, all the cadets returned their focus to their Gic Chambers. While they were interested in Cain¡¯s Gic Coder¡¯s abilities, they had no time to waste. Once Camil saw the other cadets focusing on their work, she continued speaking to Cain. ¡°You should take a seat in the front of the ss since that would make it easier for us to have a conversation while I carry on with my duties.¡± Cain was interested in Camil¡¯s offer since it would indeed be of much help if he could speak with the woman more freely. However, it did not feel right to leave Lurin and Ophelia alone. Cain could show a very pragmatic stance in almost everything except when ites to his friends and loved ones. Camil noticed Cain¡¯s reluctance and saw the way this one looked at those two by his side. ¡°Of course, your friends can alsoe to the front with you. That way, I can also provide even better guidance for them.¡± Lurin and Ophelia smiled when they heard that since they would undoubtedly benefit from obtaining Camil¡¯s help. While Cain was highly talented, he worked based on instincts, and it did not go very well when he attempted to help them. Cain no longer had a reason to refuse Camil¡¯s proposition, and he, Lurin, and Ophelia sat at the front. Once they reached the front of the ss, Camil put a vial into Cain¡¯s gic chamber. ¡°With it, you will be able to generate Silver Vectors. The difficulty is exponentially greater, and mistakes are much easier to make. But from this point on, your work will have true value. Even if you don¡¯t create aplete Wave Virus, you could sell Silver Vectors for a good price, especially if they have 0% w and are Pseudo-Gold.¡± Cain nodded toward Camil, and his eyes glowed with red light as he pushed his focus to the limit and began to work. The moment he saw theponent of the Silver Vector, they fused in his mind, showing him the most efficient way. He attempted to replicate the picture of the Vector in his mind the best he could, and after roughly thirty-five minutes, he finished his first Silver Vector. Being able to seed in forming a Silver Vector on his first try was terrific, but Cain frowned when he saw that it had a 21% w. ¡°I have doubts about arranging the internal proteins properly.¡± Camil had seen everything and did all she could to hide her shock when he saw the Silver Vector that Cain had just made. The boy¡¯s talent was just too divine, but she could not go around shouting it, as that would be bad for his growth. ¡°Yes, tell me what the problem is.¡± Cain and Camil will discuss from time to time, helping the boy solve his doubt. She did not neglect the other cadets and would go to their help whenever they needed assistance. Chapter 143 - 143 Elementary Genetic Coder (I) 143 Elementary Gic Coder (I) Zarak was meditating as a river moved around the room. There were all kinds of intents inside that body of water. Sometimes it unleashed a thriving life force, just for a monstrous killing intent to emerge the next second. The Alter-Ego moved freely, and even when it touched the walls, nothing happened due to its ephemeral nature. However, there were moments when Zarak¡¯s willpower would spike, and that mighty river would crash against the walls, leaving massive cracks. Suddenly, Zarak¡¯s eyes opened, and he calmed his Alter-Ego as he saw that a woman appeared through the teleportation matrix. ¡°What is the problem?¡± Abin knew that Zarak did not like to be interrupted during his training, so she would onlye if there were a problem that she could not handle on her own. ¡°My Lord, I have detected chatter regarding the Young Lord in the capital. It is among the circles of the Great Organizations.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes grew cold as he heard those words, and he turned toward the License Bureau. His Alter-Ego was still in the open, and the killing intent in this one burst with greater might than before. ¡°It seems some people think that they can ignore my warnings.¡± In Zarak¡¯s mind, the only reason for Cain¡¯s name to be mentioned among the Great Organization¡¯s circles would be the Hypnosis Associations. That meant that Akyra went back on her words and broke her promise to him. ..... Abin noticed the look in Zarak¡¯s eyes and knew she had to intervene. Her master was not someone that allowed deception from others. ¡°Lord, It was not Lady Akyra the one responsible for Young Lord¡¯s name going around the Great Organizations. I investigated, and all originated from the Gic Coding Association. The teacher from the Gic Coder ss, Camil Severen, sent a file with Young Lord¡¯s name and description to the Gic Coding Association.¡± Zarak frowned when he heard that. There were many reasons for someone¡¯s personal information to reach the Gic Coding Association, and some of them were truly terrifying. ¡°I understand the implications of Young Lord¡¯s personal information reaching the Gic Coding Associations, so I acted fast and reached out to one of my contacts. It turns out that that teacher wanted the association to consider Young Lord for the Seed Program.¡± When Zarak heard Camil¡¯s intentions, his frown vanished, and confusion reced it. ¡°The Seed Program is where the Gic Coding Association reaches out to youths with incredible talent in Gic Coding, helping them harvest their full potential. What does that have to do with Cain?¡± Abin showed an odd smile as she heard Zarak¡¯s question. ¡°It turns out that Young Lord is a divine genius when ites to Gic Coding. He possesses Gic Sight, and after a single ss, he was able to create a Silver Vector with a 0% w.¡± Zarak¡¯s eyes twitched when he heard that, and he did not know how to react. Although he was not a Gic Coder, he had used many Wave Viruses over the course of his path to power and knew just how amazing it is for someone to create a Pseudo-Golden Vector after a single ss. ¡°Hahahaha, that bloody brat, always attracting the focus of powerhouses, generating more and more work for.¡± Zarak burst withughter, and the Alter-Ego¡¯s killing intent vanished, reced by a thriving life that flooded the room. He wanted to keep Cain¡¯s name and power away from the capital, not due to selfishness. He could secure Cain¡¯s life and autonomy in the Copsing Lightning Sector. However, even he had to be careful against the monsters of the Godyer Humankind Empire Capital. ¡°The Gic Coding Association treats their geniuses very well, and I doubt that some of the old monsters in it will be interested in Cain since they have their own geniuses to take care of.¡± Zarak made a pause as he considered his next move. ¡°Inform me if anyone special enters the Copsing Lightning Sector. Until then, let things y out and just watch from a distance.¡± ¡°Yes. Lord.¡± Abin bowed toward Zarak before using the teleportation matrix and leaving. Zarak was alone, and he sighed before showing a smile. ¡°Learning his true nature before fifteen, a Duality Alter-Ego, and divine talent as a Healing Hypnotist and a Gic Coder. That brat grows more and more interesting.¡± ¡ª Cain, Lurin, and Ophelia walked out of the auditorium withrge smiles. The trio emerged victorious and secured their position in the Gic Coder ss. Lurin had shown great talent, creating four Bronze Vectors, with the best one having just an 11% w. It was just a matter of time before he reached a 0% w and could begin working with Silver Vectors. Ophelia¡¯s aptitudes were not as good as Lurin, but her hard work and Camil¡¯s constant help allowed her to create two Bronze Vectors, with the best one having a 17% w. Although bing a Grand Gic Coder would be incredibly hard, with enough effort, she could reach the peak of the Elemental Gic Coder Rank. Cain made small talk with the duo before going to his residence. He did his usual ritual of bowing to his father¡¯s altar and taking a shower before eating a small meal. Although there were all sorts of projects in his mind, the first thing Cain did was adopt a meditative position and enter Embryonic Breathing. That would help his mind to rest while internalizing all the knowledge he had gained today. After a few hours, Cain opened his eyes, and he felt rxed. Not only had he improved his understanding of Gic Coding, but all the problems he could not figure out before seemed much simpler now. Cain entered the military academy¡¯swork and bought some things before taking out his Gic Coder¡¯s equipment. In front of him appeared the Gic Chamber, along with ten capsules holding Silver Vectors. He was not supposed to leave with it, but Camil exchanged them for all his Bronze Vectors. Cain had no idea why the woman would want the Bronze Vectors since they were practically worthless for a Gic Coder, but he epted. The Gic Chamber was not all he gained from that deal, as Camil also gave him something else to train on his own. [Enhanced Wave Drive: Wave Virus designed to enhance the target¡¯s Wave Talent. -Useful for Wave Warrior¡¯s genome. -It willst for five days. -The enhancement will vary between 5 to 10% ording to the Gic Coder¡¯s skill.] Cain smiled as he saw the recipe inside his [A.I. Chip Module] that described the generation of a Gic Chain. If hepleted it and then managed to stabilize it inside a Vector, he would have formed a Wave Virus, bing an official Elementary Gic Coder! It did not take long for a drone to arrive inside his residence, carrying on all the material he would need to create ten Gic Chains. Before doing anything, Cain went through the steps in his mind again and again, making sure each and every one of them was as clear as walking. It was only after every step came out naturally in his mind that he began. Cain took a deep breath and ensured his mind was at full power before his eyes glowed with red light, and he activated Virtual Sight. He carefully poured the vials with theponents for the Gic Chains into the Gic Chamber before using his [A.I. Chip Module] to obtain a virtual image of them and began to work. Every step was done with extreme care, always leaving part of his focus for Virtual Sight, so he could predict every mistake before it happened. Creating a Gic Chain consisted of arranging a series of genes in a specific order, so they could reach the host¡¯s DNA and rece specific parts. Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he pushed his Ego Wave to the limit so it could enhance his cognitive abilities and speed of thought. He had blocked everything else, leaving nothing but the Gic Chamber in his sight. After an hour, Cain allowed his body and mind to rx as a smile appeared on his face. There was a new capsule in the Gic Chamber containing the Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain! After resting for a moment, Cain used his [A.I. Chip Module] to see the efficacy of the Gic Chain. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 5.7%] Cain frowned as he saw that value. It was very close to the theoretical limit, meaning he had almost failed. The fact he had just started his path as a Gic Coder less than two days ago, and he managed to create a Gic Chain for aplicated Wave Virus did not mean anything to Cain. ¡®The only thing that matters is the oue.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he went through every step of the process in his mind and used [Basic Virtual Simtion] to prove different modifications. Only after another hour he began to create a new Gic Chain. Chapter 144 - 144 Elementary Genetic Coder (II) 144 Elementary Gic Coder (II) Cain¡¯s focus was solely on the Gic Chain, and once he finished with it, he immediately analyzed it. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 6.9%] A small smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw that increase, but it was far from enough to satisfy him. Before trying again, he went through every step, probing different modifications with the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool. Cain did that again and again until he finally ended all the material for the ten Gic Chains. When he analyzed thest one, a smile of satisfaction emerged on his face. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 8.8%] The 10% limit in the information on the Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s recipe was just a hypothetical mark, and only some of the best Gic Coders in the entire Godyer Humankind could achieve it. Cain was good, but he had just begun his path as a Gic Coder, so 8.8% was enough for the time being. Since he already had the Vectors and Gic Chains, Cain could go to the next step and carry on with the fusing of the two, generating the Wave Virus. However, before that, Cain chose to enter Embryonic Breathing and allow his mind to rest. He had been working for over twenty hours and was beyond exhausted. ..... After roughly three hours, Cain opened his eyes and felt much better. His brain was no longer burning due to the overwork. Cain put a capsule with his first Silver Vector and his first Gic Chain in the Gic Chamber and began fusing them. The process itself consisted of putting the Gic Chain inside the Silver Vector, and while it was highly delicate, it did not involve many steps. Cain chose his first Silver Vector and first Gic Chain because they had the lowest efficacy, so if a mistake happened and they were lost, it would hurt him the least. However, he seeded in the first attempt, and a capsule with a red liquid emerged from the Gic Chamber. The reason for the color was a small change that Cain introduced during the fusing of the Vector and Gic Chain. ording to what he had read in Sinar¡¯s Gic Coder Guide, Gic Coders like to leave their sign in their Wave Viruses. Cain had just made an Elementary Wave Virus, so for all intents and purposes, he was an Elementary Gic Coder. Red would be his signaling mark and a small piece of unique code in the Gic Chain. Since he seeded once, doing it again would not be difficult since it involved the exact same process. In less than an hour, there were ten capsules with a red liquid inside them. Cain showed a radiant smile as he saw the oue of his hard work. He had just taken Gic Coding due to his connection to the [Gic Coder Module]. Still, he really enjoyed the craft, and there was a great sense of aplishment in building something instead of just destroying it. Cain took out two waves crystals and Dragon Blood Grass before grabbing his best Wave Virus and injecting it into his chest. A few secondster, Cain¡¯s entire body began to tremble, and his temperature skyrocketed. Even if he knew that the Wave Virus would be beneficial for him, his body would still attempt to fight back. If the carrier were a Bronze Vector, there would be an 80% chance Cain¡¯s body would have destroyed it before it could induce any significant change. The fever and muscle spasmssted for an hour before they began to vanish, only to be reced by a sense of utter hunger. Cain felt his entire body demanding nutrition; if he did not give it, his cells would begin to devour each other. He grabbed his wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass before circting his cultivation technique and the Blood Refinement Art simultaneously. Usually, cultivators must use Recovery Capsules and a proper Blood Solution when using a Wave Virus. Still, by employing high-grade resources, Cain could provide his body with all the energy and vitality it needed. Cain made sure to enter Embryonic Breathing for the process so his body could adapt faster. Thrill appeared on his face as he felt the speed at which he could drive the Life Wave into his body increasing. After thirty minutes, the sense of hunger vanished, and Cain stopped ferociously circting the Astral Wave and Dragon Blood Grass¡¯ vitality through his body. The entire process left him exhausted, but that did not weaken his excitement. ¡°System, how much did my ability to drive the Life Wave into my body increase, and what is my current Wave Talent?¡± The Absolute Life Form System carried on with the task with extreme efficiency. [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 8.2% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Pseudo Tier 5] Cain analyzed the data for a moment, and everything seemed in order. Although thest Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain said it would increase his Wave Talent by 8.8%, some of its effects were lost due to the Vector¡¯s ws. ¡®Even if it had a 0% w and could be considered a Pseudo-Golden Vector, it was still a Silver Vector, so this type of thing was bound to happen. As for my Wave Talent¡¯s Tier not increasing, that just means an enhancement of 8.2% is still not enough to rise to the next Tier.¡¯ Overall, Cain was delighted with his aplishments and the increase in his Wave Talent. 8.2% was a fantastic boost to his cultivation speed, especially if high-grade cultivation resources and Embryonic Breathing enhanced it. Cain would have enjoyed testing his new cultivation speed right away, but he was too tired to the point that Embryonic Breathing would not be enough, and he needed natural sleep. No more cultivation, just allowing his body to drift into unconsciousness and not care about anything else. He jumped into his bed, and less than five seconds after touching the pillow, he fell asleep. Even with his high vitality and recovery speed, he slept for over seven hours before finally awakening. When Cain rose from the bed, he felt good as new. His mind worked perfectly, and his body was energetic, ready to embrace the next task. Just as he was about to begin his training, Cain remembered someone. ¡°I wonder how he is doing?¡± Cain used the [A.I. Chip Module] to call Levi. He had not seen his friends for over a month, but he was sure this one would be fine. If anything had happened to Levi, Abin would have told him. The call did not take long to connect, and soon Cain heard a voice that made him smile. ¡°Cain! It has been a long time. How are you... Ahh, goddamn, that burns!¡± Cain grew confused as he heard that scream of paining from Levi. ¡°Are you alright? Do you need help?¡± Cain doubted that Levi would be in a battle since if that were the case, this one would never have taken the call, allowing apse in focus. Still, if there was a problem, he was ready to ask for Zarak¡¯s help. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, I am fine... Damn geezer, you are going to roast me alive!¡± Cain¡¯s confusion grew even stronger as he heard that. Levi did not seem to be lying, but something was clearly going on. However, before he could ask anything else, Levi spoke again. ¡°Sorry, but I can not talk right now. Let¡¯s talk when I am back in the fort.¡± After saying that, Levi turned off the call, leaving Cain with many questions. ¡°Well, he sounded fine, so I guess that is something.¡± Cain trusted Levi, and since this one told him everything was fine, it was. He took out a wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass before entering Embryonic Breathing and beginning to cultivate. The rise in his Wave Talent almost broke Cain¡¯s concentration and took him out of Embryonic Breathing. 8.2% might not seem much, but it was an amazing enhancement to have overnight. Cain carried on the next few days, focusing three-quarters of his time on cultivation and the other quarter on expanding his skills as Hypnosis Master, Gic Coder, and assassin. Monday arrived again, and Cain made sure to have a proper sleep before dashing toward the auditorium. He saw that Orin was in there and nodded to the girl, to which she replied in the same way. Cain noticed Orin¡¯s aloof attitude, and it was clear she was not interested in small talk, so they both waited in silence for Jonathan. The second the ss was supposed to start, the duo felt a wave of air behind them, and the next thing they saw was Jonathan standing in front of them. Jonathan stared at the duo and nodded when he saw their focus. It was clear that they were ready to give everything they had and would not ck off just because they secured their position in the ss. ¡°Let¡¯s begin with the second ss of the Assassination Military Specialization.¡± Chapter 145 - 145 Golden Vector 145 Golden Vector ¡°In thest ss, we focused all our efforts on learning stealth. I am sure both of you used the past week to master the movements and techniques I taught you.¡± Jonathan saw Cain and Orin nodding before focusing on the girl. ¡°Orin, show me Void Breath.¡± The girl nodded before going to the edge of the auditorium and taking a deep breath. Gradually her aura grew weaker as the Essence Wave inside her body slowly began to adopt a static state. Orin then walked to the other side of the room. Not only did her feet make no sound, but her body did not disturb the room¡¯s airflow. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he focused on the girl, and he knew that if he lost her from sight for even a second, he would find it very hard to detect her presence again without using his Ego Wave. Void Breath was the name of the first level of Void State and consisted in hiding your Ego Wave, vital signs, sound, and even the effect you had on the environment, like a disturbance in the airflow. Finally, Orin reached the other corner of the auditorium before rxing. There was sweat on her face due to the intense focus and physical effort that Void Breath demanded. Jonathan nodded and could tell that the girl was very talented, having reached that level of mastery over Void Breath in such a small window of time. ..... ¡°Good. Cain, your turn.¡± Cain nodded at Jonathan before reaching the corner of the room and taking a deep breath. He activated Void Breath, hiding his presence before walking forward. Orin focused on Cain, and a small smile appeared in the corner of her mouth as she saw the young man¡¯s Void Breath. Even though Cain¡¯s mastery was very high, her domain over the technique was better. However, once Cain reached half of the journey, his eyes glowed with red light, and he practically stopped all his vital signs, and his Astral Wave froze. Orin¡¯s eyes widened when she saw that, and her sudden shock made her lose sight of Cain. By the time she was able to perceive him again, he had already finished his walk. ¡°Good. Cain, your mastery of Void Breath is inferior to Orin¡¯s, but it reached a high enough level for the next part of the ss.¡± Orin frowned when she heard that. Although she had apetitive nature, she did not like to receive fake praise. Still, she was smart enough not to argue with Jonathan about something so trivial. ¡°I achieved a higher level of stealth not thanks to a greater domain over Void Breath, but the use of my willpower to exert control over my Astral Wave and body.¡± Luckily for her, while Jonathan did not see the need to exin his assessment, Cain noticed the look in her eyes and helped her, so her mind would not wander during the ss. Orin¡¯s eyes narrowed when she heard that. She, like everybody else, knew that Cain was a great genius, the mighties of the cadets when ites to brute power, and it seemed that he just told him one of the keys behind his might. ¡°Willpower?¡± ¡°It is too early for you to focus on your willpower directly. Keep your mind on your assassin¡¯s training, and you will see how your willpower improves drastically. I see potential in you, so if I like what I see for the end of the year, I will give you some personal guidance regarding the Ego Eternal Path of Power.¡± Orin¡¯s eyes glowed. She had no idea what the Ego Eternal Path of Power was, but she definitely wanted it if it could grant so much power. Her eyes reached an even heightened focus as she prepared to break her limits. Cain saw that, and his judgment of Jonathan¡¯s teaching skills grew even higher. ¡®He knows how to stir someone¡¯s desires so they can better themselves. Impressive.¡¯ Jonathan gave the duo a moment of rest before carrying on. ¡°Since both of you have reached the necessary level of stealth, it is time to focus our attention on practical applications along with domain over disguises and infiltration. When I talk about disguises, I am not referring to simply changing your appearance. That would only fool idiots and people that are either too afraid or ignorant about the individual you are pretending to be. You must learn your target¡¯s behavior to the point that even their loved ones would mistake you for the real one. That is the epitome of disguise art. Infiltration is not any easier. You must be constantly aware of your surroundings, keeping an eye for the tiniest details while ensuring no one notices your presence. A true master could enter the most secure ce in the empire, and no one would ever know he was there. For disguise, you will need to use a Wave Artifact, mostmonly known as One Hundred Faces. As for infiltration, any decent Cloaking Helmet would do the trick.¡± Jonathan made a small pause at this point as he focused on the duo with a meaningful stare. ¡°You can buy the One Hundred Faces and Cloaking Helmet through the militarywork. If you were to lose them, there is no need to worry since the Imperial Military Force would know you had one before, and they could help you track them.¡± Cain and Orin¡¯s eyes narrowed as they heard that and understood that any legitimate purchase of those Wave Artifacts would raise several red gs. Jonathan knew that the duo entered his ss not just to master assassination so they could use it against the Dark Races but for reasons of a personal nature. He did not care who they wanted to go against as long as they showed proper skills. ¡ª It was already Tuesday afternoon, and Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with red light as he manipted his Gic Chambers during the Gic Coder ss. While the rest of the cadets kept improving their skills with Bronze Vector, he worked with Gold Vectors. Camil¡¯s teaching to Cain was very different from what she gave to the rest of the cadets. It was like a teacher exining basic multiplications to an entire ss while at the same time teaching a single student advanced algebra. None of the cadets dared toin about Cain obtaining a higher education since they could barely understand what came from Camil¡¯s mouth when she talked with him. By the time the ss had ended, Cain had four capsules with Golden Vectors inside his space ring. They were good, with the best only having a 9% w, but Cain knew that reaching 0% would be a long and hazardous journey. Cain left with Lurin and Ophelia, and before they would separate, he took out two red capsules and gave each one. ¡°Those are Wave Viruses. They will improve your Wave Talent by 7 to 7.5% during five days. Make sure to have enough energy at your disposal before using them.¡± Lurin and Ophelia were surprised by the Wave Viruses, but Cain had already left before they could say anything. Cain smiled as he saw the duo trying to speak to him from a distance. He knew they would want to repay him, but he just wanted to help them. Of the ten Wave Virus, Cain used the best two on himself, gave the worst six to Apex so he could barter them for wave crystals and more Gic Coder¡¯s materials, and gifted thest two to Lurin and Ophelia. Once Cain reached his residence, he went through his usual ritual before entering Embryonic Breathing and allowing his mind to rest. After feeling energetic again, he took his Gic Chamber and began to create Enhanced Wave Drive Gic Chains. After a few hours, there were four Enhanced Wave Drive Gic Chains in front of Cain, and he smiled as he saw the data from the best one. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 9.2%] Even though it was just 0.4% better than his previous best work, every single improvement mattered as it marked Cain¡¯s mastery over Gic Coding. Cain fused the four Gic Chains with his Golden Vectors, making sure to pair them ording to their level. Finally, he injected the Wave Virus made out of the Gic Chain with 9.2% efficiency and the 9% w Golden Vector into his chest. High fever and muscle spasms affected Cain for almost an hour before a sense of utter hunger attacked. Like before, he used wave crystals and Dragon Blood Grass to go through that process. When the gic alteration was over, Cain smiled as he felt the increase in his Wave Talent. Hemanded the Absolute Life Form System to give him an urate assessment of his improvement, and soon a virtual screen appeared in his sight. [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 8.9% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Pseudo Tier 5] Chapter 146 - 146 Assassination (I) 146 Assassination (I) [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 8.9% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Pseudo Tier 5] Arge smile appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw that oue. The Wave Virus worked almost ten percent better than thest time, and he could feel the rise in the speed at which his body could drive Life Wave and purify it into Astral Wave. Although Cain wanted to start his training, he was exhausted and needed a good night of sleep. He went to his bed and fell asleep in a moment. Once Cain woke up and felt all the fatigue gone, he took out a wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass to begin his training. The speed at which the Astral Wave was generated and circted in his body made him smile. After eight hours, Cain was ready to stop his cultivation and focus on his Hypnosis Master training when he felt it. ..... Cain¡¯s eyes widened, breaking his Embryonic Breathing state, as his entire body began to tremble. He felt an immense surge in his strength and Astral Wave. ¡®My cultivation is advancing to Level 4!¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes burst with red light as he made sure to heighten his focus to the peak. The meridians he had formed over thest year were finally ready to pierce into his bones. That step was a bottleneck that stopped the cultivation path of many, as their foundation was too weak, and their meridians were not strong enough to pierce into the bones, leaving them stranded at Level 3. If Cain were inside a Recovery Capsule, the Wave Artifact would have guided the process, but since that was not the case, he had to do it on his own. Cain followed the guidance of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, focusing on every meridian, and using his mind and willpower to guide them through the excruciating process. ¡®It is as if thousands of ants were biting my bones simultaneously.¡¯ There was immense pain, but Cain could not give himself the luxury of using his Ego Wave to block it since all the strength of his willpower was on guiding his meridians. Usually, a Level 3 Wave Cultivator would only need around half an hour to finish this process. Still, thanks to the Blood Refinement Art and his high percentage of marrow washing, Cain¡¯s bones were almost twice as resilient as that of other Astral Wave Cultivators at the same level. Luckily, due to the use of wave crystals, Cain¡¯s meridians were more than strong enough to pierce the bones, but it would still take a longer time, increasing the pain he had to endure. Finally, after one hour and twenty-five minutes, Cain¡¯s body stopped trembling, and a small shock wave seemed to emerge from inside his body as he experienced an impressive boost in his strength. Cain was exhausted, but there was an absolute thrill on his face as he felt the rush of Astral Wave through his body. And things went even better since the next second, a ck substance began to emerge from his pores! Right after reaching Level 4, Cain¡¯s body went through another session of marrow washing! Despite the fatigue, Cain did all he could to boost the marrow washing until a thick ckyer covered his entire body. He immediately ran to his shower and did not leave before scrubbing every corner of his body. When Cain walked out of the shower, his entire body was bursting with strength, and his skin looked even more pristine than a baby¡¯s. Although he did not really enjoy a bald head, it would not take long for his hair to grow back. Cain clenched his fist, and the feeling of strength filled his eyes with excitement. ¡°System, scan my body and show me the changes I just underwent!¡± Like always, the Absolute Life Form System obeyed Cain¡¯s order without dy. [Scan of Vesselpleted ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 4 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 5 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 0.78¨C>1.1 Agility: 1.0¨C>1.2 Vitality: 1.2¨C>1.6 Wave: 9.7¨C>1.2 ¡ª Marrow washing: 37%pletion] Cain could not contain the thrill in his heart as he saw those numbers. Not only his cultivation base improved drastically, but his Blood Refinement Art gave his strength and vitality a massive boost. Usually, a Level 4 Wave Warrior would only have one of their stats above 1 point upon their advance, but all of Cain¡¯s were at that level. And his most impressive stat, his vitality, was already approaching the standard of Level 5. One of the things that excited Cain the most was that his Wave Talent finally broke the ss ceiling and entered Tier 5. Even if it was just the lowest level of the Tier, his cultivation speed advanced drastically. However, he would still have to wait and see if the Tier remained the same once the effect of the Wave Virus was gone. Right now, Cain felt stronger than ever, and he knew that his new cultivation base enhanced the strength he could unleash through the use of the Four Basic Wave Arts and his Asura Form exponentially. Cain was sure that if he faced Great Tyger, Young Elephant, and Young Monkey right now, he could kill the trio in a direct battle without using schemes or hypnosis. As his strength and vitality rose, Cain felt tempted to return to the Pirs of Trial. He felt confident in securing 1st ce in both the Pir of Strength and the Pir of Resilience, making his name N¡ã1 in all of them! However, while that was tempting, his new strength and skills guided Cain in a different direction. He had made a very important promise and would no longer postpone it. ¡®Although my assassination training is far from over, my current domain of stealth and infiltration should be enough to fulfill this task. I should be able to end that person and leave no trace from my presence.¡¯ Cain¡¯s eyes grew cold as he remembered the graves he dug during his first mission, and a monstrous killing intent burst from them as the smallest one appeared in his mind. He punished the ones who did those despicable acts, but someone else was just as responsible yet had escaped the repercussions. ¡°Apex, you have cius¡¯ agenda hacked?¡± ¡°Yes, I did it a while ago and have kept tabs on it since then. I did the same with his secretary and bodyguard so there would be no mistakes.¡± Apex¡¯s voice was calm, but there seemed to be a slight hint of joy since he knew the path that Cain was about to embark on. He did not keep the young man waiting and disyed the trio¡¯s agenda. Cain went through the trio¡¯s schedule and saw that cius had a meeting in a small city a few hundred kilometers away from Rouk City. ¡°Do you n to attack him during his journey?¡± Cain immediately shook his head when he heard Apex¡¯s question. ¡°I am no longer a novice and understand the difficulties of assassinating a moving target in an unknown terrain. Rouk City should still be under reconstruction, right?¡± Apex spent most of his time hacking into the empire¡¯swork, umting more and more information, so he was able to answer Cain¡¯s question in a second. ¡°Rouk City¡¯s walls have already been repaired, but the interior is still in work. Hundreds of peoplee in and out of the city daily due to the reconstruction effort.¡± Cain considered everything, and soon a sharp light appeared in his eyes, along with a cold smile. He ordered materials from the military academy¡¯swork before taking an unimportant mission close to Rouk City. Even if his background was impressive, he was still a cadet and needed a reason to leave the fort. The mission he took was recollecting some herbs, which he could do in a few hours, keeping his cover. Cain did not waste time, getting into a military truck and marking the coordinates for a forest near Rouk City. While the vehicle advanced toward the city, he took out his Gic Chamber and created a special Wave Virus. Although he did not have a recipe, it was not hard for Cain to create a unique Wave Virus that would fulfill a particr role with his current knowledge as a Gic Coder. Other than making the Wave Virus, Cain discussed his n with Apex and was surprised to see that the input of this one when it came to assassination where not any worse than Jonathan¡¯s. It became clear to Cain that Apex was a master in that field, but the System Spirit did not help him before because it was his job to learn it with his own strength. Once the military truck reached its destination, Cain vanished into the forest and made his way to Rouk City, hidden from the sight of anyone. Cain reached the city in less than an hour and took a deep breath as he went through every step in his mind. Chapter 147 - 147 Assassination (II) 147 Assassination (II) Cain focused on the gates that led into Rouk City, and his eyes glowed with red light before concentrating his Astral Wave into his eyes. The next second, his sight became stronger than most military binocrs, and he made a mental map of the terrain, paying special attention to all the guards and surveince devices. ¡°Apex, are you ready?¡± ¡°Yes. I will alter the cameras¡¯ image and generate a counterforce field to trick the scanners around the gates. It will onlyst for a few minutes. Any longer, and the city¡¯swork could detect my presence.¡± Cain nodded and took a deep breath as he used Void Breath to hide his presence to the point that most people would not notice him even if they were standing right next to him. He advanced to the gate, quietly mixing with the people making their way into the city. No one recognized Cain, and even those who looked in his direction could barely notice him. There were two guards at the gate, making sure everybody presented proper identification before going in. Due to the reconstruction effort, the ins and outs of the city were not so strict, but people still needed to notify their entrance. ¡°Next.¡± A guard just let a person pass before calling the next one toe closer when he felt a strange presence to his left, but when he looked in that direction, there was nothing. ¡°Watchtower. Did you notice any unusual activity around the gates?¡± Despite not finding anything, the guard was diligent and used his A.I. Chip to contact the people in charge of digital surveince. ..... ¡°Negative. Our cameras and the force field pick nothing strange.¡± The guard nodded after hearing that and carried on with his work. Cain¡¯s face was pale as he continued advancing with Void Breath, and he made his way into the city¡¯s core, passing through dark spots where there was no digital surveince. Apex had stopped his interference with the cameras but still marked the spots through which Cain could move without leaving a digital trail. Usually, that would be extremely hard since all the empire¡¯s cities were under constant surveince. Still, the attack of the Dark Races had left Rouk City in ruins, and it would be a long time before everything was in order again. Cain would hide in dark alleys from time to time, so he could rest for a moment before activating Void Breath again and continuing his way. His eyes narrowed as he reached the city¡¯s center due to the stark contrast with the rest of the ce. The buildings here were already as good as new. That sight did not surprise Cain since the city¡¯s mayor is usually in charge of logistic endeavors like reconstructions. cius would definitely prioritize thefort of the people with influence over the masses. Cain did not care about this type of inequity since the world was unequal, and even he would treat his friends better than he would a stranger. Of course, cius was Rouk City¡¯s Mayor, and it was his job to focus on the well-being of the entire poption, not just a few. But, since Cain was ready to end the man¡¯s life, why would he bother with something so trivial? ¡ª cius¡¯ days had returned to normal now that the reconstruction of the city¡¯s core was over, and he was no longer bothered by individuals with real influence. While there were people in the rest of the city who were angry due to the state of their houses and business, he could afford to ignore them. He spent the entire day in the City Hall, dealing with some government matters, before finally returning to his residence, arge mansion at the very heart of the city. During the entire day, the Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior that worked as his bodyguard never left cius¡¯ side and only separated once they entered the mansion. cius took a long shower before going to a hidden room of his mansion with a special device simr to aputer from the Old World. Themunications sent through the A.I. Chips imnted in the brains of every child in the Godyer Humankind Empire were encrypted. Still, there were people with enough power to ess them. Of course, those powerhouses would not bother with someone so insignificant as a mayor of a small city, but cius was careful. That is why he used a special device whenmunicating with his contacts in the underworld. cius had just typed his passwords and searched through his files when it happened. ¡°So this is how you manage to keep all those nefarious businesses in the dark. Interesting.¡± cius¡¯ entire body began to tremble when he heard that. This room was a ce only he was supposed to get ess to. Not even his bodyguard could do it, yet a voice had just emerged from behind him. The first thing cius attempted to do was use his A.I. Chip to ask for help, but there was a jamming signal blocking every form ofmunication. Before he could even think of rising from his seat, powerful willpower shed with his mind. ¡°Do not move nor speak.¡± Those words reached the core of cius¡¯ mind, stopping him from doing anything, and things only worsened. ¡°Shut down your sense of touch, hearing, and sight.¡± A second after hearing those words, an expression of utter terror emerged on cius¡¯ face since he found himself inplete darkness. He could not move, hear, or see, and theck of touch meant that even if someone cut his body apart, he would not realize it. The greater the terror, the more terrifying the fantasies became in cius¡¯ mind. Cain was in the room wearing his Red Hood. While he made sure to hide his presence and hack the mansion¡¯s digital surveince, it was better to be safe than sorry. His eyes only grew colder as he saw the terror on cius¡¯ face. What this one felt could notpare with the fear those children experienced at the hand of the thieves inside that cave. ¡°Apex, can you hack into this device and ess all its information and contacts?¡± ¡°It is very hard to intercept any messageing in and out of this type of device from outside, but it will be easy to do it now since we have direct ess to it.¡± Cain felt an electromaic force field emerge from his body and reach the device before the screen showed weird signs. ¡°Done.¡± Apex took less than a minute to analyze every file and save every piece of information in it. Cain nodded before focusing again on cius, and his eyes glowed with red light as he cut off themand that stopped this one¡¯s sense of hearing. ¡°Is there any other portal or device where you store any more of your illicit activities or contacts?¡± cius could not resist the power of Cain¡¯s voice and answered immediately. ¡°No, everything is in the device in front of me.¡± Cain continued asking questions to cius, and some of the answers made his eyes burst with killing intent. Sometimes he wanted to rip the man to pieces but maintained control. ¡°Do you have any other crew working for you like the one destroyed half a year ago?¡± ¡°Yes, I have assembled a new group. They have been stealing some of the materials used in the reconstruction effort and storing them in the forest.¡± Cain was not surprised and made cius give him the exact coordinates before taking a capsule with a blue liquid. ¡°Drink it.¡± cius showed no hesitation as he took the capsule and engulfed its content. Cain returned the capsule to his space ring once cius had drunk until thest drop before speaking to the System Spirit. ¡°Apex?¡± ¡°The [Basic Scan Force Field] shows that the Wave Virus has reached his bloodstream. It will remain dormant for four days before inducing a cardiac arrest, corresponding toplications of the wounds he endured during the attack of the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses.¡± Cain could have easily shattered cius¡¯ head with a single strike or even made the manmit suicide, but both would generate a thorough investigation. However, a medicalplication in a man of cius¡¯ age and health was not that odd. People might suspect, but unless they brought a Grand Gic Coder to examine the body, no one would find anything. After everything was over, Cain took a deep breath as he pushed his Ego Wave and hypnosis abilities to their peak. ¡°You will wake up in ten minutes and forget everything that happened here. You will carry on with your life as usual.¡± Cain saw that cius¡¯ eyes lost focus as he ingrained thatmand into this one¡¯s mind. He was just an Elementary Hypnosis Master, and his orders would not remain long in people¡¯s minds. cius would forget this interaction, but he would begin to remember it in a few days. However, by then, he would have already died. Cain made sure to leave no trace of his presence in the room before leaving the mansion and, not long after, also leaving Rouk City. After taking care of cius, Cain had nned to return to the Imperial Lightning Fort, but he focused on the forest, and killing intent emerged in them. ¡®I am a hero. If I know evil is near, how could I not destroy it?¡¯ Cain shed into the forest, and once he was out of sight, he triggered his Wave Cloak and Lightning Armament. Chapter 148 - 148 Assassination (III) 148 Assassination (III) Cain knew the exact location of the gang that worked for cius, but he did not directly go toward them. He advanced deeper and deeper into the forest, reaching a ce packed with Level 3 Wave Beast, and there was no small amount of Level 4. If the gang were to die at the hands of a Wave Cultivator a few days before the Rouk City¡¯s Mayor, it could raise suspicion. However, no one would bother with a bunch of people who perished beneath the wrath of a Wave Beast. Although Cain would have liked to use his hypnosis powers tomand some of those beasts to do his work, things were moreplex. The mind of Wave Beasts was more straightforward than that of humans and other advanced races, which is why they were more resilient topulsion. Still, Cain was a 2-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, so he should be able to ovee the mind of a Level 4 Wave Beast if he gave his all. Nevertheless, there was a second problem. Wave Beasts¡¯ minds do not respond well tomands, and Cain¡¯s hypnosis was far from enough to influence others with a thought or intent. Cain had a n, and it was not long before he reached his destination, a small mountain range. ording to Apex¡¯s intel, this was the home of a Level 5 Wave Beast. Cain¡¯s eyes began to glow with red light as he activated his Red Hood. He stood at the foot of the mountain and took a deep breath before unleashing his Astral Wave at a 2000% Wave Burst. ¡°Boom.¡± ..... A small shock wave emerged from Cain¡¯s body as that st of Astral Wave threw gales in all directions. ¡°ROAR!¡± Less than a second after that surge of Astral Wave, a roar came from the mountains, and a Wave Beast began to descend from them. It was a gigantic bear-like beast, reaching almost two and a half meters in height, and metal tes covered every inch of its body. Cain stared at the creature as he adopted a battle stance, not moving a single inch. When the Wave Beast was less than two hundred meters away, his eyes glowed as the [Pseudo Cellr Analysis] waspleted. [Target scanned. ¡ª Race: Wave Beast Lineage: Obsidian Bear Path of Power: Wave Beast (Level 5) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 2.9 Agility: 1.7 Vitality: 2.1 Life Wave: 2.4] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw those stats, and although a battle was about to start, he did not activate his Nullity Armor. The Obsidian Bear¡¯s strength was impressive, making things moreplicated, but he was ready. Winning a battle against the Wave Beast would be easy for Cain. Even without Asura Form, he would be able to kill it, but that was not his goal. When the Obsidian Bear was less than fifty meters away from Cain, its Life Wave concentrated on its right w, making it burst into mes. The Obsidian Bear jumped toward Cain, leaving a crater in its previous position and attacking with its ming right w. ¡°BOOM.¡± A st echoed through the forest when the Obsidian Bear¡¯s wnded. There was a fierce expression on the beast when it saw the waves of mes sting in all directions. However, that fierceness vanished once the mes disappeared, and the Obsidian Bear saw that the human did not move and had blocked its attack with nothing more than his left arm. The Obsidian Bear was a Level 5 Wave Beast, so it had decent intelligence. It knew that humans like to use armor to enhance their weak bodies, which most beasts found despicable. Yet, the one in front of him faced it off with nothing more than his body. The shock in the Obsidian Bear¡¯s heart grew even stronger as he felt two red eyes reach his mind, throwing everything else into darkness. ¡°ROOOAAARRR!¡± The Obsidian Bear began to roar with all its strength as it resisted those red eyes and set aze both of its ws before attacking with all it had. Lightning arcs covered Cain¡¯s body as he moved his body just the right amount to dodge those attacks. His speed was not that far from the Obsidian Bear¡¯s, and his mastery over Lightning Armament was close to level 3. The Obsidian Bear attacked with absolute ferocity, but none of his strikes managed tond. It was frustrating that its ws always passed a few centimeters away from the human but could not truly reach him. However, the one thing that disturbed the Obsidian Bear the most was that no matter how the human¡¯s body moved, he never broke eye contact. Those two red eyes were digging deeper and deeper into its mind and increasing the mental pressure. It carried on for fifteen minutes, and the Obsidian Bear was already exhausted. The Wave Beast had immense strength, but its vitality was not that impressive, meaning its resistance was wed. That, plus the mental pressure of Cain¡¯s red eyes, pushed the Obsidian Bear to the limit in less than twenty minutes. Fear began to appear in the Obsidian Bear¡¯s eyes as it fought to catch its breath and saw that the man in front of it stood as if nothing had happened. Itcked the strength to run away and to continue fighting, which in the Wave Beast¡¯s society meant only one thing. Cain noticed the look in the beast¡¯s eyes and jumped onto its back. The Obsidian Bear¡¯s body trembled when it saw that and was preparing to receive a deadly blow, but nothing happened. The Obsidian Bear slowly turned its neck and saw the human sitting on its back with his legs crossed. He then pointed in a direction before his eyes burst with red light. It did not know what was happening but did not dare to disobey, and using what little strength it had left, the Obsidian Bear began to run in the direction Cain pointed. There was no need to hide their presence since they moved through the domain of the Obsidian Bear. Although that sight confused the other Wave Beast, none dared to get closer as their instincts warned them about the danger of the human with the red hood. After almost two hours of running, the Obsidian Bear felt a pat on its back and understood that it needed to stop. It then saw how the human got down from its back and began to walk forward calmly. The Obsidian Bear did not know what to do, but when it saw that the human looked back with coldness, it trembled before walking by his side. The man and the beast did not take long to reach a smallke beneath a waterfall. It was very shallow, and there was no presence of any other life form in the surroundings. The Obsidian Bear saw how the human pointed toward the waterfall, and upon focusing on it, the beast detected a hidden cave from where the scent of more than a dozen of men emerged. Cain took a fruit the size of a fist from his space ring and threw it toward the Obsidian Bear. The beast did not hesitate to swallow it immediately as it felt the fiery power in it. That fruit was the Fire Heart, something he got alongside his Blood Refinement Art from their of the Metal Hyena during the events that led to the death of Nira and Dimitri. Since he had ripped it ahead of time, making the Fire Heart lose most of its power. Still, it was more than enough to revitalize the Obsidian Bear and grant it a slight boost to its vitality. After devouring the Fire Heart, the Obsidian Bear felt full of energy and stronger than ever. Still, it did not lose focus and saw the red eyes still concentrated on it. The Wave Beast was smart enough to understand its job. Although more than a dozen people were inside that cave, it would rather fight all of them than enrage the monster by its side. Once again, a sense of wildness and ferocity appeared in the Obsidian Bear¡¯s eyes as it focused on the cave hidden by the waterfall before dashing toward it. A second after the Obsidian Bear crossed the waterfall and entered the cave, Cain heard the sound of screams and explosions. ¡°?AHHHH!¡± ¡°A Wave Beast!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°Fight!¡± ¡°It is too strong!¡± ?Help me!¡± ¡°Run!¡± Cain not only heard the chaos inside the cave but saw everything that had happened since he sent his invisible Ego Wave into it. That was not all he did since he had also disabled their rms, which is why none of them noticed their arrival. Although the group inside the cave had seventeen members, only three were Level 3 Wave Warriors, and most others were at Level 1. There was no way a force like that could face a Level 5 Obsidian Bear in such a narrow space like a cave. Cain turned around and left the forest while screams still rang behind him. None of those people would be able to escape, and there was nothing of value inside that cave, so there was no point in him wasting more time here. Chapter 149 - 149 First in all 149 First in all There was arge building in the Imperial Lightning Fort, and its proximity to the Titan Tower should tell everybody just how important that ce was. Unlike most buildings in the fort, where soldiers could go in and out without a problem, there were guards at the front gates, and their aura put them at the Wave Champion rank! It had two words unleashing an imposing power in the front, and every soldier would show deterrence when they looked at them. Military Investigation Bureau. The Military Investigation Bureau was in charge of all types of criminal investigations across the Copsing Lightning Sector, and their power was massive. A single order from them could deprive a Count of all their belongings and mark them as a criminal or, even worse, a traitor. They answer to no one but the Copsing Lightning Duke. The more serious the type of investigation done by the Military Investigation Bureau, the higher the floor where it would ur. Right now, on one of the lower floors, a group of five people was going through some files. ¡°The Mayor from Rouk City seems to have died from aplication of the wounds taken during the Dark Races¡¯ invasion.¡± The one that spoke was a man with arge belly. Despite his unaesthetic appearance, he had a thriving life force, making it clear he was in good health. ¡°Mmm, the coroner detected no foul y during the autopsy, but it is still odd for such a sudden death.¡± A very tall woman with a weird robe carried on, expressing her opinion. ..... The moment she said that the other four nodded and began to pay closer attention to the files, going through all the data regarding Rouk City over thest month. Seeing those five people work was an impressive sight. It was as if they shared a single mind and were open to all points of view, not discarding anything before doing a proper investigation. After thirty minutes, they looked at each other and nodded before dering that Mayor cius¡¯ death resulted from his wounds and no other party was involved. During their investigation, the death of the seventeen men in the forest near Rouk City caught their attention, but that group sent a request for help during the attack through their A.I. Chips and clearly stated that the cause was a Wave Beast. ¡ª While the Military Investigation Bureau grouppletely disregarded Cain¡¯s name, it spread among the cadets and soldiers in the fort like wildfire. The reason for that was pretty simple, the Pir of Strength and the Pir of Resilience¡¯s Cadet Rankings had changed again, and the new N¡ã1 was no other than Saint of Killers. That not only stunned low-level soldiers, but even captains were shocked due to that impressive feat. For the first time since the rise of the Pirs of Trial, a single cadet took first ce in all five! After the Pir of Resilience¡¯s Cadet Ranking had changed, arge crew had formed outside the Pirs of Trials, but they only caught a glimpse of Cain before he entered the Pir of Strength. Once Cain took the N¡ã1 position in the Pir of Streght¡¯s Cadet Ranking, there were thousands of people waiting to see him, but he seemed to have vanished. Cain walked calmly toward his residence as his presence seemed to vanish. He had no desire to exchange pleasantries with thousands of people he did not know, so he used Void Breath after finishing with the Pir of Strength and quietly returned to his home. ¡®My name must have reached every corner of the Imperial Lightning Fort by this point.¡¯ There was a smile on Cain¡¯s face as that thought crossed his mind. Poprity was not something that Cain cared about since his time in school showed him just how insignificant that was. The reason for his smile was that the rise in his fame would undoubtedly mean an improvement in his destiny, which would trante into Destiny Force. Cain did not believe even for a second that he could decipher the mysteries of destiny, but he knew that achieving impressive feats would help him, so he did them. It was already Sunday, and Cain prepared to sleep so he could be full of energy for tomorrow¡¯s ss. Still, before doing that, he reviewed the information recollected from cius¡¯ encryptedmunication device. The mysterious force never got face-to-face with cius. All their dealing went through the encryptingmunication device. That force provided cius routes to sell his stolen goods, ess to a hiddenwork where he could buy all sorts of illegal things, and even protection from the authorities to a certain point. In exchange for that, cius needed to hand over fifty percent of his gains and be ready to carry on with anymand the mysterious force would give him. cius had done business with the force for a long time, but eight days ago was the first time they sent him a direct order. He had to attend a meeting that would happen six weeks from now and wait for further instructions. Although that order was vague, and cius had no idea what would happen once he reached that ce, he knew that going against that mysterious force would be the same thatmitting suicide. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he analyzed all the information at his disposal. ¡®Nothing good happens when an underground organization calls for a meeting of their members.¡¯ He could take many paths, but the one that was out of the question was informing the authorities. First, there was no good way to exin how he got all this information, and second, such a mysterious organization must know how to cover its tracks. They would silence anyone that threatened their anonymity. Cain considered discussing this matter with Zarak, but he shook his head after some consideration. He knew that his Master would not care about him killing cius, but he also knew this one would not bother to move a hand to interfere with that meeting. ¡®Big fish care about big matters, and small fish care about small matters.¡¯ While to Cain, a meeting of people at the level of cius was very important, for someone like Zarak, it was insignificant. ¡®I still have time for the meeting to take ce. I will use this time to enhance my strength and skills so I can take care of whatever happens on my own if needed.¡¯ After deciding his path, Cain began to speak with Apex. ¡°Apex, do your best to gather all the possible information about where the meeting will take ce. Also, can you locate other encryptionmunication devices? I don¡¯t need the information in them, just their location.¡± The System Spirit remained silent for a moment. Cain waited since he knew this one was assessing the viability of the task. ¡°I can locate other encryptionmunication devices using the code left by the one used for cius, but to do it, I will have to use Destiny Force to enhance the [A.I. Chip Module]¡¯s powers.¡± ¡°How much will it take?¡± Cain did not immediately agree. Although he had nearly two thousand points of Destiny Force, each was extremely valuable. ¡°I will need around fifty to one hundred points.¡± Cain contemted for a minute before nodding. Going blindly to the meeting of an underground organization was one of the most stupid things one could do. While Cain wanted to prevent any dark scheme that would emerge from that meeting, his desire for justice was not so high that it could blind him and shut his survival instincts. ¡°Ok, then I will proceed with the hacking. I will inform you when I finish.¡± Cain nodded at Apex¡¯s words and knew he could thrust this one to carry on that task without w. With that problem out of the way, Cain finally went to his bed and drifted into unconsciousness. The sun had alreadye out by the time Cain woke up. He carried on with his usual ritual, bowing to his father¡¯s altar before dashing toward his ss. Cain reached the auditorium and saw that Orin was already there. The girl was very diligent, always arriving early. When Orin noticed Cain, her eyes narrowed. She felt the young man¡¯s strength had significantly grown, and the short hair on his head hinted he went through marrow washing. Just like everybody else in the fort, Orin had heard that Cain obtained the N¡ã1 position in every Cadet Ranking in all the Pirs of Trial. Orin was originally one of the cadets that hid their strength until Jonathan¡¯s test forced her to reveal it. Hence, she knew there were hidden monsters in the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. However, the girl seriously doubted that there was anyone among the cadets that could really face Cain head-on. Cain had no idea what Orin was thinking and did not really care. He just returned her nod before waiting by her side for Jonathan. Chapter 150 - 150 Test the limits of battle power 150 Test the limits of battle power Like always, Jonathan appeared out of nowhere in front of Cain and Orin the second the ss started. His eyes widened when he saw that Cain¡¯s cultivation had risen to Level 4 and that he went through another session of marrow washing. ¡®Originally, I thought his Wave Talent would hold him back, but it seems he had already found an answer.¡¯ Jonathan showed a small smile before focusing on the ss at hand. ¡°Today, I will teach you the arts of patience and adaptability. Both do not require great physical might or skills but a state of mind that can endure drastic changes, always focused and serene, not letting your emotions or even your instincts affect your judgment.¡± Cain and Orin showed solemn expressions as they heard that. Learning a physical skill, no matter howplicated, would always be easier than grasping an entire state of mind. ¡°For assassins, patience and adaptability are extremely important. You must be patient enough not to be tricked by your target into attacking before time and end in an ambush. You must also be adaptable to recognize the opportunities that present themselves in front of you.¡± Jonathan carried on with the ss, showing all types of cases where theck of patience and adaptability resulted in the assassin¡¯s death. He also taught the duo how to handle the stress and tension of such situations, so their minds would always be clear. Cain knew he had an advantage in this type of training thanks to his Ego Eternal Path of Power, having already reached Mind Over Body. Still, he was giving everything he had to learn as much as possible from Jonathan. The ss ended after roughly ten hours, leaving both Cain and Orin mentally exhausted. The duo nodded to each other before leaving for their respective residences. Cain used Embryonic Breathing to rest and spent the rest of the night cultivating before going to a new Gic Coder ss. ..... As usual, Cain and Camil would address subjects of Gic Coding that were too advanced for the rest of the ss. The other cadets were already used to it, so they only focused on their work and would ask for Camil¡¯s help from time to time. Cain¡¯s mastery over the Golden Vectors was growing better and better, but it was still challenging to advance. Just a 1% improvement in the w Percentage proved to be a monumental task. By the end of the ss, and thanks to Camil helping Cain solve most of his doubts, he was able to create a Golden Vector with a 7.5% w! Advancing from a 9% w to a 7.5% might not seem much, but doing it in a single week was incredible. Camil was truly shocked by Cain¡¯s talent, which was evident by the amazement in her eyes as she stared at the capsule with the improved Golden Vector. ¡®At this rate, he might be able to create a 0% w Golden Vector before the year ends and could delve into the realm of Grand Gic Coders!¡¯ Camil knew just how incredibly a fifteen-year-old Grand Gic Coder was, but she kept herposure. If she were to tell Cain just how exceptionally gifted he was again and again, that could affect the young man¡¯s drive. When the ss ended, Cain left alongside Lurin and Ophelia, and before they split apart, he gave each a Wave Virus. The duo once again felt awkward receiving such a valuable gift, but he had already left before they could say a word. Cain valued friendship a lot, and he made the ones he gave to the duo with a 0% Silver Vector, so they were not really that expensive for him. Although Cain focused mainly on Golden Vectors, he still created Wave Virus with 0% w Silver Vectors to sell them. Gic Coding training required a massive amount of wealth, but Cain could fix it by selling his creations. As the Young Lord from the Valentine Family, Cain knew he could ask Zarak for money, but he refused to do that. It was not a naive sense of arrogance, but he knew that if he did it once, it would happen again. Unless Cain always wanted to be reliant on Zarak¡¯s help, he needed to find his own way. Of course, if a serious problem were to happen where his life or the life of someone important to him was in danger, he would not hesitate and request his master¡¯s assistance. Once Cain reached his residence, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar, took a shower, and went to sleep. After waking up and feeling his body and mind refreshed, he extracted his Gic Chamber from his space ring and began creating an Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain. There were five Golden Vectors at his disposal, so Cain focused his mind on creating five Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chains. Once he finished, he focused on the best, and a slight frown appeared. [Enhanced Wave Drive¡¯s Gic Chain: Increase of Wave Talent by 9.3%] ¡®The best from thest batch was 9.2%. That meant I only improved 0.1%.¡¯ That almost null improvement bothered Cain a little, but he understood that even Grand Gic Coders would find it hard to reach the theoric limit of an Elementary Wave Virus. Cain focused and fused the Golden Vectors with the Gic Chains ording to their efficiency. He then took the best, injected it into his body, and underwent the process of adapting to the gic modifications. ¡®System, scan me.¡¯ A few seconds after Cain uttered thatmand, a virtual screen appeared in his sight. [Scanning Vessel ... ... -Vessel¡¯s ability to drive Wave has increased by 9.0% -Vessel¡¯s current Wave Talent is Low Tier 5] The improvements in the Golden Vector and Gic Chain allowed Cain to create a Wave Virus that could improve someone¡¯s Wave Talent by 9%. Cain nodded and stored the other four Wave Viruses in his space ring before adopting a meditative position and cultivating. ¡ª Weeks began to pass, and Cain honed his cultivation and abilities more and more. His abilities as an assassin had improved drastically, having mastered Void Breath to perfection. As for his Wave Viruses, he had already begun to create Gold Vectors with a 3% w. Besides his military specialization and Profession, Cain also made improvements in his Hypnosis Master Path and was sure that he was very close to bing a 3-Star Hypnosis Master. Cain had just opened his eyes from a cultivation session and saw how the wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass in his hand crumbled to dust. As he saw that, Cain almost burst intoughter and understood how far he hade. That wave crystal and Dragon Blood Grass was almost 20000 military credits, a sum that he could not even imagine when he had just entered the military academy. Yet, now his space ring was full of them. Cain regained his focus and concentrated on the rushing Astral Wave moving through his body. ¡®Thanks to my Wave Viruses and the effect of marrow washing, I have advanced extremely fast. My meridians have already begun to branch after piercing my bones and are ingraining themselves into my muscles. During Level 5, I will significantly boost my strength and speed due to the qualitative enhancement my muscle fibers will obtain once my Astral Wave goes directly through them.¡¯ Cain was delighted with his improvement and felt his strength should be enough to defeat Level 5 Wave Warriors without a problem, even if he faced several of them at once. However, something still disturbed him: the meeting organized by that mysterious underground organization that cius had to attend. ¡®There are still two weeks until the meeting. Apex already obtained the information of all those with encryptedmunication devices like the one held by cius and hacked into their agendas, making it clear they would also attend.¡¯ Most of the people attending that meeting were mayors and other civil officers. Cain did not fear any of them, but there were moreplicated figures like the son of a Viscount. And to make things worse, Cain had no idea who the mysterious organization would send. He would be entering the lion¡¯s den and whether he coulde up alive was yet to be seen. Cain took a deep breath and calmed as he considered what he would do. After a few minutes, a sharp look appeared on his face, and his eyes burst with a mighty red light. ¡®No matter what, I need to know what they are doing. People like that are capable of sacrificing anyone for their gains, even the most innocent of all. Whether I interfere or just gain information about their ns will depend on their strength during that meeting.¡¯ Cain decided his n of action and how to tackle this problem, but there was one thing he would do before that meeting. ¡®I need to test the limits of my battle power.¡¯ Chapter 151 - 151 Dread-Lightning Lion 151 Dread-Lightning Lion Deep within the Whisper Forest was an area covering dozens of kilometers packed with Level 5 Wave Beasts. These creatures were the leaders of giant packs with thousands, and sometimes dozens of thousands of underlings. On top of a mountain, gazing over all those Level 5 Wave Beasts, there was an even stronger creature. It was almost two meters tall, with golden fur that seemed more resilient than anymon metal, and lightning arcs revolved around him, unleashing an aura of destructive might and immense speed. That creature was the Dread-Lightning Lion, a Wave Beast with a Lineage that could help it rise all the way to a Wave Champion rank. The days of the Dread-Lightning Lion were calm, as it only had to unleash its aura to keep all other Wave Beast at bay and devour the offering its underlings would bring to it every morning. It would only face danger when facing other Wave Beasts that wanted to take its domain, but thanks to its strength, it never lost. Right from the start, the Dread-Lightning Lion felt that something odd had happened since its underlings had not brought him the morning offerings. Wave Beasts have a strict hierarchy, and any form of rebellion was punishable with death, so there was no way those Level 5 Wave Beasts would simply forget their duties. The Dread-Lightning Lion rose, and its Life Wave burst with power as it noticed a presence on the mountain right next to the one it was sitting on. Wave Beasts take great pride in their instincts and perception, so the fact that the Dread-Lightning Lion did not notice the human until now disturbed it greatly. The Level 6 Wave Beast focused on the human and saw it was wearing full ck armor with a red helmet. The one thing that drew its attention the most was the red lighting from his eyes. Although the human¡¯s sudden arrival shocked the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s heart, it survived thanks to its power and ability to control its emotions. ..... ¡°ROAR!¡± The Dread-Lightning Lion roared with all its strength, calling for its pawns toe. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that. There was nothing wrong with calling for reinforcements. Actually, it was the smart way to do things. However, most Wave Beasts were too terrified of looking weak in front of their pawns, so they would rather risk their lives than ask for help. Facing the Level 6 Dread-Lightning Lion would already be challenging, and doing it while dozens of Level 5 Wave Beasts attacked from the sides would be impossible. Luckily, Cain did not have to worry about it. When he arrived at this ce, the first thing he did was test the limit of his assassin¡¯s skills, and the result was impressive. The Dread-Lightning Lion saw that no one answered his call, and as it focused on its sense of smell, it detected a faint smell of blood in the air. Immediately, the Wave Beast¡¯s eyes widened as it understood what had happened. All its pawns, dozens of Level 5 Wave Beast, were dead, and the one that did it was so silent that no one noticed it until all of them had perished. It was clear to the Dread-Lightning Lion that the man in front of it was responsible for its pawns¡¯ death. That also provoked a sh of realization in its eyes, as the Wave Beast understood that running away would leave it vulnerable, and the only way it could survive was by killing the man now that he was in its perception. ¡°ROAR!¡± The Dread-Lightning Lion roared again, but this time it was not calling for help but unleashing every ounce of power inside its body, ready to take this as a life-and-death battle. A pir of yellow lightning burst from the Dread-Lighting Lion that rose more than twenty meters into the air, generating a picture that only natural phenomena could provoke in the Old World. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt the might of the Wave Beast, and he knew that if he were to underestimate it, even with all his gifts and powers, he might lose his life in this forest. ¡®Good!¡¯ Cain came to this forest to test the limit of his battle power, and the only way to find it was to face an enemy that could put his life in danger, a battle where a single mistake could mean the end. His Astral Wave burst with immense strength as he unleashed a 2000% Wave Burst, and his heartbeat was so strong that it generated a sound that echoed through the forest as he activated Asura Form: First Gear. That was not all, as arcs of blue lightning began to move across his body, simr to how the yellow ones did with the Dread-Lightning Lion. The human and the Wave Beast had Lineages that focused on lightning conversion. Still, Cain trained with a technique, giving his blue lightning the same power as the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s yellow despite the difference in their cultivations. Cain and the Dread-Lightning Lion increased their auras more and more, filling the air with arcs of blue and yellow lightning until they finally reached their peak and leaped toward the other. The two mountain peaks were almost fifty meters apart, but Cain and the Dread-Lightning Lion unleashed so much strength that they shed in the air without losing momentum. ¡°?Boom!¡± A yellow and blue lightning explosion appeared between the mountains when Cain and the Dread-Lightning Lion shed. Both used speed to enhance their strength, but the Wave Beast came on top during the first sh. The Dread-Lightning Lion showed a small smile as it saw that its w pushed the human¡¯s arm back, but it did notst long. Cain saw in Virtual Sight that he would lose the first sh with the Dread-Lightning Lion, which is why before the w sent him crashing down, he twisted his body and connected a ferocious kick to the beast¡¯s temple. ¡°Boom.¡± ¡°Boom.¡± Two small sts echoed through the forest once the human and Wave Beast crashed into the ground. The Dread-Lightning Lion rose from the ground with pain on its face since the collision harmed it. Unlike the Wave Beast, Cain¡¯s face showed nothing. He was not hiding his pain since right before the collision with the ground, he used Wave Focus and directed all of his Astral Wave to his back before morphing it into a soft substance through Wave Transmutation. Cain showed a small smile as he noticed the almost null damage he endured by disying an inhumane speed of control over the Four Basic Wave Arts. However, that smile did notst long as coldness and killing intent burst from his eyes when he focused on the Dread-Lightning Lion again. The Wave Beast noticed the human¡¯s gaze and answered with the same ferocity as it shed forward, ready to hip him apart with its ws. Cain did not simply wait for the Wave Beast but shed forward as the lightning around his arms grew denser. Less than a second after that, he saw a wing from above, ready to split him to pieces, but he dodged to the side while still moving forward. The Dread-Lightning Lion could not believe that the human had dodged its attack. One of the keys behind its power was its immense speed, but the human was even faster. Actually, Cain¡¯s speed was not faster than the Dread-Lightning Lion, even with Asura Form, but he used his martial skills and Virtual Sight to dodge that lightning w. Unfortunately for the Wave Beast, it did not have time to wonder about the secret behind the human¡¯s speed as a fist with immense strength, speed, and pration forcended on the side of its body. Cain saw how his punch sent the Wave Beast flying away, but he was surprised to see that it managed to recover control mid-air beforending on the ground and using its entire body as a torpedo. Even with his immense speed and martial skills, Cain could not dodge that attack, so he was forced to form a cross with his arms and focus all his Astral Wave in them to block that strike. The Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s head shed directly with Cain¡¯s guard and sent him flying away, breaking several trees in his path. A ferocious light appeared in the Wave Beast¡¯s eyes as it ignored the pain of its fractured ribs and dashed toward the human. Cain had weakened the damage of the collisions by covering his back with his transmuted Astral Wave. Still, the initial sh left an iron taste in his mouth, indicating internal damage. He then saw how the Dread-Lightning Lion bounced toward him with its w about to reach him. Yet, this time he was able to counter it. Just as the ws were about to reach him, Cain dashed forward and sent a kick toward the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s jaw, sending the creature back. Cain did not waste this opportunity and dashed forward, ready to unleash a barrage of strikes, but just as he was about to reach the Dread-Lightning Lion, he saw how the beast¡¯s body glowed. That glow made Cain¡¯s instincts scream danger. He immediately stopped his advance, tearing some of his muscles due to the inertia, before jumping back and covering his entire body with lightning. Less than a second after the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s body glowed, a st of immensely powerful yellow lightning emerged, discharging an extremely destructive force in all directions. Cain had escaped from the st¡¯s epicenter, but the yellow lightning would still reach him with enough power to ovee his defenses. Despite the massive drop in his energy pool that it would generate, he activated his Nullity Armor¡¯s ability, inducing a force field that protected him. The yellow lightning¡¯s st made Cain feel his entire body would melt, but thanks to all his protection, he escaped without receiving a lethal wound. ¡®That was close. Had I been in the core of the st, I would have died.¡¯ Chapter 152 - 152 Killing the Dread-Lightning Lion 152 Killing the Dread-Lightning Lion Cain¡¯s breath was rough, and although he avoided lethal wounds, the lightning st scorched the skin beneath his armor. ¡®That was a very close call. ording to my information, only Level 7 Dread-Lightning Lions have that Lightning st ability, but it seems this one is special.¡¯ Cain focused on the state of his body and understood that he had less than a fourth of his energy pool left. Surviving that Lightning st did note cheap. However, Cain knew he was not the only one weakened by that st. The Dread-Lightning Lion rose from the ground with a pale face, and the Life Wave around its body was in severe disarray. Unleashing an attack that could obliterate everything in a one-hundred-meter radius required massive energy and took most of the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s Life Wave. The Wave Beast and the Godyer Human looked at each other, and they saw the weakness in the other. However, they also saw their killing intent and knew this battle wouldst until one of them was dead. Cain shed forward at full speed, but his movements were odd. There were strange patterns in them that seemed to leave afterimages. He used his enhanced speed and assassin¡¯s footwork to confuse the enemy¡¯s mind. The Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s eyes widened with shock as its eyes could not show it the real one. Yet, it was wise enough to stop relying on its sight and focus on its sense of smell. The Wave Beast was sure that it could find out the enemy by his smell, but the next second an even greater sense of shock assaulted it. Its nose failed to pick up the human¡¯s scent! ..... Cain showed a cold smile as he noticed that. Void Breath was an extremely advanced assassin technique that could hide someone¡¯s scent. Before the Dread-Lightning Lion could get over the shock, Cain tackled it. He used all of his strength and momentum to bring the massive body of the Wave Beast againstrge boulders on his path, making deep wounds appear on its back. Cain was about to make the final sh against a small mountain when he noticed how the Dread-Lightning Lion opened its maws and attempted to bite his shoulder. He let go of the beast and jumped back to save himself from that deadly bite but ended up in an unstable position, leaving him open for an attack. The Dread-Lightning Lion did not lose that chance, and its right w burst with yellow lightning as it struck Cain¡¯s left arm, sending the human flying away. ¡°Boom.¡± A small explosion echoed through the forest once Cain shed against the mountain he initially wanted to ram the Wave Beast into. Despite the pain, Cain immediately rose from the crater made by his body and dashed back into the fray. His entire body rotated as he punched the iing Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s head, fracturing the beast¡¯s jaw. The Dread-Lightning Lion felt a pain like no other as its jaw shattered due to that punch. Despite having lost one of its weapons, its maws, it did not lose its fighting will since it saw the Godsalyer Human¡¯s left arm was not moving. Itsst w strike must have fractured the human¡¯s left arm, significantly weakening his fighting power. Cain noticed how the Wave Beast focused on his left arm but showed no emotion as he shed forward and sent a tornado kick. Using rotation and torque is how Cain could take full advantage of the Asura Form since those actions would transform speed into brute power. The Dread-Lightning Lion lunged and answered that kick with its w, generating a new st of yellow and blue lightning. It had won due to its superior strength during the initial sh, but things were different now. Cain was not jumping from one mountain to another, allowing him to deploy his true martial skills, and while it was easier and faster to strike with his arms, the strength that his legs could unleash was superior. He pushed away that w with his first kick, and once hended on the ground, he twisted his entire body again and sent a new tornado kick straight toward the Wave Beast¡¯s head. The Dread-Lightning Lion saw the immense strength behind that tornado kick and knew that if it were tond on its head, it could crack it. Relying purely on its survival instincts, the Wave Beast managed to move its body in thest second, allowing the kick tond on its right shoulder instead of its head. ¡°Ahhh!¡± A cry of pain emerged from the Dread-Lightning Lion as that kick sent it flying away. The Wave Beast did its best to stand up as soon as possible, but when it attempted to put some weight on its right leg, it almost fell to the ground. Thatst strike had broken its shoulder! Cain did not hesitate before shing forward with all his strength before the creature could adopt a stable posture. ¡°AHHH!¡± The Dread-Lightning Lion yelled with even more strength despite its broken jaw when Cain¡¯s right shoulder collided with its chest. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Blood leaked from the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s mouth as that blow provoked massive internal damage before sending it crashing against a mountain. Cain saw that the Wave Beast had difficulty standing up, and its Life Wave almost vanished and knew it was time to finish this battle. He focused on his right arm and made a fist before extending two fingers. His Astral Wave began to gather on his right arm as more and more of it transformed into lightning, making it appear like a lightning spear. The Dread-Lightning Lion only saw a blue sh before an arm covered in lightning pierced its neck all the way through. Its eyes twitched for a second before they lost their light, and the creature trembled for a second before dying. Cain did not remove his arm from the Dread-Lighting Lion as he began to mobilize Blood Refinement Art, using the Wave Beast¡¯s blood to fill his body with vitality and heal his wounds. The amount of blood essence Cain could obtain from a Level 6 Dread-Lightning Lion was massive. Even if Wave Beasts were inherently weaker than Wave Warriors, their vitality was just as mighty. Cain began to smile as he felt how the scorched skin began to peel off, and his left arm¡¯s fracture slowly healed. His domain over the Blood Refinement Art had grown immensely due to the daily practice, and he devoured everyst drop of blood from the Dread-Lightning Lion in less than thirty minutes. ¡®My wounds have healed, but my Astral Wave is almost empty. I will need more time before returning to my peak.¡¯ Before exploring the surroundings, he stored the Dread-Lightning Lion¡¯s corpse inside his space ring. Even if Cain left no blood in the Wave Beast, someone could still use its carcass for all sorts of Wave Artifact or drugs. Cain took a deep breath before focusing on his Ego Wave, making it invisible, and releasing it outside his body. Just like he always trained in Embryonic Breathing, he had not let go of his Free Ego training and had be very good at it. The domain of Wave Beasts usually had very special herbs and all sorts of cultivation treasures, so Cain wanted to explore everything before returning to the Imperial Lightning Fort. His Ego Wave could reach a radius of two hundred meters, and everything in it, no matter how small or hidden, would appear in Cain¡¯s mind as clearly as if he was holding it in his hands. Everything was fine at first, and Cain smiled from time to time as he found out all sorts of herbs and minerals in the mountains, but when his Ego Wave reached the crown of some trees one hundred and ny meters away from him, his eyes narrowed, and coldness emerged in them. However, Cain¡¯s coldnesssted less than a second, and his smile returned as he began to walk into the mountains, away from the trees. He was very careful and took his time to pick up every herb and mineral he could find. Those were all very valuable, so there was nothing wrong with his behavior. However, what was extremely weird was when Cain got down to pick a herb, and while giving his back to the forest, he took out a wave crystal from his space ring and put it in his mouth. Cain was very careful, mobilizing the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique very slowly so no one could see that his energy pool slowly began to fill up again with dense Astral Wave. ¡®There are five of them. Three are Level 4 Essence Wave Warriors, one is a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior, and thest is a Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior. By their clothes, I can tell theye from a Wave University. They most likely came to kill the Dread-Lightning Lion. The fact they are focused on me and have hidden their presence tells me all I need to know.¡¯ The coldness hidden inside Cain¡¯s heart grew even stronger as he got deeper into the mountains. Chapter 153 - 153 The right path 153 The right path The five students closely followed Cain, but their expressions were not the same. The trio at Level 4 showed apprehension, while the man at Level 5 was moreposed, but the look on his face showed he did not feel veryfortable with this. However, none of the four dared to go against their group¡¯s Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior. She was a young woman with green hair and vertical pupils. When the Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior arrived at this zone, she was surprised to hear those explosions. As she guided the group to move forward quietly, shock appeared when she saw such a young man fighting her mission¡¯s target. At first, she was just surprised, but greed appeared in her eyes after seeing how the young man killed the Dread-Lightning Lion before using the creature¡¯s blood to heal himself. The student knew that getting that technique would be almost impossible, but who knew what kinds of treasures were inside his space ring? If the young man were another student at her Wave University, she would not have been so bold, but that was not the case, and who could say he did not die at the hands of the Dread-Lightning Lion? The Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior was ready to deploy her jamming device once they were close enough to the young man. Even if this one was strong, the battle with the Dread-Lightning Lion should have exhausted him, and she had four more people by her side. Once the girl saw the young man getting deeper into the mountain, she pushed her group to move faster since that was a perfect ce for them to rain spells at him from high ground. The greed in the girl¡¯s eyes almost exploded as she activated her jamming device and reached the other side of the small mountain. Nevertheless, a sense of shock and confusion reced those emotions. The Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior had just seen the young man move to this location, but no one was there. She was not alone in her confusion since the other four also thought that they would see the man and had already charged their attacks. ..... Suddenly, the girl¡¯s eyes grew sharp as she made her Wave Cloak burst with all her might, generating powerful winds to cover her body. ¡°Watch out!¡± The only reason for the young man to vanish like that was if he already knew they were following him, so the girl immediately entered a battle state thinking that danger was imminent. When the other four heard the girl¡¯s words, they grew tense, thinking that the young man that single-handedly killed the Dread-Lightning Lion knew their intentions and would attack them. The Wave Cloak of the four exploded with immense strength as they pushed their perception to the peak, ready to answer any iing attack. Despite their young age, the five students adopted a tight battle formation that would allow them to enhance each other¡¯s strong points while covering their weaknesses. The five students remained like that for several minutes, but nothing came. Still, they did not lower their guard, as they knew that an attack coulde at any time, and the fact it had yet to happen only proved the enemy¡¯s patience. None of them knew that the man they were guarding against had already left those small mountains and headed to the Whisper Forest¡¯s exit. Cain could monitor the movements of those five with his Ego Wave, so it was very easy to vanish using Void Breath once he was out of their perception. At first, Cain had considered killing all of them after figuring out their intentions. Even if the one that drove them in that direction were the Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior when push came to shove, the other four would have still attacked him and taken his belongings after killing him. He even came up with a n. First, Cain would have hidden his presence and secretly hypnotized the three Level 4 Essence Wave Warriors. After that, he would have used the trio to create mayhem, and during the chaos, he would have attacked from the shadows, greatly wounding or even killing the Level 6 Essence Wave Warrior. As for the Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior, someone like that was no longer any threat to Cain. The only path for that man would have been dying under his might. Of course, things could always go south, but even in that scenario, he was confident enough in his skills and speed to at least run away with his life. Ultimately, the only reason Cain did not kill that group was that he did not need to do it. Not every interaction with a hostile force required him to obliterate them. The number of people that had shown animosity or even killing intent toward him was not small and would continue growing as he advanced on his path of power. Maybe killing that group would have filled him with vigor and some sense of justice since they dared to think of killing him, but a wave of problems woulde next. Investigating forces would surelye from that group¡¯s university, and since Cain did not hide the fact he came to this ce, it would only be a matter of time before they figured out what happened. Cain was no longer an orphan without any background. He was the most talented cadet from the Imperial Lightning Fort and the Young Lord of the Valentine Family, so he was not afraid people could twist the facts to make him the guilty party so they could use the power of the empire¡¯sws against him. The higher-ups from the Imperial Military Force would not let one of their most shining stars fall into some scheme. Yet, that would not erase the animosity he would gain from that group¡¯s Wave University and families. In the end, Cain chose to avoid the conflict. He would have only gained a faint sense of superiority if he had killed all of them, which was not worth it. Of course, if the group had wounded him or attacked someone he cared about in any way, no matter their background, Cain would have killed them all without hesitation. ¡°Hahaha, you are maturing really fast, brat. There is nothing wrong in killing an enemy, but jumping straight to murder when someone shows the most minimal sign of animosity only shows youck self-control.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice as he jumped from one tree to the other, making no sound. A small smile appeared on his face, and he knew that, for some reason, the praise of the System Spirit felt much better than anything he would have gained from killing those five students. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get to important matters. I have been going through the information we got from cius, and some things don¡¯t add up.¡± Cain¡¯s face grew solemn when he heard that. He knew that anything rted to that mysterious underground organization could prove extremely dangerous and needed to be careful about it. ¡°ording to cius¡¯ information, the meeting was only supposed tost two days at most, but some of the people attending it had free their schedule for entire weeks. What is also odd is that the ones with a shorter period of time are at the lower end of the list of people attending the meeting, such as mayors, civil leaders, and others like that. All the while, the ones with a more extended schedule time are at the higher end of the list, such as sons of Noble Families, army members, and Wave Universities students.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he analyzed that new information. He knew there were many reasons for something like that, such as the mysterious organization dividing the meeting into two parts, and those like cius only allowed for the first one. Still, Cain felt that the truth behind it was not so simple. ¡°I know I am missing something, but this new information doesn¡¯t change our n. Apex, have you already figured out the best target?¡± ¡°There are several that meet your requirements. I will send the information to you, so you can choose the one you like the most.¡± Cain nodded at the System Spirit¡¯s words. There was still a little more than a week before the meeting. That should be enough for him to take care of the finer details of the n and get ready. If Cain was honest, there was not a small part of him telling him to forget about this meeting and pass down the information to the authorities anonymously, but he also knew that would not fix anything. A solution like that would grant him only a little peace of mind. The danger was definitely considerable, but something deep inside told him that he could rise higher and higher by choosing this path. It was fine to avoid trouble as he did just now by not engaging with that group. What was uneptable was letting fear stop him from taking a path he felt deep inside was the right one. Chapter 154 - 154 Saharo City 154 Saharo City A special vehicle moved through the streets of arge city with more than one hundred million people. No matter who, all those that watched it would show respect and awe due to the crest engraved in the doors. It was a de covered in arcs of revolving water and belonged to the Samar Family, a Noble Family with a Count. A young man was inside the vehicle, and as he saw the expression on the people¡¯s faces, a nasty smile appeared. ¡°Hahaha, thosemoners are so ludicrous. Just my Family Crest is enough to make all of them vow.¡± The scion¡¯s looks were not that good, and the expression on his face only worsened things, but he did not care since no one outside the vehicle could see him. His name was Simon Samar, and he was Count Samar¡¯s seventh son. Simon Samar had always liked to look down on others as it made him feel superior to the rest, something he desperately needed due to his actual position in the Samar Family. Even if he was not the seventh in the line of session, all of his brothers and sisters were not only older but also much more powerful and talented. To be fair, Simon had a powerful bloodline as the son of a man that managed to be a Count, but hisck of effort and undisciplined nature made it very difficult to advance in cultivation. Despite Simon¡¯s Lineage and resources, he barely reached Level 3 at seventeen years old, and it seemed that he would fail to surpass the first cultivation bottleneck, preventing him from reaching Level 4. Although not all were the same, there was a lot of fighting in Noble Families, not just between the old generation that wanted to rise higher but also among the young scions that sought to hoard the best resources for them. ..... Someone like Simon, who did nothing but waste time and showed little to nomitment, was considered trash and left with the most basic resources. Of course, in Simon¡¯s mind, the disparity between the treatment of him and his sibling had nothing to do with him and everything with jealousy and envy of others. Luckily for him, a mysterious organization contacted him less than a year ago. They promised to provide him with all sorts of unique cultivation treasures and Wave Viruses in exchange for his loyalty and sharing his family¡¯s secrets. Simon did not hesitate to ept their offer. The fact he was essentially betraying his family did not bother him because, in his mind, they betrayed him first. The mysterious organization kept its word, and the resources they sent were so powerful that even though Simon barely trained a couple of hours a week, he managed to advance to Level 4 and was already on his way to Level 5. A few weeks ago, the mysterious organizationmanded Simon toe to a special meeting in a small city. They told him that he needed to free his schedule for a few weeks and that he would return to his family like a new man and get the respect he deserved. The mysterious organization had never lied to Simon, so he was sure they were telling the truth, and his blood burned with excitement and anticipation. As the vehicle left the city¡¯s gates and headed forward, Simion¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°The time for everybody to recognize just how amazing I am has finally arrived.¡± Simon uttered those words inside the vehicle as he looked at the only other person inside it. He was a middle-aged man with golden hair, a bulky body, and arge scar on his face. That middle-aged man was a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior that the Samar Family assigned as Simon¡¯s bodyguard, something verymon in Noble Families. Simon had no worries about revealing things in front of the man since the mysterious organization already took care of it. Although the bodyguard acted as always, there was amand imnted in the deepest part of his mind that stopped him from betraying Simon. Or at least that is what the mysterious organization told the scion. When Simon looked at the servile expression on the bodyguard, he showed an expression full of contempt. ¡°Hmph, Loras, you always acted so high and mighty despite being a mere bodyguard, and now I can do whatever I want with you.¡± The bodyguard only nodded at Simon¡¯s words, showing no resistance or other emotions. Having a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior as a ve made Simon feel amazing, and just as he was about to continue tormenting the man, it happened. ¡°?Boom!¡± The vehicle carrying Simon and Loras was dozens of kilometers away from the city when someone descended from the sky and crashed on the ground before them. Simon was shocked, and his mind froze for a moment as he did not know what to do. He had never faced any real danger in his life, so he was not able to react when he saw a man with ck armor and a red helmet appearing in front of his vehicle. The first thing that Simon thought to do once his mind began to work again was to call for help and send Loras toward the enemy, but suddenly he felt two red eyes focusing on him and throwing everything else into darkness. ¡ª A vehicle with Samar¡¯s Family Crest reached Saraho City. That was a small city surrounded by a scorching desert. There were not many resources growing in a ce like this, but there were also almost no Wave Beasts in the surroundings, so it was very peaceful. Due to the current technology of the Godyer Humankind Empire, an inhospitable environment like a desert could not make people¡¯s life difficult. Still, it was odd to have tourism, but hundreds of people have arrived over thest couple of days, and all of them were special in some way. Of course, the news that hundreds of civil officers and scions from Noble Families arrived simultaneously in Saraho City would have alerted someone, but 99% of them hid their true identities. Simon got down from his vehicle alongside a middle-aged man with ck hair and arge scar on his face. He looked at the surroundings, and as he saw themoners looking in his direction with awe, a contemptuous smile appeared on his face. After having enough of the people¡¯s gazes, Simon and the middle-aged man enter the finest hotel in the city. The scion had already made a reservation, and several beautiful women escorted him to one of the finest suites. ¡°Loras, you have one of the cheapest rooms. Wait there until it is time to leave.¡± Simon spoke those words as heughed with the women by his side. The middle-aged man nodded before focusing on the receptionist, who handed him a key. He then went to his room, and he adopted a meditative position once he reached it. A Wave Cloak covered his body, and the density and power of this one corresponded to that of a Level 5 Astral Wave Warrior. As he trained, parts of his Wave would morph into streams of water from time to time, matching the cultivation technique that the Samar Family gave to the bodyguard. Simon¡¯s debauchery and Loras¡¯ training were transmitted to a secret location in Saharo City by special cameras that were imperceptible to the naked eyes of Wave Warriors. It was not just their behavior, the one that was recorded, but the one of everyone in the entire city. Saharo City might seem normal on the outside, but it was much more than that. There was not a single corner of it that was not under absolute surveince. A group of fifteen people was in front of screens showing the movements of the hundreds that came to the special meeting. They recorded every single action they took in detail. An old man with golden hair and a stern look was supervising those fifteen special investigators. From time to time, special reports would arrive, and he would decide whether they were worth follow-up or should be dismissed. Suddenly, the old man¡¯s eyes grew sharp as he focused on a report and waved his hand, making a virtual screen appear in front of him. The more he saw, the colder the look in his eyes grew before a small smile appeared. ¡°So we finally got our first rat. He is pretty good, and if it were anyone else, he might have gotten away, but for someone like me with decades of experience, it is as if you were holding a sign telling me your real identity.¡± The old man wrote some words, ensuring special focus was on that specific individual before carrying on with his work. It would have been easy for him to arrest that person or even straight away go for the kill, but he did not do it. There were more efficient ways of handling people like that. Chapter 155 - 155 Into the belly of the beast (I) 155 Into the belly of the beast (I) Simon continued his days as expected, not giving any thought to his cultivation. Meanwhile, his bodyguard did what he was supposed to do, training and waiting for his master¡¯smand. Only two days after their arrival, Simon finally received further instructions and how he and his bodyguard should proceed. The duo gathered in the lobby, and both wore strange helmets that seemed to hide their identities. Simon might not be that smartest, but he knew that the meeting would involve not just the mysterious organization but also others like him that were working for it. The mysterious organization was extremely powerful, and Simon knew he had already sold their soul to them. Still, he did not want others to know his identity since that could prove dangerous. After all, if his family were to find out about his betrayal, they would kill him on the spot. Simon and Loras got into the elevator as instructed, but before they could touch one of the buttons, it began to move on its own and dashed down with a speed that even a Level 4 Wave Warrior would find shocking. It stopped after a few seconds, but Simon was sure they were hundreds of meters underground. Even with the current technological advancements of the Godyer Humankind, building an underground city was a logistical nightmare, so Simon did not expect much. However, a sense of absolute shock assaulted Simon once the elevator doors opened. As the son of a Count, he had seen a lot throughout his life, but that sight was incredible. It was a city, not any smaller than the one owned and controlled by the Samar Family. Despite being deep underground, natural light came from the ceiling, and the buildings were hundreds of meters tall. The one thing in which this city could be considered different from those above ground was that it had very few people living in it. That made sense, considering that this ce belonged to the mysterious organization, and there was no way they would just let anyone live in it. ..... ¡°My father is a Peak Wave Champion, and my great-grandfather became a Major in the Imperial Military Force thanks to his impressive feats against the Dark Races. It took all their effort, blood, and wealth to build our home, yet the mysterious organization did something even more impressive.¡± Simon clenched his fist as excitement began to run through his veins. ¡°I am sure this is just one of the many underground cities they have across the empire, and their hands might even reach all the way to the capital!¡± The idea of working for such a powerful organization made Simon¡¯s body tremble. He was sure that with their help, he could be the next Family Head of the Samar Family! The sound of doors opening, not too far away from him, woke Simon of his thoughts of grandeur, and he saw a coupleing from another elevator. It was a man and a woman, but both wore Cloaking Helmets, hiding their true appearance. Still, it was not enough to cover the woman¡¯s impressive figure. Simon could not stop looking at the woman, and his helmet did not hide the lust emerging from his entire body. The woman noticed it but only sneered before walking away with her guard, not paying any more attention to Simon. ¡®That bitch.¡¯ Simon grew furious as he saw the way that woman treated him. He had such a twisted mentality that he thought the woman should be grateful for his lust. Although the scion would have wanted to teach the woman a lesson, he did not dare to break the rules of this ce. Small criminal groups might be unorganized and act like savages. Nevertheless, any underground organization that managed to prosper to this level must have regtions, and they would enforce them with even more brutality than the empire itself. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Simon suppressed his wrath and spoke to Loras as the duo advanced to their final destination, arge building at the center of the underground city. They came across many people on their way, but none interacted with the duo. There was no fear in the citizens, but they kept away from anyone new. Simon attempted to remain calm, but the closer he got to therge building in the center, the more nervous he got. He had no idea what would happen next, and although the mysterious organization had provided him with many lucky chances, things could go south very fast. The path toward the building was long, and Simon could not take any vehicle toward it, having to walk. Anyone smart enough would have figured out that it was done intentionally by the mysterious organization since they could instill a sense of might in the people that came to this ce. After almost an hour of walking, Simon and Loras finally reached the building, and it was even more impressive when they were right in front of it. The entire structure was built with what seemed like an obsidian metal, and special surveince systems monitored every corner of it. Simon took a deep breath as he walked across the gates into the building. The interior was just as amazing as the outside, and when he entered, a young blonde woman with arge smile walked toward him. ¡°Wee. It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Lord. If you follow me, I will escort you to the tenth floor, where the meeting will soon ur.¡± Simon was taken aback by the woman¡¯s beauty and charm, and his body and mind instantly rxed as they heard her voice. Once again, the mysterious organization¡¯s schemes fooled the scion, and he did not realize the woman¡¯s effect on him was due to a technique. There was not much practical gain for the mysterious organization with this type of trick since Simon was alreadypletely under its grasp. The reason was to test the scion¡¯s mental fortitude and adjust their assessment of him. Simon did not even think of asking her name and was about to nod when his eyes lost focus for a second. It was very fast, and no one noticed it since he was wearing a helmet, but after it happened, an urge affected his mind. ¡°Before that, could you please guide me to the nearest bathroom?¡± The blonde woman was a little surprised by that request, but while it was odd to ask something like that at this point, there was nothing wrong with it. ¡°Sure. The man¡¯s bathroom is located on the hall to your left.¡± Simon nodded toward the woman and nced at Loras before both went toward the bathroom. The blonde woman¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the duo vanishing into the bathroom. The next second, a virtual screen appeared in front of her, showing both Simon and Loras using the urinals. There were several angles, so there was no way Simon and Loras could do anything inside the bathroom without her noticing it. She did not find anything suspicious in Simon and Loras¡¯ behavior, but even so, she did not let the duo out of her sight. That level of dedication and responsibility was something the mysterious organization honed in the woman¡¯s personality since birth. If that was the indoctrination they employed even in their lowest members, one could only imagine what those at the higher ranks went through. The woman saw Simon and Loras leave the bathroom, and she shut down the virtual screen when they were back in her sight. ¡°Sorry for the dy.¡± ¡°No problem at all, Young Lord. Please follow me.¡± The blonde woman kept smiling at Simon as she guided the duo toward a teleportation matrix. Simon was surprised when he saw the transportation method used in this building. Not even the home of his family had teleportation matrices. When it came to efficiency, they were not much better than a simple elevator, but they provided incredible security. You could shut it down, stopping invaders from going to the upper floors, or do it once they were already there, trapping them. Creating a teleportation matrix, even the most basic, required expertise that even Grand Wave Crafters did not have. That just proved the level of wealth and power of the mysterious organization. The blonde woman guided Simon and Loras toward the matrix and saw the duo vanish before going back to the entrance of the building. Simon and Loras saw an intense sh before appearing in a massive ck room. There were no windows or any other physical exit, and the only light source was shining spheres floating on top of them. There were already dozens of people inside the room, and many were using Cloaking Helmets. The rest also covered their faces, but they did it with robes or other devices that could only trick the human eye. Simon was curious about the people¡¯s real identity, but soon all his focus concentrated on the old man at the head of the room. Chapter 156 - 156 Into the belly of the beast (II) 156 Into the belly of the beast (II) It was not just Simon that focused on the blonde-haired old man. Everybody in the room soon turned to him since not only was he apanied by a dozen warriors wearing the same golden armor, but his own aura was shockingly powerful. The old man did not say a word and kept looking at the people present with eyes that seemed capable of figuring out their deepest secrets. More and more people were reaching the tenth floor of the building, and one way to split them would be the quality of hiding devices. It was clear that the ones with Cloaking Helmets possessed greater wealth. Everybody kept their distance from each other since even if they were working for the same organization, they were all criminals to a certain point. The blonde old man remained silent until the final person arrived. Only then did he unleash a wisp of his aura, drawing the attention of the entire room. ¡°Since everybody has arrived, let me wee all of you to Saharo City, the True Saharo City. My name is Ondo. I know all of you have questions about why we summoned you, and I will answer them in time, but before that, let me show you just a nce at the true nature of our mighty organization.¡± Those words unleashed an ominous aura in the room, making everybody nervous. Sadly, there was nothing they could do other than wait. Ondo took a blood crystal sphere of his space ring and then crushed it, unleashing a red shock wave that spread across the room at supersonic speed! ..... Simon was shocked by that red shock wave, and even if he was a Level 4 Wave Warrior, there was no way he could have dodged something that moved faster than the speed of sound. Luckily for Simon, the red shock wave did not harm him. Other than some slight difort, there was nothing wrong. ¡®Was he just showing off?¡¯ That thought crossed Simon¡¯s mind when he heard it. ¡°?AHHH!¡± ¡°HELP ME!¡± ¡°IT HURTS!¡± Simon¡¯s eyes widened as he saw people falling to the ground with an expression of utter agony. They were suffocating, and their skin turned red as they bled from every single orifice in their bodies. It was the first time Simon had seen something like that in his entire life, and his body could not stop trembling. Those people were enduring agony so immense that some were bashing their heads against the ground, hoping to end their lives faster. The idea that it could happen to him was more than Simon could endure, and he almost ran toward the magic matrix to get out of this building, but he saw that it was no longer active. ¡°I am trapped.¡± It was not just Simon, who thought that, but many others. The people in this ce were those willing to sell their souls to some mysterious organization in exchange for resources, taking the easy path. They were not exactly the prototype of individuals with great willpower. Yet, there were a few that managed to keep theirposure, looking straight at Ondo. Ondo watched the reaction of everybody, and the look in his eyes grew sharper and sharper. Every action he took had deep meaning behind it since the people in this ce were part of something that involved the full power of his organization. Actually, Ondo was unaware of the true purpose of what they were doing here, but he knew that the higher-ups considered this something extremely important, and they would punish any w with a fate worse than death. The people affected by the red shock wave stopped screaming, not because they were dead. The force inside their bodies paralyzed every muscle, making it impossible for them to emit a single sound. Still, the look in their eyes made it clear the agony had not diminished at all. Ondo unleashed his aura a second time once the screams stopped and focused on the people unaffected by the red shock wave. ¡°The reason why those people entered that state was not the red shock wave. That force only activated something that had already been inside their bodies for a long time.¡± Some people in the room showed shes of enlightenment when they heard those words, but others, like Simon, needed more information. ¡°The ones on the ground are civil officers that had epted the help of our organization for years. Many believe themselves to be special, but the truth is that they were the most dispensable of all our members. We altered all the cultivation resources they consumed, the same with their food and the air they breathed during the night. Slowly their bodies were transformed into cultivation furnaces. The red shock wave triggered the process, resulting in their current state.¡± Ondo saw how the people looked at him, and a small smile appeared. They were fearful of an organization that could poison people without them noticing it. However, the greatest feeling was apprehension since if they could do this to their members, what protected them from bing the next guinea pigs? Nothing in these people¡¯s minds could hide from Ondo¡¯s sight. He reached his current position, not due to his battle power but his intelligence and wisdom. ¡°All of you are.¡± Simon and the others were confused by those words, but Ondo carried on immediately. ¡°If you are wondering whether or not you are dispensable, the answer is that all of you are. No one in this room is irreceable to the organization, not even I. Those words might not be nice to hear, and you might even pity those in the ground right now, but what if I tell you that their sacrifice is so that all of you can rise to a level where even Wave Champion would only be a stepping stone!?¡± Ondo shouted thosest words, and immense greed reced the fear and apprehension in the eyes of the people. Bing a Wave Champion was an incredible feat, not only due to the power you could gain but also because your lifespan would rise exponentially. However, ording to Ondo, with the sacrifice of those on the ground, they could rise to an even higher level. ¡®?A Wave King!¡¯ Just the idea made Simon show a vicious smile. Although there was just one more rank, the difference between a Wave King and a Wave Champion was like the difference between a small child and a silver-back gori. The destruction a Wave King could unleash was enough to level entire cities with millions of people, and their lifespan could reach more than one thousand years! Even if it meant killing ten times more people, Simon would not hesitate to do it with his own hand if he got the chance. Ondo noticed the reaction of the people in the room and was not surprised. The reason humankind managed to secure its ce in Aether was their greed. ¡°Now, I will need all of you to follow my instructions to the letter as the process itself is very delicate, and even the slightest mistake could lead to a disaster. I will reactivate the teleportation matrix. We will go to the eleventh floor, where I will exin in greater detail what will happen to all of you and the key behind awakening a power that will allow you to rise into the sky like divine beings.¡± The people in the room turned toward the teleportation matrix, excited about what will happen next. As for those on the ground still riddled with unbearable agony, none of them mattered. Ondo was about to activate the teleportation matrix when his hand froze in the air. ¡°Oh, right. Before we go to the eleventh floor, we should take care of some pests.¡± Those words alerted Simon, and when he focused on the old man, he saw this one looking in his direction, and his entire body froze with fear. He did not know what was happening, but if Ondo saw something wrong, it could lead to him sharing the fate of those on the ground. Luckily for Simon, as he got a better look, he saw that Ondo was not focusing on him but on the duo behind him. It was the duo that he saw when he arrived in this room. The young woman looked back at Ondo, and unlike Simon, she was able to remain calm under the old man¡¯s gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are referring to, Sir. I received an invitation to this meeting just like everybody else.¡± She did not just use those words but also took out her Cloaking Helmet, showing her real appearance, hinting there was nothing to hide. Ondo showed an even greater smile when he saw how calm the woman was. ¡°Your disguise is wless, and you even find a way to simte the density and style of your target¡¯s Essence Wave. Just looking at you, and even if I were to scan your body, there would be no difference between the two, but you made a critical mistake. Your behavior, temperament, and aura are those of a seasoned warrior, not a pampered child that never worked a day in her life.¡± Chapter 157 - 157 Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior 157 Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior ¡°Your behavior, temperament, and aura are those of a seasoned warrior, not a pampered child that never worked a day in her life.¡± The people in the room were already moving away from the young woman after Ondo spoke those words. None of them had any connection with her, and they would not risk enraging such a powerful organization just for a pretty face. The young woman and her bodyguard were alone, but despite the overwhelming pressure, neither lost control. ¡°I am sure such a powerful organization like this kept an eye on all its future members and should have known that I spent thest six months in reclusive training. Solitude can change a person, especially if they rediscover themselves during that journey.¡± Ondo kept smiling as he heard that, and after a moment, he softly nodded. ¡°It is true that solitude can change humans. After all, we are sociable creatures.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes narrowed as she heard that. Ondo agreed with her, but the look on his face made it clear he still considered her a spy. ¡°The man by my side is my bodyguard, who you have hypnotized, so he would follow mymand without hesitation and never reveal sensitive information about me. However, I am sure that the primary directive in his mind is to be loyal to the organization. Since he kept following my orders, should not that be enough to prove I am who I say I am?¡± ..... After that, many people in the room began to look between Ondo and the young woman and were not sure that she was really a spy. Now that she mentioned it, they all turned toward their guards and understood she was most likely right. In that case, there was no way her bodyguard would still be by her side if she were a spy. The reasoning and wisdom in the young woman¡¯s words only made Ondo¡¯s smile grow wilder. ¡°You are impressive. How disappointing that you already sealed your fate bying to this ce. First of all, we hypnotize the guards so that they obey whom we told them, and if one of you had attempted to betray us, they would have killed you. However, if you trick them into thinking you are the person you supnted, they will obey you. Hypnosis is powerful but is not omnipotent, and mistakes can happen. At the end of the day, it is like I say. Everything falls into your behavior. Habits that you don¡¯t even know you have.¡± Ondo waved his hand, and a virtual screen appeared on top of him, showing the young woman entering her room. There was one segment that repeated over and over again. It was the moment she closed the door and immediately took a step to the side. ¡°Every time you enter a room, you move your body outside the door, positioning yourself behind the frame, the most solid point in the structure. That would save your life if an attack came from behind the moment you closed the door. You did it with speed too fast to be a movement you recently learned and must have been ingrained in your behavior to the point that it became an instinct. Now, how could a pampered child that spent thest six months in reclusive training could have learned that?¡± The moment Ondo finished with his words, the guard beside the young woman unleashed his Wave Cloak and pushed his Wave Burst to the limit before punching forward. That attack was ferocious, and gales around the guard¡¯s body enhanced his speed, but they did not end there. A sharp wind revolved around his arm, transforming this one into a drill that shed toward the young woman¡¯s head. Simon was the closest to the young woman and could feel the might of the guard¡¯s Astral Wave. ¡®His Astral Wave is much denser than mine or Loras. He is a Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior!¡¯ Simon was shocked as he realized the man¡¯s strength, making him wonder just what type of Noble Family would give a guard with such power to some low-level scion. That only made Simon even more curious about the spy¡¯s identity and that of the person she was supnting. Even if he saw her face, that did not mean he would know who she was. After all, the Copsing Lightning Sector was gigantic, with hundreds if not thousands of Noble Families. Everybody expected that the guard¡¯s tornado fist attack would kill the young woman since her aura was average, and she did not seem particrly strong. However, just as the fist was about tond, her eyes grew cold, and her true aura exploded. An Essence Wave that sent the entire room into chaos burst from the woman¡¯s body and gales even more potent than those of the bodyguard covered her body. She skillfully took a step back, dodging the tornado punch and putting some distance before raising her fist. It happened extremely fast, and the only thing the scions in the room saw was the young woman raising her fist before opening her palm and unleashing an invisible force that projected the bodyguard toward a wall at shocking speed. There was a massive indentation in the bodyguard¡¯s chest, and he was bleeding from his eyes and ears. Whether or not he was alive was hard to tell, but that mattered little to this point for the scions. They only cared that the young woman neutralized the Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior in a single attack. Simon saw that, and before he could figure out what was happening, Loras grabbed him and jumped back toward the teleportation matrix. Loras¡¯ behavior was not odd as the bodyguards of everybody else did the same, protecting their masters. Simon was terrified of the young woman, and the idea he could endure the same fate that her bodyguard made him want to run. Suddenly, his eyes lost focus for a second, and panic filled his heart. ¡°Activate the teleportation matrix!¡± Simon shouted as he mmed the matrix on the ground, hoping to activate it and leave the room. Ondo only sneered as he saw the cowardly behavior of Simon, and when he saw this one mming the teleportation matrix, killing intent appeared in his eyes. For the old man, the building¡¯s teleportation matrix was much more valuable than any of the scions in the room. Still, he did not lose focus since all of them were valuable, even the spy. ¡°Level 7, no. You are a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior. You must be pretty talented and hardworking to have taken that path instead of directly advancing to Wave Champion.¡± The young woman¡¯s aura was bursting with immense power, but she knew she had little time and had to run. If she did not leave the building fast, she would remain trapped in this underground city for the rest of her life. She nced at the teleportation matrix that was the only way to get out. Unlike the foolish behavior of Simon, she knew that hitting it would be useless, and the only way to activate it was by taking control of it. Ondo saw how the young woman¡¯s Essence Wave grew even stronger as she dashed toward him at a shocking speed. He did not even have to say a word before the seven golden guards by his side shed forward. The youngsters in the room were shocked once again as they saw that the seven golden guards were all Level 6 Astral Wave Cultivators. A golden me set their bodies aze, pushing their aura to an even higher level! When the young woman saw the strength of the seven golden guards, a solemn expression appeared on her face. She did not hesitate before taking a two-edged sword with a narrow pointed de. When she was thirty meters from the group, her Essence Wave focused on the rapier as she waved the weapon to the ground. The next moment, dozens of needles made of highlypressed air appeared in the ceiling before falling to a shocking speed toward the seven golden guards. The Astral Wave Warriors were forced to stop their march and raise their guard, focusing their golden mes in their arms to block those air needles. Although mes were not known for their defensive power, and that attack drained a significant part of a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior¡¯s energy pool, the seven Level 6 golden guards were able to block it without suffering serious injuries. It was clear that those golden mes were special to allow a Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior to show such power. Nevertheless, the young woman knew that could happen, and the sole intent of her air needle was to stop the march of the golden guards. She advanced until being less than five meters away from them before raising her left fist and then opening it. Like before, the woman unleashed an invisible force, sending the seven golden guards flying away. The golden guards¡¯ condition was much better than her bodyguard, maybe due to the young woman having to split her attack between the seven or the protection of the golden me. She knew that attack would not be enough to kill those seven golden guards, but it would give her enough time to reach Ondo, who was now unprotected. Chapter 158 - 158 Puppets 158 Puppets The young woman¡¯s Essence Wave erupted with even greater power as she focused it on her rapier and thrust forward. She did it not only once but four times, and for each, a tornado-like attack burst forward. Those tornadoes were aiming at Ondo¡¯s arms and legs. Although the attacks would not kill him, they would maim the man, granting the young woman the chance to take control of the teleportation matrix. Ondo saw those powerful tornadosing his way, and while he kept smiling, his eyes were solemn since the tornadoes¡¯ strength could cripple him. He took a deep breath as he unleashed the full might of his Essence Wave, and the power in it was much denser than what a Wave Warrior should have. Simon and the other youths in the room were shocked to realize that the old man was a Wave Champion. The young woman with the rapier also noticed that, but there was no fear in her gaze. Althoughmon sense dictated that a Wave Warrior could never defeat a Wave Champion due to the massive difference in their energy pools, cultivation had never been such a narrow path. You could not determine the victor of a battle merely by the amount of Wave inside their bodies. Ondo also knew that which is why he took this battle so seriously. Just as the tornados were about to collide with him, something emerged from his space ring, positioning itself right in front of him and blocking the attack! The young woman¡¯s eyes widened when she saw that something had blocked her attack easily. Immediately, her instincts screamed with danger, and she jumped back. ¡°?Boom!¡± ..... Just where the woman had been a second ago, a palmnded with so much force that it unleashed a booming shock wave. The responsibility for that attack fell on a bulging humanoid creature covered in scars, measuring more than two meters tall. ¡°Impressive. It has been a long time since I had to get involved in a fight.¡± Ondo spoke toward the young woman, and a burning Essence Wave covered his hands. Thousands of tiny threads emerged from his fingertips and reached the bulking humanoid creature, granting him control. He did not say anything else before his finger twitched. The movements were minimal but made the bulking humanoid dash toward the woman with immense momentum. Despite its massive body, the humanoid creature was incredibly fast and reached the young woman instantly. It raised both of its arms before bringing them down with immense force. That bash had the strength to shatter every bone in her body, but the young woman managed to dodge the attack in thest second before countering with her rapier. The winds around her body gave her impressive speed, but her rapier failed to surpass the defenses of the bulging humanoid. She constantly tried to distance herself from the enemy since a melee battle would not suit an Essence Wave Cultivator like her. Unfortunately for the young woman, the humanoid was just as fast as her and attempted to bash her into the ground again and again. Simon¡¯s eyes glowed with thrill and awe as he saw that battle. A burning desire moved through his veins as he saw that bulging humanoid¡¯s power and how Ondo controlled it safely from a distance. For a coward like Simon, who desired power more than anything, controlling a puppet was the perfect battle path. Of course, the scion did not take into consideration the insane level of dexterity needed for that path or that it was almost impossible to take it being an Astral Wave Cultivator. He was ready to ask for it once all this was over and became a proper member of the mysterious organization. After all, they would give him a path to the Wave King rank, so the puppet technique was nothing important. Ondo knew that many of the scions were impressed by his unleashed power, but their thoughts could not matter less to him. Right now, he only cared about neutralizing the woman, which was proving more challenging than he initially believed it would be. Luckily for the old man, the bulging humanoid had finally cornered the young woman, and there was no were to run anymore. Ondo smiled as he controlled the bulging humanoid tounch a palm strike toward the young woman. That attack was not strong enough to kill her but would do enough damage so that she could not fight anymore. However, just as everybody thought the fight was about to end with the young woman defeated, a burst of wind sted the bulging humanoid creature to the other side of the room! A sense of utter shock appeared in Ondo¡¯s eyes when he saw how the young woman sted his puppet away. Still, he regained his focus the next second, proving the might of his willpower. The old man saw how the wind revolving around the young woman grew denser and adapted better to her body. It was as if another force was enhancing her spells. The young woman did not stand still, and immediately after pushing the bulging humanoid out of the way, she shed toward Ondo with speed much faster than before. Ondo¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the young womaning toward him like a force of nature, but he kept calm and analyzed everything. He did not know the exact source of the new power in the woman, but the extreme focus on her face and the slight sense of urgency gave him a hint of what it might be. The young woman was almost close enough to unleash a certain death spell on Ondo when seven figures bathed in golden mes dashed toward her. The seven golden guards she had defeated before had managed to return to battle, and they attacked her with everything they had. Although the rest of the people in the room could not say for sure, the way those golden guards acted without fear of death hinted that they were possible under some type of hypnosis. The young woman did not care about those guards¡¯ circumstances since her life was on the line right now. She waved her rapier down, generating air needles that fell from the ceiling just like before. Nevertheless, this time there was a special force enhancing those air needles, granting them enough power to prate the golden guards¡¯ defenses. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Cries of pain emerged from the golden guards as the air needles pierced their bodies, riddling them with deep wounds. Some were unlucky, and the projectilesnded in their heads, killing them on the spot. The young woman shed past the golden guard after neutralizing them. Just as the unique force enhancing her power was about to vanish, she unleashed a final spell by gathering all her Essence Wave into her rapier and thrusting it forward. A tornado emerged from the rapier with a strength more than five timesrger than the one she unleashed before and headed straight toward Ondo. Initially, the young woman wanted to capture the old man alive in case this one had a special way to activate the teleportation matrix and also to use him as a hostage. She could no longer afford that luxury and would just have to find the key to the teleportation matrix in the old man¡¯s corpse. Unfortunately for the woman, Ondo brought another puppet from his space ring before the tornado could connect. This time it was a fat creature with a repulsivelyrge belly. The tornadonded on the creature¡¯s body and began to drill into it, sending flesh and blood in all directions. Although the attack left a massive hole, the puppet fulfilled its purpose and protected the old man. The young woman was shocked to see another puppet. She knew just how valuable those creatures were and did not think Ondo would have two of them. Before she could even consider her next step, the bulging humanoid appeared by her side. The puppet had a deep indentation on its chest that affected its movements, but its body still had immense strength. Ondo had retaken control of the bulging humanoid puppet while the young woman focused solely on thest tornado strike. A palm strikended on the young woman¡¯s body, sending her crashing against a wall while puking blood due to the severe internal damage she had just received. Ondo immediately dashed toward the young woman. Taking advantage of the fact she could not move, he put a device resembling a cor on the back of her neck. The artifact sent an electric shock into the young woman¡¯s body, leaving her unconscious and ensuring she would remain that way. It was only then that Ondo was able to rx. He looked at the dead golden guards and his wounded puppets and could not help but sight. ¡°I miscalcted her power. Who would have thought that such a young woman could cause so much damage.¡± Ondo did not hide his words, so the other people in the room heard him, but he did not care and was just venting out a little. Chapter 159 - 159 Guinea pigs 159 Guinea pigs Ondo could not help but sigh as he figured out how much he would spend to fix all the damage the fight caused. Four of the seven golden guards were dead, and both of his puppets were severely damaged, with thest one so broken that it would be a miracle if it could be fixed. Although the old man was annoyed, he remained calm and carried on with his duties. He grabbed the young woman and put her on his shoulder. ¡°I might have lost a lot, but a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior with the ability to summon the power of the Law of Wind is a fair trade.¡± Ondo then turned to the rest of the youths in the room with a stern expression. ¡°All of you gather in an orderly line so we can move to the 11th floor. I am not in the mood for questions or dys.¡± None of the youths dared to question Ondo and immediately did as he told them to. The old man was a Wave Champion with powerful puppets under his control, and none of them could face him. Once the youths were ready to advance to the 11th floor, Ondo waved his hand and reactivated the teleportation matrix. Immediately after that, the teleportation matrix began to glow, and people withb coats emerged. They did not say a word before moving toward the people bleeding from their eyes on the ground. Simon almost forgot about the civil officers turned into living furnaces due to the shock of the battle between Ondo and the young woman. Those people were supposed to help him and the others to obtain the power to be a Wave King, but he had no idea what would happen to them. ..... Ondo did not interrupt the scientists and led the youths into the teleportation matrix, moving all of them to the 11th floor. Unlike the 10th floor, which was a white square with nothing on it, there were dozens of people and all sorts of scientific equipment on the 11th floor. A moment after Ondo and the youths arrived, an old woman with a hunchback and wearing a mask walked toward them. She nced at the youths, and finally, her eyesnded on the young woman on Ondo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She seems a little special. As for the rest...¡± The masked woman did not say anything more before walking away. The youths could feel the disdain in the masked woman¡¯s voice, but there was no way out at this point. If they were to try to fight back or run, Ondo would not have to do anything, as their own guards would take care of them. Ondo nced at the youths, and they all followed the masked woman to another room on the 11th floor. There were no people in the new room, but there were eighteen Recovery Capsules, one for each. However, what truly drew the youths¡¯ interest was the giant cauldron behind the capsules. The cauldron was not a fairy tail artifact, old and full of cracks, but a metallic construct with all sorts of intricated matrices. As for the reason why the Wave Crafter chose to give it that form, no one knew. ¡°Listen up, and listen carefully. I am not fond of exining my experiments, especially to a bunch of children who cannot understand their magnificence, but your chances of sess will improve if I do it.¡± Although the words of the masked woman were humiliating, all the youths focused their attention on her since this could determine whether they lived or died. ¡°You will enter the Recovery Capsules. After that, a refined bloodline will fill the capsules before coursing through your body. Your genes will enter a state of elerated mutation, trying to adapt to the new bloodline. If you seed, you will awaken a new Lineage, one with the power to raise your talent to the Wave King level.¡± The masked woman paused at this point and turned toward the youths, who were full of excitement and thrill. There were many ways to improve your talent, but the most basic one was obtaining a powerful Lineage. Unlike the enhanced talent granted by forming a solid foundation during your cultivation, you did not need to work for a Lineage, something really in tune with these youths¡¯ personalities. They would only need to let their bloodline enhance their bodies and energy pool by eating and sleeping. Ondo saw the exhration in the youths, and he almost shook his head. If obtaining such a powerful Lineage were so easy, why would the mysterious organization give it to a couple of brats thatcked discipline and not to its own members? Of course, the blonde old man did not say a word, and if these youths wanted to live in fantasynd, he would let them. ¡°I will warn you, the process can be extremely painful, but you must do your best to remain conscious and guide your genes to adapt to the new bloodline instinctively. If you fall unconscious, the chances of sess will drop significantly.¡± That was thest thing the masked woman said before waving her hand and opening the Recovery Capsules. Some youths knew the woman must be hiding something from them, but there was little they could do at this point, and it was clear she would not be answering questions. ¡°Take out your clothes and get into the capsules. The men first and then the women. The crystal of the Recovery Capsules will turn opaque once closed, so all of you don¡¯t have to worry about people looking at your naked bodies.¡± The masked woman did not really care about the sense of purity of these youths, but things would go better if they were rxed. She did not waste time and made all men undress and get into the Recovery Capsules. Once the men were inside the capsules, they scanned their bodies and sent the information to the masked woman¡¯s A.I. Chip. Their information appeared immediately in front of her, except for one that had a dy of one second. The masked woman frowned when she saw that and turned toward the youth whose information had a dy. Simon began to tremble when he saw the masked woman focusing on him, and he attempted to cover his body awkwardly. When the masked woman saw Simon¡¯s cowardly behavior, she rxed since there was no way someone like that could be tricking them. She waved her hand, and the capsules closed before the crystal turned opaque. It was then the turn of the women. They removed their clothes as fast as possible before getting into the Recovery Capsules. Ondo undressed the young Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior before putting her into a capsule. He looked at her for a moment, but there was no lust in his eyes, only a contemtive light. In the end, the old man only shook his head and decided against taking out the Paralyzing Cor in the back of her neck. Although her probabilities of sess were almost null if she was unconscious, Ondo knew she would try to get free the moment she woke up, and her power might grant her a chance. The Recovery Capsules with the women closed down, and the moment that happened, scientists began to enter the room with stretchers carrying the living furnaces. One of the scientists, a young man with two vertical scars above his eyes, walked toward the masked woman and bowed before speaking. ¡°Lady Morgana, there are a total of one hundred seventy-two living furnaces. Should we process?¡± As soon as the masked woman nodded, the scientists began to throw the naked living furnaces into the giant cauldron before connecting this one to the Recovery Capsules. The giant cauldron began to glow as its magic matrices got into effect, and its interior began to reach an immense heat. It was impossible to say what was happening to the people inside the artifact, but it did not take long for a potent smell of blood to inundate the room. All those people that the mysterious organization had transformed into living furnaces were in unbearable agony, so no matter how scorching the heat was, surely they were all happy the pain finally ended. The scientist with the scars and two more remained in the room, watching the giant cauldron while the rest grabbed the stretchers and left. Minutes passed, and the scent of blood became more and more intense. Before long, a red liquid emerged from the cauldron and began to fill the eighteen recovery capsules. None of the youths knew that the new bloodline circting inside their bodies came from the living furnaces. Although it was not the same, they were consuming the blood of other humans, technically making them cannibals. Less than a minute after the capsules were full, groans of pain emerged from them, and they grew stronger. ¡°Come on, my little guinea pigs. The more you endure, the more useful data I will get.¡± The masked woman smiled as she stared at the Recovery Capsules and the data reaching her A.I. Chip. Chapter 160 - 160 Holy Child 160 Holy Child ¡°Morgana, I am curious. Just what type of chance do they have of sess?¡± Ondo spoke as he looked at the giant cauldron sending more and more blood into the Recovery Capsules. ¡°Hahaha, sess? There is none!¡± The masked old woman could not help butugh as she heard Ondo¡¯s question. That answer surprised Ondo. He knew that they were experimenting on these youths, and they were all disposable assets, but the fact there was no chance for them to seed surprised and confused him. Morgana saw the curiosity in the blonde old man¡¯s eyes, and since she was in a good mood, she chose to share a little. ¡°This is just the first clinical trial of the First Phase of the Olympus Project. The sole goal of this experiment is to gather as much information as possible from them so we can use it in the second clinical trial, and so on.¡± Ondo¡¯s eyes widened a little as he heard that, and the curiosity in his gaze only increased. Whatever the Olympus Project was, it involved massive resources and manpower. Luckily for the old man, for the first time in a very long time, Morgana found herself in the mood to chat, so she continued speaking. ¡°The bloodline running through the youths¡¯ bodies generates all sorts of chances in their genome. Most of them are mistakes that will lead to systemic failures and diseases, but some are beneficial and part of the Lineage that corresponds to that bloodline. ..... Our job is to map the genome of these eighteen. We must record the Lineage¡¯s genes they had awakened and figure out the ws so they will not happen in the subsequent clinical trial. Most of them will die in around a week due to the umtion of gic ws, but it doesn¡¯t matter. The lucky ones will survive, but their bodies will slowly crumble due to the damage in their genes. We will send those still alive to their homes since they could give us more information. If they think they can live, their bodies could find a way to adapt. Although the chances are small, miracles happen in science.¡± Morgana smiled as she thought of the magnificence of this experiment. As someone that dedicated her life to Gic Coding, this was her dream job. ¡°Ahh, I wish I could know more about this incredible Lineage we are searching for, but sadly I am only part of the First Phase. After it is over, my involvement in the project will be over. It seems that my Gic Coding abilities are not enough.¡± Ondo thought he had just heard wrong as thosest words did not seem possible. ¡°How can that be true!? Although your age makes long hours of work hard, you are a Quasi-Saint Gic Coder.¡± Ondo did not care that his words revealed some secret since there were only Morgana¡¯s three disciples and the brainwashed bodyguards. Morgana sighed as she heard that and shook her head. ¡°Although they gave me little information, the ones in charge of the Second Phase of the Olympus Project will be Saint Gic Coders. I could have be an assistant with my Quasi-Saint Gic Coder credentials, but my frail vitality makes it impossible. It doesn¡¯t matter. Being a small part of this project will be the most outstanding achievement of my life!¡± The voice of the masked woman filled with energy as she spoke thest part. She was ready to give everything she had in this clinical trial. ¡°This useless garbage spent their life without giving anything back to the world. They should be grateful that their life will finally have meaning.¡± Morgana¡¯s eyes went to one of the bodyguards on the ground. He was the man that came with the Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior and ended up severely injured. ¡°Cristian, toss him into the cauldron. Since that girl can not leave this ce alive, there is no point in this bodyguard keeping his life. It is better if we used him as fuel.¡± The scientist with the scars in his eyes nodded. Without hesitation, he undressed the bodyguard before tossing this one into the cauldron. ¡°All bodyguards, stand before the capsules of your masters.¡± As soon as those words left Morgana¡¯s mouth, the seventeen bodyguards in the room moved. ¡°If the people they need to protect perish, toss them into the cauldron. I will go to sleep now. It might take me two weeks. You will be in charge until then. I expect to see urate data when Ie back.¡± Although sleeping for a couple of weeks might sound odd, Cristian and the other two scientists only bowed toward Morgana. Morgana trusted that her students would do a good job, and she left along with Ondo, who had other assignments in the city. Cristian and the other two scientists were extremely diligent with their work, analyzing every piece of information that reached their A.I. Chips and discussing it among themselves. The way the trio discussed Gic Coding was unlike what one could find in a ss administered by the Imperial Military Force. They described procedures that broke any ethics code and were truly cruel. Although the concept of ethics in the Godyer Humankind Empire was unlike the one spread across the Old World, where the idea of a divine being looking over us affected our decision-making, there was still a consensus around it. Using human lives to figure out Gic Chains was a clearly hical use of Gic Coding. Yet, the mysterious organization for which the trio worked did not have a problem with it. The days passed, and the screams inside the Recovery Capsules grew louder, and it was clear that some of the youths inside were at thest leg. One of them was about to fall unconscious due to the pain. The first one that would fail was no other than the seventh son of the Samar Family, Simon. His willpower was so weak that he could no longer resist the pain and only wanted to give up and forget everything. Cristian heard Simon¡¯s screams stop, and then he saw on his A.I. Chip that this one had fallen unconscious. He simply shook his head before walking toward the scion¡¯s bodyguard. Since Simon fell unconscious so soon, the chance that he could endure until the clinical trial was over was zero. That is why Cristian was about to toss Loras into the cauldron full of boiling blood. Just as Cristian was about to grab Loras¡¯ body, his eyes unleashed a red light that no one in the room noticed. Cristian was starting to undress Loras when he saw in his A.I. Chip that Simon had woken up. He was confused, but after hearing the scion¡¯s screams renewed, he returned with the other two scientists and continued his work. ¡ª Cristian did not know that currently, inside Simon¡¯s mind, there was an ancient voice shouting at full power. ¡°Holy Child, you must endure this agony and carry on. A destiny so majestic as yours can not end here. Wake up and bear this agony as you are one of the Godyer Humankind¡¯s Shooting Stars!¡± Simon had just fallen into unconsciousness when a force acted on his brain and brought him back to reality. The pain was just too much for someone like him, and he was about to fall unconscious again when he heard those words. The scion was about to shout, asking for the name of the person inside his mind. He was so stupid that he did not understand that doing that would have revealed that person¡¯s presence to the scientists. Luckily, the blood and pain affected Simon¡¯s speaking ability, and the voice interrupted him. ¡°Holy Child, do not speak. Just think out loud, and I will be able to hear you. Before anything else, allow me to alleviate some of the pain you are feeling.¡± Simon¡¯s eyes widened when he felt his unbearable agony diminish greatly. It was still painful, but he could think and kept a resemnce of serenity. ¡®What is a Holy Child?¡¯ At this point, many questions crossed the scion¡¯s mind, but he first uttered this one. ¡°You are a Holy Child. You are an anomaly, a divine gift of Aether to the Godyer Humankind. A hidden force inside you will awake with time and grant you the power you deserve. I am a Holy Spirit, and my purpose is to guide you once the force has awakened. I was supposed to wake up with your hidden power, but the danger to your life elerated things.¡± The voice inside Simon¡¯s head spoke all those words with a sense of ancientness and majesty that would draw awe into the heart of some people. As for what type of people, those would be children. That tale was so ridiculous that only a child or an extremely stupid and narcissistic person would believe it. One could imagine how Simon reacted to the tale that he was the mighty Holy Child. ¡®I am special. I knew it!¡¯ Chapter 161 - 161 New use for the module 161 New use for the module ¡°He really believed that children¡¯s tale? How can someone be so stupid?¡± Apex¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind as this one used his Ego Wave to create a telepathic link between his mind and that of Simon. Although Cain shared Apex¡¯s wonder at Simon¡¯s stupidity, he did not have time to rx as he focused on making sure none of the scientists noticed his invisible Ego Wave. ¡°I have learned a lot about this person and knew that striking his ego was the right thing to do. How is the hacking going on?¡± ¡°I am doing my best to finish it as fast as possible, but the device has high-level firewalls, so even if I am consuming your Destiny Force to enhance the module, it will still take some time. It would have been easy if I could use brute force, but that would have alerted the old man and made all our hard work useless.¡± Apex knew the urgency of their situation, so he was doing his best to finish the hacking. Cain could only internally sigh when he heard the System Spirit. He knew that a single mistake could lead to his doom and had to be patient. ¡®Ahhh, I really bit off more than I could chew this time. I had the feeling that they would sacrifice those at the lower end of the guest list, but who would have thought that even those at the higher end would suffer the same fate? Even if these people were the drags of their families, they were still Nobles and had fathers and elders with the might of Peak Wave Champions. Yet, the mysterious organization for which Ondo and Morgana worked did not care about inciting their rage. ..... It was clear to Cain by this point that this mysterious organization had power that could face off even peak powerhouses like his master, Zarak. Cain had considered sending a request for help to Zarak. Although it would have been awkward, what was a little embarrassmentpared with his life? However, Apex detected a unique force field that would pick up any message sent to the outside world. That meant that if Cain wanted to get out of there, he could only depend on himself. As he searched for a way out of his current predicament, Cain remembered how thigs started. Everything began when Cain appeared in front of Simon and Loras. Before the duo could do anything, he hypnotized them and got into the vehicle. The vehicle moved on its own toward Saharo City while Cain interrogated both Simon and Loras until he knew every secret of the duo. Since the mysterious organization had ns for the scion, Cain decided to take the role of the bodyguard. It was not easy, but he managed to mimic Loras¡¯ Astral Wave density and emted the characteristic of the man¡¯s cultivation technique using his superb domain over the Four Basic Wave Arts. With everything Cain learned about Loras, killing the man was not a problem, but he did not know if the mysterious organization would find out somehow. That is why he injected a Wave Virus that led to brain death in the bodyguard while keeping the rest of the organs working. Apex managed to hack Loras¡¯ A.I. Chip, generating a backdoor that redirected every message or calls this one received to Cain. Thest part of the disguise was the physical one, and Cain managed to achieve it by using One Hundred Faces. He obtained the artifact during the two weeks he had of preparation after testing the limits of his battle power. Cain made a very good judgment call by taking the role of bodyguard, but now he had to keep the useless scion alive, or else Cristian would throw him into the cauldron full of boiling blood. Not wasting time, Cain continued using his hypnosis abilities to diminish Simon¡¯s pain while he guided this one. ¡°Yes, Simon, you are unique. You have been special from the moment you were born. Although you are facing a cmity, there is good news. If you surpass it, the hidden power inside you will finally awake!¡± Simon could not stop his body from trembling as the idea of awakening his dormant power filled him with an immense thrill. Cain noticed the state of the scion and carried on. ¡°Follow my guide, and you will have a one hundred percent chance of surpassing this trial, but you must do everything I say.¡± ¡®I will, Holy Spirit!¡¯ Simon¡¯s reaction resembled an innocent child¡¯s, but Cain knew the scion¡¯s past, so he did not feel guilty for tricking this one. ¡°Good. Try to mobilize the bloodline through your body ording to my instructions.¡± Cain had not been wasting his time these past few days. He had been paying attention to every word the scientists said, learning more about this unique bloodline and how it affected people¡¯s genomes. Using his own Gic Coding knowledge and the [Basic Virtual Simtion] tool, Cain came out with ways to handle the bloodline so the gic ws that emerge would diminish. Of course, it was aplete lie when Cain told Simon that everything would be fine if this one followed his guidance. The scion¡¯s genome was so full of mistakes by this point that the best Cain could do was slow things down. Cain was doing his best, and the guidance he gave to Simon should have allowed this one to endure several more days, but the scion kept making mistakes and failing to keep up with hismands. ¡°Holy Child, that is not what I told you to do.¡± ¡®I know, but I thought this could work better. It was as if the hidden force inside me was telling me to do it.¡¯ When Cain heard Simon¡¯s thoughts, he almost went berserker. It took everything inside him to keep calm and carry on. ¡°I see, don¡¯t trust your instincts too much, Holy Child, as the hidden force inside you is still dormant and could make mistakes.¡± ¡®Hmm, ok.¡¯ Cain wanted nothing more than to strangte Simon as he heard that narcissistic response, but he endured and carried on. Despite Cain¡¯s best efforts, the gic ws in Simon were gathering too fast, and he would perish at any moment. The only reason the scion had not fallen unconscious by now was Cain¡¯s Ego Wave. ¡®Useless piece of shit. I am doing my best and exerting my mind to its limit, and you can not follow some simple instructions!¡¯ It was very odd for Cain to lose his temper, but Simon¡¯s stupidity drove him to the limit. He was about ready to stop blocking the pain so that this one would understand the consequences of not obeying his words. ¡®We fear not God-like rivals, but pig-like team members. I finally understand what the people in the Old World meant by that. ¡® Cain took several deep breaths and regained his focus as he tried to figure out how to help Simon survive the gic ws. ¡®Wait! Gic ws!¡¯ A sh of enlightenment crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he remembered one of the first ordeals he faced shortly after obtaining the Absolute Life From System. ¡®System, repeat to me the description of the [Gic Coder Module].¡¯ [Gic Coder Module: Module meant to grant Vessel the means to control life¡¯s fundamental building blocks. -Tools: ¨C Basic Gic Stimtion ¨C Basic Gic Suppression ¨C Basic Gic Enhancement] The description immediately appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, and he focused on the second of its tools. In the past, he had intended to use [Basic Gic Suppression] to fix the w of the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. In the end, he did not do it since his willpower grew so powerful that those emotional outbursts became insignificant, so he never got the chance to use it. However, ording to the description of the [Gic Coder Module], its power did not limit itself to just his genes. ¡®System, can I use the [Basic Gic Suppression] tool on people other than myself?¡¯ Although the answer from the Absolute Life Form System came almost instantly, as always, Cain felt that the wait was eternal since it directly impacted his chances of leaving this underground city alive. [Vessel can use all the tools of the Gic Coder Module on other life forms, but specific conditions need to be met. -There must be a connection between Vessel and the target. It can be physical contact or intangible powers like an Ego Wave. -The target must willingly ept the effect of the system¡¯s module on their bodies. It can not be forced, and the slightest resistance will generate a failure. Note: Use of Gic Coder Module¡¯s tools on people other than Vessel has a price three times higher.] Cain did not know whether tough or cry when he saw all that. The fact that the [Gic Coder Module] could work with other people filled him with a sense of thrill, but the price was like a dagger to the heart. He had always done his best to save his Destiny Force, and now he would have to waste it in garbage like Simon. ¡®Ahh, whatever. I can always get more in the future, but I can not buy a new life.¡¯ Chapter 162 - 162 The reason is luck 162 The reason is luck With his life on the line, Cain did not hesitate to use his Destiny Force to suppress Simon¡¯s gic ws, but there were some things he needed to do first. ¡°Apex, is your hacking of Simon¡¯s Recovery Capsule working?¡± Cain had made sure Apex would hack Simon¡¯s Recovery Capsule from the beginning, which is why there was a dy when Morgana received the information to her A.I Chip. Although it was dangerous and could have revealed his presence, he could not let anyone know exactly what was inside Simon¡¯s body. ¡°Is fully operational. I can alter the data, deceiving the scientists into thinking what you want.¡± Apex had the firm belief that Cain should handle his problem on his own. Still, when the young man gave him a task, the System Spirit always did it wlessly. ¡°Good. I will use [Basic Gic Suppression] to reduce the gic ws in Simon¡¯s genome. Make sure that the dataing out of the Recovery Capsule only shows a normal pattern.¡± Cain knew that the scientists would grow suspicious if they saw that Simon¡¯s gic ws had suddenly vanished. With Apex¡¯s hacking, they would not realize anything and would think that the scion was resisting due to his willpower. ¡°Well thought, brat. I already made the alterations to the Recovery Capsule, so you can use the [Gic Coder Module] whenever you want. Oh...¡± Apex suddenly made a pause before speaking again with a cheerful voice. ..... ¡°The hacking on that woman¡¯s Paralyzing Cor is finally over. You can wake her up whenever you want, and I also hacked her Recovery Capsule, so the scientists will not know what is happening to her.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Cain was thrilled, and the crushing pressure on his shoulders diminished. From the moment Cain entered this ce, he felt like he was at the bottom of an ocean, and with every second that passed, he sank deeper and deeper. However, he felt his body rising to the surface for the first time. Cain noticed how Simon once again deviated from his instructions leading to a rise in the rate at which the gic ws appeared. He wanted nothing more than to shout to this one, but he knew that a hard approach would not work for the scion. ¡°Holy Child, I have great news. I will be able to channel a wisp of the hidden power inside your body, this will improve your condition, but you must not resist and let it flow freely.¡± ¡°Do it now!¡± Simon did not express his gratitude, nor did he show some resemnce of appreciation to the ¡°Holy Spirit¡± working so hard for him. With a personality like that, any rtionship he could form in the future would crumble into nothing due to his own actions. Cain saw Simon as nothing more than a parasite, so he did not bother with that arrogant response. He connected the [Gic Coder Module] to the scion, and after paying a small fortune in Destiny Force, [Basic Gic Suppression] began to act. Simon felt a wave of vigor running through his body, erasing nausea and weakness that assaulted him. There was arge smile on his face, and he was sure the hidden power inside him would fix everything. Cain, on the other hand, was not so happy. He could not help but frown as the Absolute Life Form System informed him of the results of using [Basic Gic Suppression] on Simon. [Basic Gic Suppression has been correctly applied to the alien target. -79% of gic ws have been suppressed. The other 21% are beyond the current capabilities of the Gic Coder Module] Not only did [Basic Gic Suppression] fail to erase the gic ws in one sessionpletely, but there were some high-level ws that the [Gic Coder Module] could not handle. That meant that even if Cain kept using [Basic Gic Suppression], the high-level gic ws would keep piling up until there was nothing he could do to help Simon. Of course, as the process carried on, Lineage¡¯s genes would also awaken in Simon. However, they appeared at such a low rate that the scion would be long dead before those enhanced genes could do any good. Cain took a deep breath as he tried to figure out the best path forward. ¡°Apex, can you use my Ego Wave to speak to Simon and guide him like I have been doing?¡± Since the System Spirit lived in his soul and could speak directly to his mind, Cain guessed this one could also talk to others using the force that originated in his brain. Apex did not answer immediately, and when he did, the tone of his voice made it clear how he felt about guiding unruly and narcissistic garbage like Simon. ¡°Ahh, I guess I will have to do it.¡± Cain only inwardly smiled as he heard the System Spirit¡¯s downcast voice. Next, he focused and split his Ego Wave into two branches. One of Cain¡¯s Ego Wave¡¯s branches remained with Simon, and the other went to the young woman that almost managed to defeat a Wave Champion alone. ¡ª The name of the young woman that had fought Ondo was Iris. She knew her mission would not be easy, but she had prepared and was confident in her capabilities. Unfortunately for Iris, she underestimated the mysterious organization¡¯s might and how dedicated the people working for it were. A simple mistake led to Ondo figuring out her identity, and the moment the old man put the Paralyzing Cor on the back of her neck, she knew her life was over. However, to Iris¡¯ shock, she opened her eyes and was surrounded by waves of blood as a feeling of weakness and nausea assaulted her. Even if Iris was a seasoned warrior, facing such a surreal scene just after waking up threw her mind into chaos. Luckily, a voice echoed inside her mind before she could do anything drastic that would reveal her state to the scientists. ¡°Rx, little girl, you are in a Recovery Capsule. Do not use your Essence Wave or attack the capsule, as that would alert them and throw all my hard work to waste.¡± Iris¡¯ eyes widened when she heard a voice that had a sense of ancientness she had only found in great powerhouses that had lived for hundreds of years, if not thousands of years. Of course, the voice inside Iris¡¯ mind belonged to Cain. He managed to generate that ancient aura by replicating the state of mind of his past life, where he looked down on the entire world and left rivers of blood in his path. Cain did not really like his past life, and his ancient tone could have been better, but he managed to trick Iris. ¡°I have hacked the Recovery Capsule in which you are, so there is no reason to fear the scientists discovering you are awake unless you reveal yourself by attacking the capsule. I am speaking to you through my Ego Wave, but I am very far away, so don¡¯t try to fight it, or else the connection could break.¡± Iris was suspicious of the voice since there was no way she would just trust someone she had never met before and appear out of nowhere when she was in extreme danger. However, the fact the man was speaking to her through Ego Wave meant he most likely was a powerhouse. She knew of the Ego Eternal Path of Power and the force known as Ego Wave. ording to her understanding, anyone with high control over it was most likely a Peak Wave Champion, and there was a high chance that the man she spoke to was at an even higher level. Nevertheless, the strength of that man did not put Iris at ease. It could be someone from the mysterious organization trying to trick her or some sadistic powerhouses that just wanted to y on her hopes. ¡°Could Senior tell me why you are helping me?¡± Iris expressed her concern and confusion, but she did it with a respectful tone. She did not want to alienate the man in case this one had good intentions. Cain knew he could not answer that question as he did with Simon by appealing to the scion¡¯s ego. Still, he was not worried since he had already nned everything. ¡°The reason is simple little girl, luck.¡± Iris was confused by those words, but she remained silent and kept listening. ¡°You were lucky I was flying past Saharo City as you battled that Puppet Master. Usually, I will not get involved in matters at your level, as that would be like a grown man getting between children¡¯s arguments. However, your use of the Law of Wind surprised me. I knew there was no way you could endure the experiment while unconscious, so I sent my Ego Wave in here to wake you up and give you a fighting chance.¡± Iris¡¯ suspicions diminished after hearing that since it made sense. She knew that some powerhouses would do things on a whim, and it was not odd to hear that some were helping young geniuses. Chapter 163 - 163 First death 163 First death Iris knew that her domain over the Law of Wind, no matter how minuscule, was an impressive feat considering she had yet to be a Wave Champion. So, it made sense that a powerhouse would want to help her. Iris was about to continue questioning the ancient powerhouse when a sense of pain, weakness, and nausea assaulted her. She felt incredibly sick as if her entire body was malfunctioning. Before the young woman could even ask what was happening, she heard the ancient voice again. ¡°What a cruel method. Although I must admit, whoever came up with it is very ingenious, and his talent in Gic Coding is impressive. Girl, right now, a bloodline is flowing through your body, trying to change it into a hospitable host. It¡¯s doing that by generating changes to your genome. The problem is the gic ws left behind, which are the reason for your health problems. You have been unconscious all this time and unable to guide the bloodline, leading to many gic ws. Luckily, since you are a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior, your genes are resilient, and the damage has yet to reach catastrophic levels.¡± Iris clenched her fist when she heard that, but along with the rage, there was a sense of hopelessness. Other than soul injuries, gic damage is the worst type of impairment you could suffer. Even if Iris could find a way out of this ce, she had no idea how to fix those gic ws, and spending the rest of her life in a state of perpetual sickness was not life at all. There was no fate worse for a warrior than to see their bodies crumble, and they could do nothing to stop it. ..... Just as despair was about to set on Iris¡¯ heart, she heard something that shocked her entire body. ¡°Little girl, I will proceed to suppress the gic ws to the best of my capabilities. Refrain from resisting since I have to do this without my tools and only using my Ego Wave.¡± Iris could not believe what she had just heard, but the next second she felt a strange power reaching into the core of her cells. If she resisted, she was sure the force could not affect her, but there was no way she would fight back against the power that could save her warrior path. A sense of awe and wonder appeared in Iris¡¯s eyes as she felt all the pain and nausea vanishing and her vitality rising again, even stronger than before! ¡®Incredible!¡¯ Iris could not believe what was happening. The gic ws she was certain would cripple her seemed to be vanishing, and things did not end there. Although it might be an illusion due to the sudden improvement in her condition, Iris felt even stronger than before. ¡°Senior, you are amazing. Might I know your name?¡± Iris wanted to know the name of the man to whom she owed her health, but no answer came. For a moment, the young woman started to think she had made a mistake by asking for that sort of personal information. The reason for Cain¡¯s silence was not Iris¡¯ question but the surprise he felt when he saw the data that the Absolute Life Form System gave him. [Basic Gic Suppression has been correctly applied to the alien target. -94% of gic ws have been suppressed. The other 6% are beyond the current capabilities of the Gic Coder Module] The number of gic ws that emerged in Iris¡¯ genome was not small, but very few of them were able to reach such an oundish level that the [Gic Coder Module] could not fix. ¡®Amazing, her genome is showing remarkable resilience. It makes sense for her DNA to be more stable than others due to her being a Level 8 Essence Wave Warrior, but even then, it should not be this impressive.¡¯ Cain was not blindly guessing since his Gic Coder¡¯s knowledge allowed him to reach that conclusion. ¡®It might be that strange power that Ondo referred to as the Law of Wind.¡¯ Cain was very interested in that strange power that allowed Iris¡¯ battle strength to skyrocket, but he kept focus and carried on with the main task. Just as Iris was about to apologize for her question, the ancient voice returned. ¡°People call me King.¡± Cain did not want to let the young woman wait, so he just uttered the first name that came to his mind. He had never been good with names, so why waste his time with them? When she heard how the powerhouse referred to himself, Iris showed a strange expression. ¡°Uh, Sir King...¡± ¡°Just King.¡± ¡°King, I am extremely grateful for your help, and although it might be shameless of me even to ask, could you rescue me?¡± Iris was sure that King was incredibly powerful and could take her out of this underground city without any danger to his life. ¡°Ahh, sorry little girl, but although I am fond of talent, I am not willing to offend The Organization for someone I don¡¯t know. I am powerful enough to enter the underground city, kill everybody, and take you and the others out. Yet, as I told you before, that would be like adults interfering in a children¡¯s game. None of the people in the city could do anything to me, but when The Organization finds out about my involvement, they will hunt me until the world ends.¡± Iris grew downcast after hearing that response, but she did not lose herposure and began to shout insults. King owed nothing to her and had already helped her by suppressing the defective genes on her genome. ¡°I understand. I am very grateful for King¡¯s help, and no matter what, I will never forget it.¡± Iris spoke with a voice full of gratitude before her eyes reached an incredible focus, and a spark appeared in them for an instant. Since no one coulde to rescue her, Iris was ready to break out of the Recovery Capsule and do her best to leave this underground city. She knew her chances of sess were next to zero, but she refused to wait inside this capsule while new gic ws arose in her genome. ¡°A will powerful enough not to loseposure and show gratitude and sufficient resolve to bet your life instead of waiting for someone toe and rescue you. I like your personality, girl, but there is no reason to be so hasty while you are in the midst of obtaining a massive lucky chance.¡± Iris was about to make her Essence Wave burst with all her power when she heard King¡¯s voice again. ¡°Lucky chance?¡± She did not understand what the ancient powerhouse was talking about. No matter how one looks at it, her situation could not be worse. ¡°Girl, the bloodline running through your body is also generating Lineage¡¯s genes, which belong to an extremely powerful one. The problem is that gic ws appear at a much higher rate, but that doesn¡¯t need to be the case. Although I can not directly help you, I can guide you while you find a path to survival on your own.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t that make The Organization target you?¡± ¡°Girl, there are unspoken rules among people of my power. While I can not save you, there is no problem with me showing a path for you as long as you are the one that forges it. The Organization will know that someone helped you, but since I did not involve myself directly, they might not even bother to find out my identity.¡± Everything made sense for Iris, and she nodded, pushing her focus to the limit so as not to lose a single word King spoke. ¡°I will guide you on how to revolve the bloodline inside your body to diminish the gic ws this one will cause and enhance the rate at which the Lineage¡¯s genes appear.¡± Iris nodded, and she followed Cain¡¯s guidance to the letter. They were the same instructions he had given to Simon, but the young woman not only followed his words as if they were a divine creed, but she also showed a granr control over the bloodline. Cain was delighted with Iris¡¯ attitude and continued guiding her while improving his understanding of the bloodline by hearing the discussion of the scientists. Apex was also doing his best to guide Simon, but the dumb scion kept making mistakes, not listening to the System Spirit¡¯s advice and choosing paths that only led to more gic ws. Cain was aware of Simon¡¯s circumstances and was sure it would not be long before he had to spend more Destiny Force just to keep this one alive. The next day, something happened. One of the youths in the recovery capsules could no longer endure it and fell unconscious. Momentster, his heart stopped beating, and he had no brain activity. The first casualty among the eighteen youths inside the Recovery Capsules finally appeared. Chapter 164 - 164 Into the cauldron 164 Into the cauldron Cain did not feel anything when he saw the woman die. All the people here were willing to work for the mysterious organization and could not me anyone but themselves. He was sure they would dispose of the body but underestimated the level ofmitment the scientists in charge of this clinical trial had. Cristian turned toward the dead woman and waved his hand, makingrge tubes emerge inside the Recovery Capsule, which pierced into the corpse. The next second, a heartbeat appeared, and the bloodline renewed its movement through the young woman¡¯s body. There was no brain activity, but by keeping her heart still working, they could keep gathering information. Of course, the gic data they could obtain from a reanimated corpse was worse than the one obtained from a living being, but something was better than nothing. Cristian then walked toward the young woman¡¯s guard and tossed this one into the giant cauldron, letting him sink into the boiling blood. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw that, and he used the [Basic Scan Force Field] to analyze everything that happened with the guard from the moment this one touched the boiling blood. He was surprised to find out that the inner temperature of the giant cauldron had diminished significantly. The device now focused its power on purifying the blood and sent the bloodline into the youths¡¯ Recovery Capsules. The one in charge of melting the guard¡¯s bodies was the boiling blood, which was actually the best path energy-wise. ..... ¡°Apex, do your best to keep Simon lucid but don¡¯t worry about the number of gic ws amassing inside him.¡± ¡°Oh, I know he is garbage, but if the gic ws inside him reach a high enough level, his body will crumble before shutting down. If that happens, you will be thrown into the giant cauldron.¡± Cain inwardly smiled when he heard that, and his heart reached an immense resolution. ¡°I will be thrown into the cauldron sooner orter. The trio might not detect my Ego Wave, and I could even trick Ondo, but I can not say the same about Morgana. That masked old woman¡¯s battle power seemed to have weakened tremendously due to her old age, but that doesn¡¯t mean her willpower suffered the same fate. There is a high chance she is already at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, so if she enters this ce, she might detect my invisible Ego Wave.¡± Apex did not say a word, but he was surprised and impressed by Cain¡¯s wisdom. The young man was exerting his mind to the limit by helping Iris and Simon, yet he still could keep an eye on the dozens of external factors in his surroundings. Although Cain¡¯s rapid growth made Apex happy, the golden humanoid could not help but look to the crack in the gargantuan gate and wonder just how much the Red King¡¯s ego had influenced the young man. ¡°I will keep him lucid until the timees that we have to toss him away. I have finally managed to hack into the building surveince devices, and we can know the movements of everybody inside it. Luckily, other than the 1st and 11th floors, all the others are empty. I do have bad news, and that is the [A.I. Chip Module], even with the Destiny Force¡¯s reinforcement,cks the power to take control of the teleportation matrix. However, there is a silver lining: as long as someone uses the teleportation matrix on any other floor, I can hijack the energy source to activate the matrix on the 11th floor.¡± ¡°That is better than I expected!¡± Cain was thrilled with Apex¡¯s aplishments. Although it would have been better to obtainplete control over the teleportation matrix, he knew that not everything could go ording to n. Not wasting time, Cain carried on with his work, making sure to help Iris to the best of his abilities. Thanks to his hard work, plus the use of the [Basic Data Gathering and Analysis] and [Basic Virtual Simtion] tools, he figured out a way to match the ratio at which the Lineage¡¯s genes and the w genes appeared. If Morgana where to find out that, she would have been shocked since it was something she only expected to obtain on the third clinical trial. Still, it would not have been enough to properly awaken the Lineage since the gic ws would have been too much, but that is where the miraculous powers of the [Basic Gic Suppression] tool enter. Cain had already used the powers of the [Gic Coder Module] for a second time on Iris to reduce the number of gic ws in her genome. The ws in Iris¡¯ genome were far from reaching a catastrophic level. Still, Cain wanted to prevent the apparition of those so disastrous the current [Gic Coder Module] could not suppress. Although the cost of Destiny Force was reaching a very high number, Cain had given Iris a crucial role in his n to leave this ce. He needed to ensure the young woman grew as strong as possible, with nothing hindering her battle power. Everything was going great, but after two and half weeks, Morgana had woken up. Through the surveince cameras, Cain saw how the masked old woman immediately headed to the room with the capsules. Iris was following King¡¯s instructions when this one suddenly stopped speaking. Her instincts began to act, and she felt that something was wrong. ¡°Little girl, you have done great, but I will have to leave you for a moment since there is a little problem I need to face. Although I can no longermunicate with you, rest assured that I am still watching over you. Do not lose patience; keep revolving the bloodline inside your body, as I taught you. ording to my calctions, it will not be long before the Lineage¡¯s genes inside you reach a high enough number that will allow you to awaken this mighty Lineage. The next time I speak to you, it will be the time you have to use all your power to escape this ce. I have already hacked most surveince elements and am currently working on the teleportation matrix. Before I leave, let me suppress the gic ws again.¡± Iris felt the special force reaching the core of her cells, and her condition improved drastically, once again enhancing her power. That strength burst resulted from the gic ws diminishing while the Lineage¡¯s genes kept rising. As she felt the immense strength running through her veins, an overwhelming sense of gratitude invaded Iris¡¯ heart. ¡°King, allow me to tell you my name before you leave. I am Iris Xurong.¡± The fact that Iris revealed her name proved her deep trust in the mighty powerhouse. ¡°Good luck, Iris Xurong.¡± ¡ª ¡°Holy Spirit, I am feeling dizzy again. Extract some of the hidden power inside my body.¡± Simon¡¯s voice was full of arrogance, and the way he treated the ¡°Holy Spirit¡± was not better than a dog. Apex already had more than enough from the stupid and narcissistic scion, so while Cain kindly said goodbye to Iris, he chose to repay Simon¡¯s manners. ¡°Oh, that is no longer possible.¡± When Simon heard that, he grew furious. In his mind, the Holy Spirit was nothing more than a servant that needed to obey themand of the Holy Child. ¡°How can you refuse mymand! Do you understand how special I am!?¡± ¡°About that, it turns out I was wrong. You are not a Holy Child. You are just an asshole. Good luck or whatever. I don¡¯t care.¡± Simon¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that before the force that had helped him endure the torment vanished. Absolute terror invaded his heart, and he was about to shout loudly when a wave of unbearable pain assaulted him. Without Cain¡¯s Ego Wave helping him reduce the pain, Simon had to face all that alone. ¡°?AHHHHH!¡± Cristian and the other two scientists were surprised to hear that scream of paining from Simon¡¯s capsule. Up to now, the scion had been able to endure the pain just fine, so they were a little surprised by the sudden change. Nevertheless, Simon was acting like most youths were doing by this point, so they did not bother. Besides, the screams did notst long, as the scion¡¯s heartbeat and brain waves soon stopped sending signals. Cristian saw that and waved his hand, making tubes impale Simon¡¯s corpse to reignite this one¡¯s heartbeat, just as Morgana entered the room. The masked old woman saw how Simon¡¯s corpse was reanimated but did not say a word since all that was part of the clinical trial. ¡°Lady Morgana.¡± Cristian and the other scientists bowed the moment Morgana entered the room. Morgana nodded to the trio before her eyes went through the Recovery Capsules and saw the condition of the youths. She was a little surprised that Iris was still alive but attributed it to her high cultivation and the Law of Wind¡¯s support. ¡°Cristian, give me a summary of your analysis.¡± ¡°Yes, my Lady.¡± Morgana and Cristian began to speak while another of the scientists undressed Simon¡¯s bodyguard and threw this one into the giant cauldron full of boiling blood. Chapter 165 - 165 Points of view 165 Points of view ¡°Well done, Orin. Your use of Void Breath has improved greatly over thest few weeks. You are able to hide your presence to a level even Peak Wave Warriors might have a hard time detecting it.¡± Orin nodded to Jonathan¡¯s words as she continued moving from one corner of the room to the other, applying footwork that could disorient most people as her vital signs became undetectable. Void Breath no longer drew all of her energy, and she could easily use it on a battlefield. Jonathan nodded as he saw the cadet¡¯s dedication, but as he looked around the room, he could not help but frown as he noticed that someone was missing. Cain had informed Jonathan that he would miss a few sses, which the teacher epted. Jonathan already had taught them the essence of assassination to Cain and Orin, and the purpose of thesest few sses was to polish their techniques. Jonathan did not question Cain¡¯s decision to skip thest sses since he knew the young man took the art of assassination seriously. There must be a really important reason why he chose to leave the fort. ¡®Ahh, I hope that brat is fine.¡¯ He could only sigh as he imagined the dangers Cain should be facing before turning toward Orin and focusing on the girl. ¡ª The next day in the Gic Coder ss, Camil was helping the cadets to create Silver Vectors, and she looked at the spot where Cain used to sit. ..... Cain had also informed the woman that he would not be attending thest sses, and there was even less problem with him missing these than those from Jonathan. His mastery over Gic Coding reached a level where Camil could only keep teaching him once this one became a Grand Gic Coder. Cain had already begun to create almost wless Golden Vectors, and he could synthesizeplex Wave Viruses, so there was not much to teach him other than to refine his abilities. Camil was not the only one worried about Cain since Lurin and Ophelia also acted the same. The duo kept leaving a seat empty among themselves despite Cain noting to sses. ¡ª A young man sat inside a volcano that unleashed a heat capable of melting metal. He adopted a meditative position less than fifty meters away from theva, and one could see burn marks all over his body. Despite the youth¡¯s condition, energy and vitality overflowed his body as golden wisps of red mes coursed through his skin. Suddenly the youth opened his eyes and took a capsule with a red liquid before injecting it into his chest. The Wave Virus began to circte inside the youth¡¯s body, inducing fever, but it was not long before a wave of immense hunger assaulted him. Luckily for the youth, energy, and vitality were two things his body was currently overflowing with, and soon he felt the increase in his Wave Talent. As he stared at the empty capsule, the youth could not help but frown. Itsted less than a second, but thatck of focus almost made the golden red mes go wild, threatening to consume his flesh and blood as fuel. ¡°Brat, keep focused on your cultivation and do not let the outside world taint your mind. What is the point of worrying about something when you don¡¯t have the power to change it?¡± That voice did note from the sky but deep within the volcano¡¯sva. The idea of a man submerged in something like that was outrageous since theva¡¯s temperature was a fifth of the Old World¡¯s sun¡¯s surface! Yet, it was happening right now. Levi immediately nodded as he heard the words of his master and adopted a meditative position before shutting down everything else. It seemed that the owner of the voice noticed Levi¡¯smitment and chose to speak again. ¡°ording to my knowledge, your friend is still alive. If something changes, I will tell you.¡± Levi did not open his eyes but softly nodded as he focused on his training. ¡ª Zarak was in the midst of his training, and a raging Astral Wave burst from his body with so much power that it could easily flood entire cities and break buildings to pieces. Even though Zarak took the Ego Eternal Path of Power as his main path, that did not mean he neglected his Astral Rebirth Path of Power since it was also a fundamental core of his battle power. Despite the might of Zarak¡¯s Astral Wave, the room¡¯s walls endured their power, proving just how mighty the Titan Tower was. Zarak¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that the teleportation matrix was about to act, and he retracted that bursting Astral Wave back into his body. Abin appeared in the room before walking toward Zarak, bowing, and immediately going straight to business. ¡°Young Lord has yet to return to the Imperial Lightning Fort, and there is no trace of him being in the Whisper Forest, where he was supposed to be.¡± Cain had to take a mission to leave the fort, and he chose one in the Whisper Forest. It was not umon for the cadets to take assignments just so they could go somewhere else, but as long as they showed proof of their work, everything would be fine. However, while Cain¡¯s mission was incredibly challenging, he was supposed to return already. Zarak frowned as he heard that and looked toward the Whisper Forest. ¡°He spoke with his Gic Coding and Assassination Specialization teachers while leaving Wave Viruses for his friends that wouldst precisely until graduation. That brat is very calctive, so the number of viruses is not coincidental.¡± Abin understood the meaning behind those words. It seemed that Cain did not n to return before graduation. ¡°Lord, could you not use your Ego Mark to track him and know his exact whereabouts?¡± If Cain were to hear Abin¡¯s words, he would be shocked that something in him could allow someone to know his precise location. Although he would definitely not be happy about it, that mark already saved his life once. Zarak put the Ego Mark on Cain the first time they met, and it was the power that allowed him to appear out of nowhere and protect this one from the mighty Abyssal Demon. Zarak only sighed as he heard Abin¡¯s rmendation. ¡°My Ego Mark can only tell me Cain¡¯s exact location when I am rtively close to him. Now, it can only tell me whether he is alive, which is the case.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Abin nodded, and her understanding of the Ego Eternal Path of Power increased slightly. ¡°Should I deploy our forces to look for the Young Lord?¡± Zarak considered it for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°That brat is surely on an extremely dangerous mission. If he contacts us calling for help, inform me immediately. Until then, it is up to him to survive this ordeal.¡± Zarak considered Cain a true divine genius in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but it was not the inborn active Ego Eternal Matrix that granted him that title. It was the cadet¡¯s willpower and determination to face his problems head-on. That attitude could lead Cain to his death but could also grant him the destiny of a fenix, rising from danger stronger than ever. ¡°I will enter secluded cultivation. Do not disturb me unless it concerns Cain or a Sector-Level threat.¡± Abin bowed and immediately left the room. Just as she left, a ferocious river manifested and began to sh against the walls. The wall that resisted the Astral Wave capable of leveling a city began to crack under the crash of that mighty river. ¡ª Of course, not everybody was worried about Cain¡¯s disappearance, and some were thrilled with the idea that the young genius had bitten more than he could chew and ended up dead. Zamir and Lumir¡¯s spirits had significantly risen after hearing the rumors that Cain might have perished, and they were not the only ones. Far away from the Copsing Lightning Sector, a person much more important than the two scions also followed the news about Cain. A young man sat in a meditative stance in arge room made of volcanic rocks while rivers of burning mesnded on top of his body. He circted those mes through his veins, improving his Astral Wave and physique. Things did not end there since those mes were incredibly painful, but that was a good thing since it helped him temper his willpower. That young man was not other than Magnus Hellzer, the greatest genius the Hellzer Family had seen in thest thousand years! Magnus¡¯ eyes opened as a message arrived through his A.I. Chip. ¡°My Lord, there has been no news of Cain Laurifer over thest couple of weeks. There is a high chance he could be dead.¡± Magus heard Marik¡¯s voice, and a contemtive expression appeared on his face. ¡°Proceed with our ns in the Copsing Lightning Sector. Until we do not receive definitive information about his demise, we will carry on as if he was alive.¡± Magnus cut themunication the next second and focused on his training. He did not need to hear Marik¡¯s response since he knew this one would follow hismands. Chapter 166 - 166 Blood Energy (I) 166 Blood Energy (I) The young man that drew the attention of dozens of people across the Gaia Continent was currently at the bottom of a giant cauldron, feeling how his entire body was boiled alive by a river of scorching blood. The heat was excruciating, and the moment Cain was outside Morgana and the other scientists¡¯ view, he immediately activated his Wave Cloak. Unfortunately for Cain, while his Astral Wave Cloak granted ayer of protection, it was not enough to fight off the heat. Things could change if he used Wave Burst, but that sudden spike in energy could alert Morgana, so he could not do it. Cain¡¯s body was livid red due to the heat, but what happened to his face was even more shocking, as this one was melting. Of course, that was not really Cain¡¯s face since, even for someone like him, something like that would carry a level of unbearable pain. The thing that was melting was Cain¡¯s One Hundred Faces. Although the Wave Artifact proportioned exceptional levels of camouge, it was not meant for battle and could not endure such a hostile environment as a cauldron full of boiling blood. Cain took the mask out before it could harm his actual face as he stood at the bottom of the giant cauldron with his eyes closed. He could not see, but thanks to the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool, he knew everything that happened in the room. The [Basic Scan Force Field] did not have the Ego Wave¡¯s range or unique abilities, but it could cover Peak Wave Champions without these ones noticing it. Cain came to that conclusion when Jonathan entered the scope of the force field and did not realize it. Of course, things were different if Cain used the [Basic Scan Force Field] tool to do any sort of invasive maneuvers. Right now, Cain¡¯s whole focus was on Morgana, and every second the old masked woman passed inside the room, he came closer to his death. ..... The exchange between Morgana and the other three scientists was impressive and involved a high level of Gic Coding knowledge. Yet, Cain did not have the luxury of enjoying it. Due to his mastery over Wave Cloak, Cain could keep it active for days, if not weeks. It was his body that would crumble before his energy pool drained. If Morgana left, Cain was ready to activate his Wave Burst to a very low percentage, enough to provide proper protection for his body but not so high that the three scientists would notice. Unfortunately for Cain, the masked old woman seemed energized as she spoke about Gic Coding, and it did not look like she would leave anytime soon. Cain¡¯s willpower was at the First Realm, allowing him to keep calm even in some of the most extreme conditions, but even he could not help but grow anxious when he felt that his eyelids began to burn. They would notst long, and the next thing to be scorched by the heat would be his eyes! Just as things were about to escte to the point of no return, Cain¡¯s mind and heart filled with determination as he opened his mouth and swallowed a mouthful of blood. It was like drinking fire; if he had not used Wave Focus to cover his intestines with Astral Wave, this would have melted. Now that the blood was inside Cain¡¯s body, he could use it to fuel the Blood Refinement Art without worrying that someone outside could notice it. The reasons why he did not do this from the beginning were plenty. Cain had no idea what there was in this blood, but he knew that it crippled hundreds of people and provoked incredible pain. Still, the main reason was that this was human blood, and no matter how you look at it, he was consuming the blood of his own race as food. Although Cain had consumed the blood of Dark Races¡¯ warriors for his Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique, it was not the same. He had ovee the empire¡¯s indoctrination but still saw members of the Dark Races as alien life forms, making things like eating their flesh and drinking their blood much easier. Some would rather die than drink the blood of their race due to how a civilization could judge them, but Cain stopped caring about that the moment his life was on the line. He would not die just to avoid angering hypocrites that would have done the same if they were in his ce. The moment the blood reached his stomach, Cain mobilized the Blood Refinement Art, and he could not hide the sense of awe and shock that assaulted him. Whenever Cain mobilized the Blood Refinement Art, he would purify the blood and obtain blood essence that would then nurture his body. However, there was no need for purification right now as the blood inside his stomach instantly transformed into blood essence, overflowing his body with vitality. Things did not end there since the amount of blood essence generated was so much that not only was it enough to heal the damage caused to his skin by the scorching heat, it reignited his body¡¯s refinement. Cain¡¯s domain over the Blood Refinement Art had reached a very high level, and the only reason it could not advance further was its nature as an auxiliary technique. Auxiliary techniques granted an immense boost to someone¡¯s strength, but the user¡¯s cultivation limited their growth. Cain had pushed the Blood Refinement Art to the absolute limit his Level 4 Wave Warrior cultivation could obtain. Yet, thanks to the incredibly pure and potent blood essence, that limiter was breaking apart. Cain was ecstatic as he realized that, and he began to revolve the Blood Refinement Art at full power, ensuring his skin would heal from any damage while tempering his body. Those mouthfuls of bloodsted less than five minutes, but Cain would simply consume another and carry on. He was not afraid that Morgana or the others would notice something in the volume of the cauldron since more than one hundred corpses generated this blood. Cain not only felt how any damage he endured due to the scorching heat healed instantly, but his body was also growing stronger shockingly fast. Three days had passed, and Morgana did not leave the room, talking to no end with the three scientists, but that no longer bothered Cain. She could stay in the room as long as she wanted since he did not want to go anywhere and was perfectly fine at the bottom of that cauldron full of boiling blood. The blood was just too amazing, and Cain could not help but feel that this giant cauldron was perfect for training his Blood Refinement Art. Cain was so focused on his training that he almost forgot about the world and fell into a state of trance, but what he saw in his [Basic Scan Force Field] drew him back to reality. Another of the youths had perished due to the gic ws in her genome reaching a catastrophic level. Cristian saw that, and his face showed nothing as he waved his hand, making tubes enter the young woman¡¯s body so they could reignite her heartbeat before ncing at one of the other scientists and returning to his conversation with Morgana. The scientist walked toward the deceased¡¯s guard and stripped her before throwing her into the giant cauldron. Like all the others, that guard was brainwashed to the point that even if they were about to die at the hands of the mysterious organization, they would show no disloyalty. The guard fell into the boiling blood like a rock and began to submerge immediately. The hypnosis had shut down her survival instincts to the point that she did not even close her eyes. She was about to lose her vision due to the boiling blood scorching her eyes, but just before that happened, she saw a young man at the bottom of the cauldron. A sense of shock appeared on the woman¡¯s face when she realized that someone was alive inside this cauldron. She was about to inform Morgana and the others when a finger pierced through her eye and reached her brain, instantly killing her. Cain¡¯s eyes were still closed, but there was a bursting red light in them as he removed his finger from the guard¡¯s head. He knew nothing about the woman, and she might very well be a good person that found herself in a bad situation, but none of that mattered. She was about to reveal his presence, and Cain would not allow anyone to endanger his life. There was no guilt or remorse in his mind or heart, and he simply carried on with the Blood Refinement Art. The golden humanoid deep inside Cain¡¯s soul dimension saw that level of brutality and smiled since he was d the young man could make the hard choice when needed. However, the next second he turned toward the ce where the Alter-Ego resided and saw how the cruel and merciless part of this one grew a little stronger. Unlike all Alter-Egos that represented one person¡¯s will, the one inside Cain was made by his heroic nature and the Red King¡¯s ego. Chapter 167 - 167 Blood Energy (II) 167 Blood Energy (II) Cain immersed himself in his cultivation, and his sole focus was enhancing his Blood Refinement Art as fast as he could. Every ounce of strength would be helpful in his escape from this ce, and the time wasing closer and closer with each day. He had spent almost two weeks inside the giant cauldron full of boiling blood. Thanks to the incredibly potent blood essence he obtained with each mouthful, his Blood Refinement Art had advanced at a crazy speed. After thirteen days of non-stop training, Cain was surprised by a strange feeling. It was as if thousands of ants were trying to excavate a path out of his bones, through his muscles, and break the skin so they could finally exit his body. Cain grew ecstatic as he felt his body go through another session of marrow washing, and he began to push his Blood Refinement Art with even greater strength. Every session of marrow washing was a lucky chance that would increase his strength and Wave Talent and help him establish a more robust foundation for his future cultivation. A foul ck substance began to excrete through Cain¡¯s pores, but luckily the boiling blood incinerated it all instantly. Cain consumed the boiling blood faster and faster so he could revolve the Blood Refinement Art with greater strength. At this point, his body began to tremble, and a sudden rush of energy overflowed his veins. It was a new form of energy that tempered Cain¡¯s flesh and blood and appeared just at the right moment since it helped him push out even more of the pollution inside his body. Cain did his best to control the thrill of feeling this new power and focused on his marrow washing as an impressive amount of ck filth left his body. ..... It carried on like that for a very long time until Cain felt he shed against a wall, and no more pollution left his body. He felt as if there was something that stopped him from carrying on with his marrow washing. There was nothing that Cain could do about it, and now that things finally calmed down, he focused on the new energy coursing through his body. After understanding its nature and the events that led to it, he came to a single conclusion. ¡®I managed to break through to the second level of the Blood Refinement Art and obtained Blood Energy!¡¯ Cain knew that he should only have been able to enter the Blood Refinement Art¡¯s second level after bing a Wave Champion, but it seemed that the giant cauldron and an almost endless source of blood essence helped him circumvent that wall. He experienced a massive boost in his strength thanks to the breakthrough in the Blood Refinement Art, and his marrow washing improved his condition and the speed at which he could mobilize his Astral Wave. There was a massive overall increase in Cain¡¯s strength, and there was no better time to have that than now when he found himself in great danger. ¡®Absolute Life Form System, scan my body.¡¯ Cain could not wait andmanded the system to show him his new strength. [Scan of Vesselpleted ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 4 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 6 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 3.3 Agility: 2.1 Vitality: 4.4 Wave: 1.6 ???: ??? ¡ª Marrow washing: 74%pletion ¡ª Note: ording to the data gathered, the new energy source inside Vessel belongs to the power known as Blood Energy. This energy is not generated naturally by the body, so Vessel will need to refine more by using blood essence once depleted. ¡ª Quantifying Blood Energy ording to the parameters used to measure Astral Wave. ¡ª Blood Energy: 5.1] Cain knew he had grown very powerful, but those stats shocked him. His strength and vitality were the main focus of his Blood Refinement Art, reaching the standard for a Level 6 Astral Wave Warrior! There was also an increase in his speed thanks to his enhanced muscle mass and bone density. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he took another mouthful of boiling blood and revolved the Blood Refinement Art. A small smile appeared on his face, and he sighed as he felt the result. ¡®I can still use the Blood Refinement Art to obtain blood essence, so I can heal my body or replenish my Blood Energy, but there is no effect on my power. It seems that even with high-level resources, I will not be able to advance in the art without first increasing my cultivation.¡¯ Cain was not surprised since he knew that no matter how great your auxiliary technique could be, your main source of strength would always be your cultivation base. ¡®It is fine. This new power should grant me a good enough chance to leave this ce. And it seems that the time is about to arrive.¡¯ Cain used his [Basic Scan Force Field] to see the situation around the room and knew the first clinical trial was about to end. The giant cauldron had a tenth of its original volume upied, and only three youths were left alive by this point. As for what happened with the guard, they all found their end inside the rivers of boiling blood. Morgana had left, and only Cristian and the other two scientists were in the room. Cain was sure that the masked old woman would return to see the end of the clinical trial, and he needed to act the moment that happened. Since Morgana was absent, Cain was not afraid of the trio detecting his Ego Wave, so he sent it toward Iris. ¡°Little girl, I am back.¡± Iris could not help but smile when she heard King¡¯s voice again inside her mind. Still, she did not loseposure and kept her mind focused. ¡°I am delighted to hear your voice again, King. I have followed your instructions to the letter, but I am afraid I have yet to awaken the new Lineage.¡± Iris had done her best and could not help but feel disappointed. King had told her that the Lineage was close to awakening, but she did not manage to do it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Actually, the number of Lineage¡¯s genes inside you is more than high enough, but the gic ws are preventing the evolution of your genome. I will fix that immediately.¡± Iris was shocked to hear the ease with which King spoke of a problem she could not evenprehend. However, she did not have time to be absent-minded as the familiar force began acting on her genome. As the gic ws in Iris were suppressed, she felt like a new force inside her genes was finally set free and began to fill her body with immense power. Cain waited until Iris¡¯ power reached its peak before speaking to her again. ¡°Use this time to get used to your new power. The moment the gate to this room opens, I will activate something that will raise mayhem, and you will need to push your Wave Cloak to its maximum power to protect yourself.¡± King did not give her details about the mayhem source, but Iris trusted this one so much she did not question him and was ready to follow hismand. ¡°After that, make sure you rush to the teleportation matrix as fast as possible. The moment someone on the 1st floor activates it, it will also activate here on the 11th floor, and you will use it to leave this building.¡± Cain carried on, giving more and more instructions to Iris, giving her an exact path from this ce all the way to the surface. Iris nodded and made sure to engrave every single word in her mind, making sure she would remember all of it. Once King finished, she began to adapt to the enhanced strength, speed, and vitality that the Lineage granted her. Cainy t on the giant cauldron, making sure what remained of the boiling blood still covered his body. His eyes grew sharp when he saw that Morgana had woken up and wasing to the room. He focused on Simon¡¯s corpse, specifically the contents of this one¡¯s stomach. He did not allow the Recovery Capsule to scan the scion because of the trump care he left inside. The price he had to pay for them was so high that when Cain remembered it, he almost cried. Everything happened extremely fast. The moment the gate opened, and before it could close, Cain activated the thing inside Simon¡¯s corpse. ¡°Now!¡± Iris heard that voice in her mind, and without hesitation, she pushed her Essence Wave to the limit, making her Wave Cloak burst with immense strength while generating a protective whirlwind around her body. The burst in the Wave from the Recovery Capsule that held Iris shocked Cristian, the other two scientists, and Morgana, who was just entering the room. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Before they could get over the shock of Iris still conscious and full of power, the Recovery Capsule with Simon exploded, unleashing mighty mes that destroyed everything. Chapter 168 - 168 Escape (I) 168 Escape (I) Morgana and the three scientists acted immediately, unleashing their Wave Cloaks. Cristian and the masked old woman could resist the mes, but the other two scientists in the room were not so strong and instantly incinerated. That duo was the no only one harmed since the open door allowed direct ess to the rest of the floor, allowing the mes to kill or maim almost everybody in it. Morgana and Cristian jumped out of the room, and both of them had severe burn wounds all over their bodies. The masked old woman was pale and could barely keep her Wave Cloak bursting. Before the duo could even take a breath, Iris, wearing full armor and wielding her rapier, shed toward them while dark winds moved around her body. Ondo had left Iris¡¯ space ring with her belongings to one of the now-dead scientists, and since they did not bother to brand them, it was easy for the young woman to take back possession of it. Cristian immediately put himself in front of Morgana as his Astral Wave exploded, and his skin turned metallic bronze. He knew that Iris was a powerful Level 8 Wave Warrior but was sure that the gic ws should have hindered her power and that he should be able to contend with her with his Level 7 cultivation. However, Cristian made a grave mistake since not only were the gic ws on Iris very few, but the Lineage that awakened inside her body granted more than just a rise in her physical strength. Iris waved her rapier, sendingrge sharp arcs of dark wind toward Cristian and Morgana. Cristian¡¯s eyes widened as he saw how those arcs of dark wind cut his bronze skin as if it was nothing. Iris¡¯ attack split his body into almost a dozen pieces, and he died instantly. ..... Morgana was also shocked by the outrageous power that Iris unleashed, and a sh of enlightenment crossed her eyes since she knew the reason. However, now was not the time to think, and using the precious second that Cristian¡¯s protection gave her, she shed toward her room. Iris saw the masked old woman trying to run, and she did not hesitate before sending another wave of dark wind des. Morgana used all her power and managed to cross the door, but not before having endured several deep cuts on her body that reached all the way to the bone. After entering the room, the door closed, and Iris could do nothing about it. If she attacked with everything she had, the door would break, but it would take too long, and time was something she did not have. The moment Simon exploded, all sorts of rms began to ring across the building. On the 1st floor, Ondo had seen Iris¡¯s ferocious attack through his A.I. Chip and immediately dashed toward the teleportation matrix. Ondo had already summoned both of his Wave Puppets. Both the muscr and fat ones were present, but if you look closer at the second, you will notice it was different from the one he used in hisst fight with Iris. When the old man reached the 11th floor, he immediately made his Essence Wave explode and sent both of his Wave Puppets forward, ready to fight with everything he had. Ondo saw through his A.I. Chip how Iris had dashed toward the teleportation matrix, which is why he was ready for a big battle, but the only thing he saw was wounded scientists and mes. He looked around the room, pushing his focus to the limit, but there was no sign of Iris anywhere. Finally, one wounded scientist looked at the old man and spoke. ¡°She left through... the teleportation matrix just... as you arrived.¡± The man used all his strength to share that vital piece of information with the Wave Champion. Ornaldo¡¯s eyes widened as he could not understand how Iris could have used the teleportation matrix since only he and Morgana could control it. A door opened, showing the wounded Morgana, and she stared right at Ondo. ¡°No matter what, you must capture her. She has awakened the Lineage!¡± If before Ondo was surprised, now he was utterly shocked. The fact that someone other than the mysterious organization had that Lineage running through their veins was something they could not allow. Despite the turmoil in his heart and mind, Ondo quickly regained focus. ¡°People wille to help you in less than a minute.¡± Ondo only uttered those words before activating the teleportation matrix and returning to the 1st floor. He saw how the building¡¯s main gate busted open and a figure jumping from one house to the other, moving farther and farther away. Iris¡¯s speed was impressive, and her momentum increased with every jump. Of course, guards wereing from all over the underground city to stop her. However, those behind her were too slow and could not catch up. Those were the lucky ones since Iris cut to pieces every single person in front of her. Ondo saw everything through the countless cameras positioned across the city. Iris¡¯ new power frightened him, but he knew that if she were to escape, then the higher-ups would me him, and a quick death would be mercy. He returned the fat Wave Puppet to his space ring before jumping onto the shoulder of the muscr Wave Puppet andmanding this one to chase after Iris. Iris¡¯ eyes narrowed as she felt a powerful presenceing after her and noticed the muscr Wave Puppet dashing toward her with Ondo on its shoulder. Part of her wanted the rematch, but she knew every second counted and focused on her goal, the elevators. ¡ª On the 11th floor, jets of water were putting out the mes while the rest of the scientists were doing their best to get up. Morgana looked at the destruction with pure hatred as she wondered just how much valuable information had been lost. The death of Cristian and the others did not affect her, as her mind only cared about Gic Coding. She walked toward the room where the giant cauldron and Recovery Capsules were, wanting to see how much was lost. However, the moment she crossed the door, a red sh appeared in front of her. A sense of absolute doom assaulted Morgana, and she summoned her Wave Cloak, but this one was unable to stop two fingers bathed in red lightning from piercing her neck. Morgana¡¯s eyes were full of disbelief, and thest thing she saw were two red eyes before dying. Terror appeared in the hearts of the scientists as they saw Morgana¡¯s lifeless body falling to the ground, and then they saw a man with a red helmet walking out of the room. Before any of the scientists could do anything, a mighty Ego Wave overflowed the floor. ¡°Die.¡± The scientists¡¯ eyes lost focus when Cain uttered those words, and their hearts stopped beating the next second. Cain showed nothing as he saw all that death and did not lose time. He stored Morgana¡¯s body in his space ring and other corpses belonging to high-level scientists before dashing toward the teleportation matrix. The teleportation matrix activated, and Cain¡¯s figure vanished just as a group of five people appeared. They were all golden guards, but the one at the lead had arger build, and there was clear wisdom in his eyes. The group¡¯s leader was confused as he saw only corpses in this ce. They were supposed to help the wounded and take special care of Morgana, but there was no sign of the old woman in this ce. He had no idea that someone could have hacked the teleportation matrix, so the only exnation that came to his mind was that Morgana and the others still alive teleported to the 1st floor just as they arrived at the 11th. Not willing to waste time, the group leader gave instructions to return to the 1st floor, and they did it immediately. When they appeared on the 1st floor, the group leader frowned again since no one was present. However, his confusion did notst for long since a blinding light appeared in the bathroom, and the next second, a st of mighty mes covered the 1st floor, killing everybody in it. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Ondo was dashing forward with all his speed when he heard that explosion and turned around, only to see mesing out of the building¡¯s 1st floor. Panic appeared on his face as he attempted tomunicate with Morgana or the squad he sent, but none responded. The old man¡¯s mind immediately concluded that Iris had left bombs, just like the one she used to escape, on the 1st floor and killed Morgana and all the survivors. ¡°You dare!¡± Ondo was beyond furious since he understood how valuable Morgana¡¯s life was and what would happen to him since he failed to protect her. Iris was just as shocked as Ondo by the explosions, but she did not lose focus and continued her journey toward the elevators. Chapter 169 - 169 Escape (II) 169 Escape (II) Ondo knew that Iris¡¯s goal was the elevators since they were the only path to the surface, so he had sent orders for the guards on the upper Saharo City toe down and make a defensive formation around them. There were dozens of guards in a battle formation in front of the elevators. Iris could feel their strength, and while they were all weaker than her, their number was high enough to make things very difficult. She knew it would not be easy, but she was ready to fight with all she had to reach those elevators. Just as Iris was about to enter battle with those guards, a blinding light appeared in one of the elevators before another explosion urred, unleashing a sea of fire. ¡°?BOOM!¡± That explosion originated from the elevator that Simon and Cain took to reach the underground city. It was the first ce he put his bombs, and they were thest to be activated. The sea of fire struck the back of those dozens of guards, taking them by surprise, killing many, and injuring the rest. ¡°King!¡± Iris knew that the only one that could be responsible for that explosion had to be the man that saved her life. Her eyes showed an immense resolution as she seemed to summon the power of the Law of Wind, transforming herself into a humanoid tornado and advancing with unstoppable might. ..... Ondo¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the explosion that broke his men¡¯s battle formation just before Iris crushed everybody in her path to pieces and rose to the surface through the elevator shaft. In the old man¡¯s mind, the one responsible for all this had to be Iris, but he could believe the woman managed to trick all of them and n all these traps without no one noticing it. ¡®How can someone so young n schemes at this level!?¡¯ Along with that thought, a monstrous killing intent emerged in Ondo¡¯s eyes. He could not allow someone so dangerous and full of potential to keep breathing since they could be a great threat in the future. Not paying attention to the cries for help from his wounded men, Ondo took one of the elevators unaffected by the explosion and rose to the surface. The elevator was extremely fast, and the old man hoped it would be enough to diminish the distance between him and the young woman. The moment Ondo entered the elevator, a figure moved between the shadows and the mes. No one noticed him, and in a matter of seconds, he vanished through the same elevator shaft that Iris used to rise to the surface. Ondo had just reached the surface when he heard a st and saw Iris breaking the building¡¯s doors and shing away. No one could stop her, and Saharo City did not have walls that could prevent someone like her from leaving. The muscr Wave Puppet immediately chased after Iris, making expressions of utter shock in all the residents of Saharo City as they were not use to such a sight. Iris and Ondo moved so fast that they had already crossed the walls of Saharo City and began to move through the desert in a matter of minutes. Ondo was a Wave Champion with a muchrger energy pool. Still, Iris did not have to overexert herself since she was much faster, which is why they moved at a simr speed, with the distance between them not shrinking enough so it could start a battle. The old man could not reach the young woman, and he saw how a forest began to appear in the distance. He knew that if they were to enter it, it would not be hard for Iris to lose him, which was something he could not allow. Ondo¡¯s Essence Wave busted with power, and the hand with which he controlled the Wave Puppet set aze. The muscr Wave Puppet began to tremble for a second before growingrger and its skin turning green. Ondo¡¯s technique pushed the humanoid into overdrive, generating internal damage but also greatly enhancing its physical might. Iris¡¯ eyes narrowed as she noticed the change in the muscr Wave Puppet and saw the distance between them shrinking. She did not lose calm and carried forward, reaching the forest. Just as the muscr Wave Puppet was one hundred meters away from Iris, she turned around and stroked forward with her rapier, generating dark wind spears. Ondo immediately jumped out of the Wave Puppet¡¯s shoulder and positioned behind this one as he saw that attacking his way. A solemn expression appeared on his face as he saw those dark wind spears prating the humanoid¡¯s flesh. The Law of Wind did not enhance those attacks, but the dark force that originated from Iris¡¯ new Lineage granted her enough power to surpass the muscr Wave Puppet¡¯s defenses. The old man was a seasoned warrior, so he did not lose focus and pushed the Wave Puppet forward, epting that barrage of dark wind spears in exchange for reaching the young woman. Iris saw how the muscr Wave Puppet resisted her dark wind spears attack before appearing in front of her and sending a ferocious punch toward her head. The young woman took a deep breath, and while the air was still filling her lungs, she sent a palm strike forward. The muscr Wave Puppet¡¯s massive fist and Iris¡¯ small palm were about to sh, and everybody could figure out the winner of such an exchange, but the oue was not what one would have expected. Just as Iris¡¯ palm and the Wave Puppet¡¯s fist were about to collide, a bubble of superpressed air appeared between them. ¡°?Boom!¡± The bubble exploded, unleashing a powerful burst of wind, repelling the muscr Wave Puppet¡¯s punch. It also allowed Iris to use that force to push her body back, generating some distance between her and the Wave Puppet. Iris had justnded on the ground when she focused her Essence Wave on her rapier before piercing it into the ground. Ondo saw that and immediately jumped more than a dozen meters into the air before summoning the fat Wave Puppet beneath him. He did that just before a giant rapier made of ck wind emerged from the ground. The giant dark wind rapiernded on the fat Wave Puppet, greatly damaging this one¡¯s belly but failing to harm the old man. Right after that, Ondo and the fat Wave Puppetnded on the ground, and he took control of the muscr Wave Puppet, sending this one to fight against Iris. He could have both of his Wave Puppets out, but controlling both of them with enough expertise that they could be useful in a battle was beyond his capabilities. Iris had noticed that Ondo could only properly control one Wave Puppet at a time, but that did not make things much easier for her. She saw the muscr Wave Puppeting toward her and waved her rapier into the ground, forging a wall of wind that stopped this one for a moment, allowing her to generate dozens of dark wind needles in the sky. Ondo focused his control over the fat Wave Puppet making this one embrace him, generating ayer of protection against the attack. Once thest dark wind needle fell from the sky, Ondo focused on the muscr Wave Puppet, but he could not give a singlemand before Iris carried on with her attack. Iris¡¯ power skyrocketed as she summoned the force of the Law of Wind for the second time, generating four dark wind tornadoes that shed with the muscr Wave Puppet¡¯s shoulders and knees. There was nothing Ondo could do but see how those dark wind tornados maimed the muscr Wave Puppet, destroying its extremities. Iris turned toward Ondo with cold eyes full of killing intent. Now that the muscr Wave Puppet could not act, it was the perfect time to carry on with her onught, but instead of doing that, she turned around and vanished into the forest. From the beginning, she did not seek to defeat the old man but cripple the muscr Wave Puppet, so this one could not chase after her. There was an immense rage in Ondo¡¯s heart as he saw Iris leaving, but there was nothing he could do. She was too fast, and even if he could keep up with her, without the muscr Wave Puppet, there was no way he could defeat the young woman. ¡°Ahhh.¡± Ondo sighed, wondering how he would exin all this to the higher-ups when a sense of utter doom assaulted him. He nced behind him and saw a red shing his way, aiming a ruthless attack directly at his heart. Using every ounce of strength left in his body, Ondo pushed his body to the side. That saved his life, but the red fash still took his right arm off. Ondo clenched his teeth as he jumped back and put the fat Wave Puppet between him and the attacker. His eyes narrowed as he saw that the one that almost killed him wore a metallic suit and a red mask. The man in the red hood nced at the right arm that held a space ring in one of its fingers before turning toward the old man, devouring every ounce of blood in the extremity. Chapter 170 - 170 Killing a Wave Champion 170 Killing a Wave Champion Ondo¡¯s eyes widened with shock as the man in the red hood devoured the blood in his severed arm until there was not even a single drop left. Just when he thought the fight was over, a new threat appeared. As the man in the red hood devoured the blood, the red lightning around his body grew stronger and thicker. There was a solemn expression on Ondo¡¯s face as he focused on the Astral Wave of the man in front of him. Although he could not urately measure the cultivation of the man in the red hood since hecked Ego Wave, judging by the Wave¡¯s output, he guessed this one was a Level 7 Astral Wave Warrior. Normally, someone at that level would not be a threat to a Wave Champion like him, but he lost his right arm, space ring, and muscr Wave Puppet. Not to mention that the chase and fight with Iris almost depleted his energy pool, and he was losing blood very fast. ¡°Who are you? Do you understand who you are facing? I am part of an organization even Sector Dukes do not dare to antagonize!¡± Ondo hoped that his background would draw fear in the heart of the red-hooded man, but it seemed that would not be the case as the killing intent in the eyes of this one only grew stronger. ¡°Thump!¡± A heartbeat echoed through the forest as Cain activated the First Gear, and his skin turned red. Asura Form had already be a default state for him regarding serious battles, as it exponentially enhanced his speed and the brute strength he could unleash. Things did not end there as Cain took a deep breath and pushed his Wave Burst, which was already at a shocking 2000%, to 3000%! ..... Wave Burst put Cain¡¯s body under tremendous stress the more it rose. Before 2000% was his limit, but the breakthrough in the Blood Refinement Art allowed him to reach an even higher level. Of course, a 3000% Wave Burst meant that Cain¡¯s energy pool would deplete very fast, no matter how talented he was with his Wave Cloak, but he never intended this fight to be one of attrition. Finally, thest upgrade in his strength came as Cain began to circte the Blood Energy through his body and enhance his Lightning Armament. That gave Cain¡¯s blue lightning a blood-like color. Ondo¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that massive burst in his opponent¡¯s strength, and he set aze the Essence Wave in his left hand. Clearly, the man in the red hood would not leave without a fight, and trying to run would only leave his back open to more sneak attacks. The fat Wave Puppet¡¯s body began to tremble as it entered overdrive, growingrger and its skin turning green. Although its primary purpose was as a defensive tool, it did not mean this one could not deploy an impressive battle power. Cain saw the burst in the strength of the Wave Puppet, and his eyes glowed with resolution. He shed forward as his blood lightning and Astral Wave enhanced his right fist. Ondo saw the man shing toward him at a shocking speed, and he sent the fat Wave Puppet to attack this one, sending a palm strike that seemed capable of tearing down a small building. The strength in the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s palm strike was impressive, but its speed was subpar, to say the least, making it very easy for Cain to dodge it. However, he did not do it and chose to counter the palm with his fist. ¡°?BOOM!¡± The sh between the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s palm and Cain¡¯s blood lightning punch generated a shock wave due to the immense power behind them. Cain moved back three steps, and he felt his right arm trembling, but there was a smile on his face since his punch pushed back the fat Wave Puppet the same amount of steps as him. For the first time in his life, he shed directly with a Wave Champion that was able to deploy full power and managed to hold his ground. It would have been easy for Cain to disappear once he left the underground city. No one could perceive him, so it would not have been a problem for him to vanish, but he chose to chase after Ondo. There was a burning desire inside Cain¡¯s heart to test just how powerful he had be, and he knew that only a Wave Champion could push him to unleash all his power. A year ago, Wave Champions were legendary creatures that Cain could only look at in wonder, but now he had the power to threaten the lives of these! Cain did not wait even a second before shing back into the fray, charging his arms with blood-lightning and Astral Wave. Ondo could not help but frown as he saw that the red-hooded man did not target him but his Wave Puppet. He could not believe this one did not know that the best way to fight a Puppet Master was to go after the puppeteer. However, there was not much for Ondo to do other than carry on with the fight, using everything he had so the fat Wave Puppet could crush his enemy. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± More and more shock waves echoed through the forest as palm and fist collided with a power surpassing Wave Warriors¡¯ limits. Itsted roughly thirty seconds before Cain jumped back, putting some distance between him and the fat Wave Puppet. Cain¡¯s arms trembled, and his mouth had an iron taste due to the blood in it, but that did not erase his smile since he was able to decipher the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s battle style, and that was not all. ¡®System, disy the information of the target.¡¯ Usually, the [A.I. Chip Module] would have problems scanning targets stronger than Wave Warriors due to the energy defenses of these ones. Still, direct physical contact like the one deployed in a melee fight allowed the system to go through with the scan. [Target scan sessful. ¡ª ss: Wave Artifact Type: Battle Puppet ¡ª Strength: 10.1 Speed: 4.5 Vitality: 17.2] Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he analyzed that information. ¡®Other than its vitality, the rest of its stats fall into the realm of Wave Warrior. Even then, its attacks made my arms tremble. Even with all my upgrades, it would be tough to fight a Wave Champion ande victorious.¡¯ Cain focused on the Wave Puppet and began to walk calmly toward this one. Ondo frowned as he saw the man in the red hood approaching the fat Wave Puppet. He felt something was wrong, especially with how this one¡¯s body moved, waving from one side to the other. Waiting would not help him, so Ondo made his Essence Wave burst beforemanding the fat Wave Puppet to attack with all it had. Cain smiled as he saw the Wave Puppeting at him, full of killing might. Dozens of palm strikes came his way, but he could easily dodge them. Virtual Sight¡¯s uracy improved immensely once the [A.I. Chip Module] was able to scan the target, and Cain could predict every movement of the fat Wave Puppet seconds before they happened. Ondo saw how none of his attacks managed tond, and terror began to appear in his heart. ¡°?Boom!¡± The old man heard a st, but it was not his Wave Puppet¡¯s attack the one that provoked it. It was his opponent¡¯s left hook, the one that unleashed that shock wave and things only grew worse for the old man from that point on. Cain had just connected a left hook, and as his body waved to the other side, he twisted it, not losing any momentum, and carried on with a right hook. His body gained more momentum as he moved from the right to the left, dodging all the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s palm attacks while unleashing hook after hook. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± st after st echoed through the forest as Cain¡¯s body gained more speed, and his strength increased with every single punch. Cain had developed a technique that used the bodily control learned during his assassination training and allowed him to unleash the maximum power of his Asura Form. Ondo could only see with shock as the fat Wave Puppet no longer carried on with hismand due to the ferocious onught it was receiving. Cain¡¯s body moved so fast that it seemed it left after images and powerful gales moved around his back and arms. ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± ¡°?BOOM!¡± It did not take more than ten seconds for the fat Wave Puppet¡¯s head to burst to pieces under the might of those punches. Ondo could do nothing but see how his Wave Puppet fell to the ground after the red-hooded man destroyed its head. Even if it was a machine, its center ofmand was on its artificial brain; without it, he could not control it. ¡°WAIT!¡± Ondo was only able to utter that word before a hand covered in blood-lightning pierced its heart. Cain saw how the light in the old man¡¯s eyes vanished and showed no hesitation before activating the Blood Refinement Art, devouring Ondo¡¯s blood to recover some of his stamina. ¡®I have be a little strong.¡¯ That was the only thought on Cain¡¯s mind after killing the Wave Champion and vanishing from the forest Chapter 171 - 171 Blood Lightning (I) 171 Blood Lightning (I) Today was a special day for the Imperial Lightning Fort. Thousands of cadets were in a perfect military formation in the central area of the fort, all in absolute silence. Although everybody was a cadet, the ones at the front row were the stars, and their auras were the greatest. They were the ones that obtained the highest scores in their sses, harvested the most military merits, and whose cultivations rose above all others, with many of them reaching Level 4 Wave Warrior! On arge battlefield with dozens of thousands of soldiers fighting, the damage a single Level 4 Wave Warrior could do was minor. Still, that power could allow them to preserve their lives, something those at Level 3 and beneath found much more challenging. The fate of most soldiers with a Level 4 cultivation or higher was not dying on the battlefield but enduring wounds so severe they could not return. In that case, the Imperial Military Force would give them administrative jobs in other branches. Respect and care for war veterans was a rule engraved in the empire by the First Emperor of Humankind, Adam. If you give your health to the Imperial Military Force, this one will pay you back. The front row of the military formation had faces Cain would have recognized, like Levi, Lurin, Orin, Lumir, and Zamir. There were also individuals who had kept an extremely low profile during the military academy but finally decided to show their true power. Those cadets chose to reveal their power since this ceremony not only marked the end of their life in the military academy, but it was also the time when those that had done exceptional work this past year would be rewarded. Suppose their battle power and military merits were high enough. In that case, the Imperial Military Force could reward them with titles such as First Lieutenant, granting them a giant leap forward in their path in the military. ..... Levi stood by Lurin¡¯s side, and the duo could not help but showplicated expressions as they noticed the one cadet that was missing. Cain had not returned to the fort and would miss the graduation. Of course, the fact that Cain was not here did not necessarily mean he was dead, but missing the graduation would mean that all the merits he gained the past year would be null. He would have to start his military path from the lowest stage. Unlike Levi and Lurin, others were delighted to see that Cain was missing. There were those like Zamir and Lumir that hated him, while other geniuses were happy that they would not have topete with the genius no one could surpass. In front of the cadets, there was arge podium with dozens of teachers. Those were the people that guided these youths during their time in the military academy. And nking the podium were twenty young men and women. Each of them had an aura mightier than any cadets¡¯, and they were the new generation of Vice-Captains. Since those cadets would most likely end up under one of them, it was suitable for the Vice-Captains to be present. Among those twenty, there was someone that Cain loathed, Uriel. A man walked to the front of the podium and stared at the cadets with a solemn expression. He had gray hair and a thin constitution, but anyone who focused on his body would feel crushing pressure, making it clear he was not weak. That man¡¯s name was Rodrick, and while none of the cadets had seen him before, he was the one in charge of the Copsing Lightning Military Academy. All the decisions that affected the cadets had toe through him first. ¡°I congratte all of you for finishing your mandatory service. If you choose to live as a civilian, I wish you all the luck in the world, and may you have a life full of peace and happiness in our prosperous empire. As for those who will join the Imperial Military Force, I tell you right now, we are a meritocracy. There are no treasures or resources so precious you can not obtain them as long you prove your worth to the military. I will give you the first proof of the rewards that hard work provides by granting the ranks to those who have proven worthy of them.¡± Rodrick waved his hand, and the next second, a giant holographic screen appeared above him with the title of Lightning Cadets. On that screen, there were 72 names. Those were this generation¡¯s best cadets, and each of them would get a rank in the military ording to their power. Rodrick made that list ording to the cadets¡¯ battle power and the amount of Imperial Military Credits they had gathered since those were the most reliable form of measuring someone¡¯s merits. Everybody immediately focused on the N¡ã1, and most cadets could not help but feel awe as they saw that name. N¡ã1 Cain Laurifer ¨C +1.5M Imperial Military Credits/ Early Level 6 Battle Power. Despite Cain not having returned to the Imperial Military Fort for over a month, he still secured 1st ce in the Lightning Cadet Ranking, and the 2nd ce was not even close. N¡ã2 Lumir Huren- 679.250 Imperial Military Credits / Pseudo Level 5 Battle Power. Unlike the awe that caused Cain¡¯s numbers, when the cadets focused on those of Lumir, many of them sneered. They suspected that Lumir had requested the help of soldiers to carry on with multiple missions at once, so he could inte the number of Imperial Military Credits he had gained. That was, of course, against the rules, but none of the cadets could provide evidence of that, and using someone of a crime without proof was a grave crime in the Godyer Humankind Empire. Lumir did not care about the gazes of the rest of the cadets since he was about to be pushed to 1st ce in the Lightning Cadet Ranking. The fact he would be stealing Cain¡¯s ce filled him with excitement. Rodrick gazed at the screen above his face and saw that the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet was not present. He was about to erase Cain¡¯s name from the ranking when his eyes narrowed as he looked to the distance, and he was not alone since Jonathan did the same. A figure shed toward the military cadet formation at an incredible speed and appeared beside them before they could even react. He was a young man with ck hair, green eyes, and arcs of red lightning moving around his body. Shock, excitement, happiness, awe, anger, rage, and many more emotions appeared on the cadets as they saw that the strongest cadet in the Imperial Lightning Fort had returned. Cain was exhausted since he pushed himself to the limit to arrive in time, but he did his best to hide it, showing no weakness at all since it would not fit the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. Cain would have wanted to arrive before the ceremony, but not everything was possible. He saw the expression of Rodrick and knew he was not out of the woods yet. The Imperial Military Force valued talent, but it also valued discipline and a sense of responsibility. Arriving at thest second was not proof of that. It was clear to Cain that Rodrick intended to punish him for his mistake, but he was smart enough to act first. Before the man could even say a word, he brought arge beast from his space ring. ¡°I apologize for arriving sote, but I encountered this Shadow Phanter during my travels, and I took the chance to test my assassination skills.¡± Teachers, soldiers, and cadets focused on the beast after Cain took it out of his space ring, and they saw that it was intact other than a small hole on the back of its head. However, that was not the most impressive thing. What shocked everybody was the strength of the Wave Beast, which they were able to deduct by its size and other physical characteristics. ¡°That is a Level 6 Shadow Panther!¡± One of the cadets was unable to remain calm and shouted once he realized the strength of the Wave Beast. All the cadets stared at Cain with a sense of utter amazement. The assassination of a Level 6 Wave Beast would be challenging, but that of a Shadow Panther, a beast known for its speed and reflexes, was beyond shocking. Cain noticed how the harsh light in Rodrick¡¯s eyes weakened a little but was still there since the Level 6 Shadow Phanter¡¯s assassination did not exin his dy. He expected something like that, which is why he took another body from his space ring. Everybody saw arge Wave Beast emerge from Cain¡¯s space ring. It was so mangled that they found it hard to discern its type, but after a few seconds, they did it. If they were shocked before, now a sense of utter stupefaction assaulted them. ¡°That is... that is a Level 7 Golden Back Gori!¡± Cain saw all those eyes focusing on him, and he smiled. ¡°Soon after killing the Shadow Panther, I encountered this Golden Back Gori and was forced to run and hide. However, I managed to turn the tables and beat him to death.¡± Chapter 172 - 172 Blood Lightning (II) 172 Blood Lightning (II) Silence reigned as people found it hard to believe what they were seeing. For Cain to have beaten that Level 7 Golden Back Gori like that, his battle strength must be above at least equal to a Peak Level 7 Astral Wave Warrior. A fifteen-year-old with a battle power at that level, just how amazing was that!? Cain smiled as he allowed everybody to see those two Wave Beasts. He was not afraid of anyone finding anything weird on them since he really did kill them both with his own hands, using his assassination skills with the Shadow Panther and pure brute strength with the Golden Back Gori. After defeating the Early Wave Champion, he found those two Wave Best in the forest and killed them in order to have a reason for his dy. With his new power, taking care of Level 7 Wave Beasts was easy. Rodrick nced at the corpses, and by the burn marks left by lightning on the Golden Back Gori, he was pretty sure that Cain killed both Wave Beasts. Yet, he was also wise enough to see that the cadet was hiding something from him. He looked to the teachers behind him and saw that all those that had taught Cain were quietly nodding, expressing their support for the young man. ¡®Ahhh, this brat. There is no damage, and he was smart enough to present a valid reason, so I guess I could let things slide this time.¡¯ Rodrick was about to speak, reprimanding Cain a little before telling this one to take his rightful ce, when a voice echoed around the fort. ¡°He must be cheating!¡± ..... That powerful shout came from one of the cadets in the front row, and he was no other than Lumir. Therge green youth¡¯s face was full of frustration and rage. Lumir was so close to being promoted to the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet, which would have allowed him to gain a powerful status in his family, but now it seemed he would remain as the N¡ã2. In Lumir¡¯s mind, the N¡ã1 ce belonged to him. He could not allow Cain, who had vanished for more than a month, take it from him. When the rest of the cadets heard Lumir¡¯s yell, none focused on Cain and wondered whether or not he had cheated, but in the green youth. In the Godyer Humankind Empire, using someone of a crime or breaking the rules of the military without any form of evidence was a crime. Zamir¡¯s eyes widened as he heard Lumir¡¯s yell, and he nced at his friend before shaking his head, indicating to this one that he should not proceed with his words. Uriel also focused on Lumir, but the look in his face was much colder. He could not believe that the cadet he had worked so hard to help was so stupid. Lumir could feel everybody¡¯s eyes focusing on him, but the pressure only made him even madder. They were supposed to look at him with awe and envy, not as if he was a madman. ¡°There is no way he would have killed both of those Wave Creatures alone. Someone must have killed them for him, or maybe he just found those bodies lying around and took them.¡± Rodrick, the teachers, and the Vice-Captains could only shake their heads as they listened to Lumir¡¯s words. The cadet provided no proof at all, and his exnations made even less sense. If Cain had someone with the strength to take care of those creatures by his side, he would not have arrived sote at the graduation ceremony. As for finding them just lying in a forest somewhere, that was even more idiotic. If the one that killed them had to run and leave the corpse behind, other Wave Beasts would have devoured them in a matter of minutes. Rodrick saw that Lumir was about to continue spitting nonsense, but before he could shut up the cadet, a red sh appeared in front of the green youth. Lumir was unable to react when a hand bathed in red lightning grabbed his head and mmed him into the ground with so much strength that he felt his skull was about to shatter. He looked to the assant and saw two eyes glowing with a red light that infused a sense of absolute terror in his heart, and the feeling only grew stronger as the grip around his head tightened, making his bones crack. The fear of death had already shattered Lumir¡¯s will, and he did not dare to fight back against Cain, but a sh of hope appeared in his heart as he saw a figure bathed in shining light shing toward him. The oneing to his rescue was no other than Uriel, but just as Lumir thought he was saved, he saw that Cain began to smile as his heartbeat burst with might and his skin turned red. Uriel¡¯s eyes were cold as he sent a palm strike toward the back of Cain¡¯s head. That would push this one away from Lumir but could also lead to brain damage, something the Vice-Captain had no problem with. Just as Uriel¡¯s palm covered in shining light was about to reach Cain, this one turned around and responded with a fist bathed in blood lightning. ¡°?Boom!¡± A small shock wave echoed once the palm and fist collided, and everybody saw how Uriel moved back almost ten meters. Uriel could not hide his shock as he saw that Cain¡¯s attack had pushed him away. That punch carried immense strength, and the blood lighting burned the skin on his palm. The next second, that shock turned into pure killing intent as Uriel realized the way the others were looking at him. He was a new Vice-Captain and the most promising one of this generation, but a cadet defeated him! Uriel¡¯s Astral Wave exploded as he unleashed the full might of his Wave Burst. Before, he had only attacked using Wave Cloak, as he did not want people to me him if his palm strike caused brain damage to Cain. Cain saw the bursting Astral Wave of this one and saw that it surpassed that of Iris. It was near Ondo¡¯s level, but Uriel was still a Wave Warrior, making this one energy pool extremely impressive. Seeing the immense power of his opponent only made Cain smile. His eyes glowed with red light as he used his Ego Wave to push his Wave Burst to 3000% and unleashed his Blood Energy¡¯s full power. There was an immense battle intent in Cain¡¯s heart as he stared at Uriel and remembered their first encounter. He no longer needed anyone¡¯s protection and could face the Vice-Captain alone. Dense shining light covered Uriel¡¯s skin, while wide arcs of blood-lightning revolved around Cain¡¯s body. The cadets were about to break battle formation as they wanted to avoid bing coteral damage from the fight between Cain and Uriel. However, before the duo could start their battle, Rodrick shouted, and his voice generated shock waves that focused around the duo. ¡°Enough!¡± When Cain heard that voice, he felt like an invisible power was taking control of his body. It was simr to the power of hypnosis but used a different path and did not rely on putting your target in a susceptible state of mind. Uriel could not do anything against that force, and his body froze instantly as his Wave Cloak vanished. Unlike Uriel, Cain¡¯s eyes began to glow with a red light that became more and more powerful. Cain would have been unable to fight back if it had been before the events in the True Saharo City. Still, after everything he endured and the trials he surpassed, his willpower experienced a radical change. Finally, the red light reached its zenith before the sound of breaking ss appeared inside Cain¡¯s mind, and then his Ego Wave burst like a volcano! ¡°?BOOM!¡± Everybody could see how a giant red force field emerged from Cain¡¯s body and raised to the sky like a mighty blood dragon. Rodrick showed an expression of pain as blood leaked from the corner of his mouth due to the bacsh of having his technique broken. However, he barely registered that as his eyes could not leave the mighty Ego Wave that emerged from Cain. That mighty red force field drew the attention of everybody in the Imperial Lightning Fort. The weak only saw a majestic sight, and the strong understood the nature of that force and could not help but feel awe as they realized from whom it came. Zarak was in his room in the Titan Tower and turned toward the mighty pir of Ego Wave with a smile. He had detected Cain¡¯s presence thanks to his Ego Mark when this one was one hundred kilometers away from the fort, but he had not perceived the change in the youth. ¡°Hahaha, this brat. Whatever happened to you, it must have been truly challenging for your willpower to have evolved beyond Wave Champions¡¯ limits and finally enter the realm of Wave Kings.¡± Chapter 173 - 173 Blood Lightning (III) 173 Blood Lightning (III) The red force field vanished the next second, and Cain¡¯s mind felt a sense of rity like never before. He felt his brain working much faster, but he could not focus on that for much time due to the sudden headache he felt. Cain grabbed his head as the pain faded, and only then he looked around and see eyes full of shock and awe focusing on him. Luckily for Cain, just as things were about to go out of control, Rodrick shouted, drawing back all the attention. ¡°Exin yourselves!¡± Once again, shock waves emerged from Rodrick¡¯s voice, but this time they spread across all the cadets, not focusing on a single person. Uriel smiled as he heard those words, sure that Cain had gotten into serious trouble, and he was ready to make things even harder for the cadet when he felt Rodrick¡¯s eyes focusing on him. Uriel turned toward Rodrick with confusion, as he did not understand the meaning of this one¡¯s gaze. ¡°Well, I am waiting for your exnation.¡± Rodrick was not only demanding Cain to exin his actions against Lumir but also for Uriel to give a reason for his sudden attack. ..... Uriel felt an immense sense of shame as he saw that all the Vice-Captains were looking at him as if he was a clown, waiting for him to entertain them. Still, no matter how he felt, the young man did not dare to go against Rodrick. ¡°Cain attacked one of his fellow cadets without reason, so I sought to apprehend him and bring him to justice.¡± It was clear to everybody that Uriel¡¯s true goal was not just to detain Cain, but his words did make sense. ¡°That is not your role, nor do you have the authority to act over other cadets or even soldiers that are not under your directmand. It is not the first time you have made a mistake like this. I should not have to say this to you, who is already a Vice-Captain, yet I have to. The Imperial Military Force is not your family¡¯s fiefdom!¡± Rodrick¡¯sst words unleashed more shock waves that pressured solely on Uriel, making this one kneel. ¡°This mistake will go on your military record. Return to your formation.¡± Uriel¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that. The humiliation was bad enough, but a mark so soon on his military record would make it much harder to advance in the ranks. A poisonous hatred emerged in Uriel¡¯s heart, but he did not target Rodrick since this one was too powerful, choosing instead to me Cain for all his problems. Cain noticed the hatred in Uriel¡¯s eyes but showed no fear and simply turned toward Rodrick. ¡°ording to the rules and regtions of the Imperial Lightning Fort, a cadet can act in self-defense if he is attacked first or feels threatened.¡± Rodrick turned toward Lumir, who was still lying on the ground with an expression of utter terror. ¡°He threatened you?¡± ¡°Words are dangerous and can induce physiological damage that is much harder to defend against. Lumir¡¯s usation made me feel in danger, so I acted. Since I did not cause permanent damage, there is nothing wrong with my actions ording to the military rules.¡± When the teachers heard Cain¡¯s words, many of them silently nodded. Unlike Uriel, who was trying to make excuses, Cain gave an exnation backed by the Imperial Lightning Fort¡¯s military codes. Rodrick analyzed everything before sighing and shaking his head. Cain had gone overboard, but Lumir was guilty of throwing usations without any form of proof. ¡°Everybody, return to your ce so the ceremony can continue.¡± Ultimately, Rodrick chose to ignore both Lumir and Cain¡¯s transgression and carried on. Cain smiled as he took his ce in the front row, right at the beginning of the military formation. Rodrick stared at the young man, and as he saw that confidence and determination, he could not help but smile. As someone who dedicated his life to the military, he was happy to see that the next generation was full of power. ¡°Cadet Cain Laurifer, for your exemry disy of both power and duty, having disyed a battle power above Level 7 and amassed Imperial Military Credits that surpass the 1.5 million, I grant you the rank of Vice-Captain!¡± Rodrick¡¯s voice was loud and seemed to have a special power as it echoed across the entire Imperial Lightning Fort. ¡°From now on, you are the Blood Lightning Vice-Captain!¡± ¡ª In a distant location of the Copsing Lightning Sector, five persons were floating in the sky. Each of them had military clothes, and the stripes on their shoulders made it clear that none had ranks beneath Major. Among the group was a face that Cain would have recognized. She was the first Astral Wave Cultivatior that he knew used cold weapons. Major Luma stood in the sky looking at the ground, and there was a solemn aura around her. She was not alone since everybody in the group had severe expressions. The only one that had a resemnce of calm was the old woman at the front of the group. She had long white hair and wrinkles all over her face, but despite her appearance, her life force was full of power. All four Majors looked at the woman with a sense of utter respect and awe as they knew that her power was something none of them could evenpare with. The old woman¡¯s eyes glowed with golden light as her Wave Cloak manifested. She then activated Wave Burst, and gales like the ones released by a tornado assaulted the sky. A single person affecting the environment just like a natural disaster was incredible, but Luma and the others knew that was the power of a Wave King! She then raised a finger, and her Essence Wave began to mutate gradually, generating a massive ming rock, not unlike a meteorite. The ming rock grewrger until it became more than fifty times the size of the old woman, and only then did she throw it. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± Several shock waves echoed across the sky before the meteoritended due to this one breaking the sound barrier and moving faster and faster with each second. ¡°?BOOOOOOOM MMMMMM!¡± Finally, the meteorite conjured by the old womannded on the ground and generated a massive explosion, leaving a crater with a radius of over 10 kilometers! That attack would have been more than enough to destroy a great city of the Old World with a poption of over 5 million people! That amazing disy of strength left Luma and the other Majors in utter shock. Nevertheless, as they looked left of the crater generated by the meteorite, the somber aura that assaulted their heart only grew stronger. Right next to the crater left by the meteorite was a palm print that was more than fiverger! It was crazy to even think of it, but Lumar saw it with her own eyes. Someone unleashed a palm strike that destroyed everything in a radius of 50 kilometers. And it was not just the size but also the depth that was much greater than the one left by the old woman¡¯s meteorite. ¡°This was supposed to be where Saharo City was, am I right?¡± The old woman¡¯s words brought Luma back to reality, and she immediately nodded. ¡°Yes, Colonel Mira. This was the exact location of Saharo City. We lost all forms ofmunication three days ago, and our satellites showed a distorted image due to the density of residual energy in the air, which is why we had no idea the city was gone already.¡± The old woman, Colonel Mira, nodded before taking a deep breath and unleashing a golden force field. She then infused her Essence Wave into her Ego Wave, making the force field range extend in all directions and allowing it to see everything several kilometers underground. When Mira saw the ruins of an underground city, her eyes narrowed. At this point, even she, a mighty Wave King, also adopted a solemn expression, and if one looked with care, one would notice a sh of fear on her face. ¡°Has there been any news of Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses in this area?¡± Luma immediately shook her head and spoke with confidence. ¡°This is not the act of the Dark Races. The entire Copsing Lightning Sector had been under strict surveince after thest Gaia Invasion.¡± As soon as the old woman discarded the Dark Races, the fear in her eyes grew even stronger and became hard to hide. ¡°We must leave.¡± Luma and the others were confused by those words, but before they could even ask for an exnation, Mira turned around and flew away at supersonic speed. That only made their confusion stronger, but fear emerged in their hearts as they analyzed the Colonel¡¯s actions. Mira must have figured out who was responsible for the destruction of Saharo City and would not get involved with those people no matter what. Luma and the other Majors did not hesitate following the old woman. Chapter 174 - 174 The Organization 174 The Organization A bald man with a long beard walked across arge hall made of dark rocks through whichrge arcs of lightning moved. He finally reached the end of the hall and stood in front of arge gate that was more than ten times his size. The man adopted a battle stance before putting his hands on the gates and splitting them up. His muscles bulged as he used immense strength, and drops of sweat appeared on his face due to the effort. Those that knew the bald man would have been shocked to see that just opening some doors would prove that difficult since he was immensely powerful. It took him around thirty seconds before he finally opened the gates, and as soon as he did that, a thick arc of ck lightning emerged from the center of the room and shed toward him at a shocking speed. The bald man¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that ck lightning and could see that the power in it was more than enough to obliterate an entire city. He summoned his Wave Cloak and sent a palm strike forward, shattering the lightning arc. Despite the immense strength of the bald man¡¯s palm strike, he was not able to obliterate the lightning arc, and the pieces came crashing against the walls on the other side of the gate. Luckily, the dark rocks attracted that wild and powerful energy and absorbed it before it could damage the ce. A smile appeared on the bald man as he felt the burning sensation on his hand and looked to the center of the room. ¡°It seems that Your Highness has fully recovered.¡± There was a man inside the room, and dark electric sma covered his entire body, leaving only his blue eyes visible. ..... Those that knew this ce understood that the massive gate¡¯s purpose was not to keep someone locked-in but to prevent this man¡¯s power from identally destroying the entire Titan Tower. The man inside the room was none other than the yer of the Atrox God that attempted to destroy the Imperial Lightning Fort, one of the mighties Sector Dukes in the entire Godyer Humankind Empire, the ck Lightning Titan, the Copsing Lightning Duke! ¡°I assume you have important news to interrupt me during my training.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke¡¯s voice was deep and carried a force capable of shaking the earth. Most people, even mighty Wave Kings, would feel terrified by the Copsing Lightning Duke¡¯s presence, but the bald man showed nothing but calm. ¡°My Lord Duke, orders have arrived from the capital.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke¡¯s blue eyes began to glow with a white light when he heard those words. ¡°So they are finally making a move. It was about time. Carry on, Luther.¡± The bald man named Luther nodded before taking a golden scroll from his space ring. ¡°The actions of the Wave Beasts during the 56th Gaia Invasion were an affront to the Godyer Humankind Empire¡¯s might and must be punished. The only price that can wash away their crime is blood. In the Copsing Lightning Sector, every Wave Beast that is more than 100 kilometers away from the Sector¡¯s border must be eliminated without exception. The ones in charge of the carnage must be first-generation from the Imperial Military Face and Wave Universities. urate measurement must be done as it will affect the uing Opening of the First Titan Abode.¡± Luther spoke for almost half an hour, giving the mission details to the Copsing Lightning Duke before closing the scroll. ¡°The total extermination of the Wave Beasts in the entire Sector. That old man acted viciously this time, but it makes sense considering the abode¡¯s opening and the current state of the war overseas. Since they had already made a deal that only the first-generation would participate in this mission, they took care of the negotiations. Good, one less problem to take care of.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke finished with his retrospection before focusing on Luther again. ¡°Tell me, is there anyone remotely impressive from this new generation of soldiers.¡± ¡°There are several, my Lord Duke. There is...¡± Luther did not finish his sentence as he saw how the Copsing Lightning Duke began to look at him and understood this one did not care about a list and only wanted to hear about the N¡ã1. ¡°The mighties cadet in this generation is an orphan called Cain Laurifer. He arrived at the Imperial Lightning Fort shortly after his fourteen-year-old birthday and is currently fifteen. His current status is that of Zarak Valentine¡¯s core disciple and the Young Lord of the Valentine Household. He is considered a top-tier genius in hypnosis, Gic Coding, and assassination. ording to the newest information, he is a Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior with a marrow washing over 70%pletion. He has an excellent foundation and tempered his body with a high-grade auxiliary technique. He had an Inborn Awakened Ego Eternal Matrix and reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power less than six months ago. Coincidently during his ascension to Mind Over Body, he faced a wounded Atrox Wave Champion and killed this one. This morning, Cain Laurifer¡¯s willpower evolved beyond the limits of a Wave Champion and entered the realm of Wave King. The most precise measure of his battle strength puts him between Levels 8 and 9.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke¡¯s eyes widened a little as he heard all that. Cain¡¯s destiny was rising higher and higher, and there seemed to be nothing he could not do right. Of course, other than a little surprise, that provoked nothing in the Copsing Lightning Duke. Cain was still too young, and whether or not he could rise to a level where he could act as a true powerhouse for the Goyer Humankind was hard to tell. ¡°There is also something I should mention, Lord Duke. I am not certain, but it seems that the cadet Cain Laurifer can use Blood Energy.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke frowned when he heard that. ¡°He is supposed to be an orphan and should have no rtion to the Blood Sea. What did your investigation show?¡± ¡°There is indeed no connection between Cain Laurifer and the Blood Sea. The most usible exnation is that he came in contact with one of its core arts during his journeys and didn¡¯t even know about them.¡± Luther was very diligent and erased any question about Cain¡¯s origin immediately. ¡°I see. The Blood Sea is not the sharing type, and I am sure it won¡¯t be long before the news reaches their shores.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke could unleash a destructive might even mightier than the Old World¡¯s nuclear bombs, but even he was wary of that Blood Sea. That was enough to tell everybody just how dangerous they were. ¡°Should we act proactively, Lord Duke?¡± The fact they were careful did not mean they were afraid, and Luther¡¯s eyes glowed with a sh of killing intent as he spoke. The Copsing Lightning Duke analyzed everything for a moment before softly shaking his head. ¡°They would not dare to send a Titan to catch a boy. Give Zarak all the information about the Blood Sea so he can protect his disciple. That man is fond of battle, so I am sure he will like this arrangement.¡± Luther nodded, and with a single message sent through his A.I. Chip, he took care of all that. ¡°There is one final point we need to attend, Lord Duke. Is about The Organization.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke had shown little concern about the genocide that would soon take ce in his Sector, and even the Blood Sea only managed to bother him a little. However, the moment Luther mentioned The Organization, a solemn expression appeared on his face. ¡°Carry on.¡± He waved his hands, closing the gates Luther had worked so hard to open. Luther was also aware of the danger of speaking about The Organization, so he just nodded when he saw the Copsing Lightning Duke closing the gate. ¡°Recently, reports of a destroyed city reached us. The name was Saharo City, but the important part was the underground city built beneath this one. The one that destroyed it was not a Wave Beast or a member of the Dark Races, and they left no trace of their presence. There are also reports of scions, civil officers, and even soldiers vanishing all across the Sector. Many had marked Saharo City or a location nearby as their destinies. By what I could get from my contacts in the capital, it is happening all across the empire.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke clenched his fist as he heard that. There were very few things he feared in this world, but The Organization was one of them. If he could face them head-on, the Copsing Lightning Duke would jump into battle right away, but The Organization never left the darkness. That was their power, and no one dared to antagonize it. ¡°Make sure the Pirs are ready to be mobilized. In case things go out of control, contact me.¡± The Copsing Lightning Duke said nothing more before closing his eyes and returning to his training. Chapter 175 - 175 Massive fortune 175 Massive fortune Cain, Levi, Lurin, Ophelia, and many other cadets were drinking and eating as theyughed. After the graduation ceremony ended, they all came to a bar inside the fort. While the Imperial Lightning Fort worked as the center of operation for the Imperial Military Force inside the Copsing Lightning Sector, it was also a city with millions of soldiers, many of whom considered this ce their home. Humans were social creatures, so there were bound to be distractions, such as bars inside the fort, where the soldiers could gather and have fun. There were even special areas where the families of high-ranking soldiers lived. Cain was now a Vice-Captain in the Imperial Military Force, while Levi, Lurin, Ophelia, and the others at the table were First Lieutenants. All the people present had already fought side by side during the defense of Korin City from the Wave Beast¡¯s horde. ¡°Hahaha, when you arrived, the faces of Lumir and Zamir were epic. Those two thought they could umte all the attention and fame with their underhanded methods, but you busted their bubble.¡± Lurinughed as he remembered what happened with the duo when Cain arrived and took his position as the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. It was clear he did not have a good impression of them and enjoyed seeing them fail. Cain only smiled and drank his beer as the group praised his feats. His constitution and mind were so strong that the level of alcohol in the beer could not affect him, and it tasted like mud. Of course, seeing that everybody was having a good time, Cain would not bring it up and just continue drinking. ¡°Although I am surprised by the actions of that new Vice-Captain, the one called Uriel. He attacked without saying a word, and even though he was not using Wave Burst, that palm strike to the back of the head would have crippled any normal Level 4 Wave Warrior.¡± Levi¡¯s voice was somber and cold as he remembered the actions of Uriel. There was even a sh of killing intent in his eyes. The events with Uriel made everybody serious, but one person broke the tension. ..... ¡°Who cares about that guy? Did not Cain counterattack push him away? As time passes, the difference between their strengths will only diminish.¡± Ophelia¡¯s face was red due to the alcohol, but her words were true. Levi, Lurin, and the others remember how Cain managed to easily counter Uriel¡¯s palm strike and the ferocious appearance of this one as his entire body was bloody red. Cain saw the awe in the people across the table when they remembered his power. However, he did not let that trick him. Whenever Cain felt he was strong, he just had to remember the attack of the Atrox God and how he could have done nothing to save himself. That allowed him to always push himself beyond his limits and never settle for his current talent or power. ¡°By the way, you really like the color red, don¡¯t you?¡± Cain almost spat his drink when he heard Levi¡¯s words. The truth was that he indeed liked the color red, but it was just luck that all his techniques would adopt that shade. Asura Form pushed his cardiovascr system to the limit, turning his skin red, while the charge of Blood Energy into his Lightning Armament also altered the color of this one. As for his Ego Wave, that was just chance. ¡°Hahaha, I guess you could say so.¡± The group continued talking andughing untilte in the night when everybody returned to their residences, back in the cadet section of the fort. It would take a week for their new home to be ready. Once Cain reached his residence, he bowed to his father¡¯s altar for a few minutes before taking a shower, eating a small meal, and then going straight to bed. He slept very little over thest few weeks, and even with his mental fortitude and brain power, it still pushed him to the limit. Cain woke up after almost twenty hours of sleep. That was an immense amount of time, considering how high his vitality was. When he finally woke up, he felt refreshed and full of energy. ¡°Great. I am in peak physical and mental condition.¡± Cain smiled as he analyzed the state of his body and mind. He filled his stomach before taking a small bag from his waist, and inside it were dozens of space rings. Those belonged to Morgana, Ondo, Cristian, the scientists, and the youths and bodyguards that perished during the clinical trial. During the time that Cain traveled from Saharo City back to the Imperial Lightning Fort, Apex hacked into all of them, and his A.I. Chip had already branded them. Cain first analyzed the belonging of the youths, bodyguards, and Ondo. His body almost trembled as he saw the wealth he had gathered. There were all sorts of Wave Artifacts, Wave Viruses, drugs, cultivation resources, and more. Although many of those resources did not suit his cultivation path, and none of the Wave Artifacts were useful, Cain could always rely on Apex to use the ck market and change them for something he could use. ¡°Apex.¡± ¡°I know. I will keep the ones of use and change the others for things you need. Should we look for something other than Dragon Blood Grass to continue tempering your body?¡± Apex was extremely diligent when giving a mission, and Cain was sure it would not take long before all those illicit goods vanished from his possession. Cain¡¯s body had grown so powerful and thoroughly tempered by blood essence that it was time to search for something new. ¡°Any suggestion?¡± ¡°You have improved your constitution to a very high level thanks to the Blood Refinement Art, and tempering it more with auxiliary techniques or resources before rising to the Wave Champion Rank will be almost impossible. Since that is the case, you should focus your energy on your marrow washing. There is something called the Whale Lightning Orb. It contains a massive amount of lightning inside, and it is extremely useful to purify your body and help your marrow washing.¡± When Cain heard that, he used the militarywork to look for the Whale Lightning Orb. ¡°So it is an object found inside Wave Champion Beast, and their price is...¡± Cain¡¯s voice froze, and his eyes widened as he saw the price for a single one of the orbs. ¡°70.000 Imperial Military Credits! That is almost three times the price of the Dragon Blood Grass!¡± The price shocked Cain, but after a moment, he sighed and nodded, indicating for Apex to obtain them. Cain was perfectly aware of how important marrow washing was for an Astral Wave Cultivator and had a critical role in how far he could rise. Money meant nothingpared with the brute strength that high cultivation would grant him. Now that he finished with those, Cain began to look into the space ring of the scientists. They were all Gic Coders, and arge smile appeared as he saw the resources inside those space rings. There was even a Recovery Capsule inside Cristian¡¯s space ring, which would make things much easier for Cain in the future. Finally, it was time for Cain to open Morgana¡¯s space ring. He was full of expectations since the woman had lived a long life, and she was supposed to be a Quasi-Saint Gic Coder. What Cain saw inside the space ring left him in utter shock. Not only was there a massive amount of resources meant for Grand Gic Coders, but there was something even more impressive. ¡°No way.¡± Cain could not believe his luck as he saw a series of books inside Morgana¡¯s space ring. When he scanned them with his Ego Wave, he saw that they were all of the woman¡¯s Gic Coder¡¯s experiences. Usually, people would not write things in physical format, as digitalizing the data into your A.I. Chip would make things much more manageable. Cultivators had all sorts of strange habits, and one of Morgana¡¯s was to write on a piece of paper. Maybe Morgana¡¯s fascination with physical writing was due to her old age and knowing that everything inside her A.I. Chip would be erased once her brain stopped working. Whatever the case, Cain could not be happier with those books. In them was not only a thorough path from the basics all the way to Pak Grand Gic Coders but also hundreds of recipes for Wave Viruses. Cain took a deep breath and calmed his heart before speaking with the Spirit System. ¡°Apex, you recorded every word Morgana, and the scientists uttered when they spoke about the Gic Chain, right?¡± ¡°Who do you think I am? Of course. I even hacked into all the Recovery Capsules so we could have all the data from the other 16 youths, not just Simon and Iris.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Cain¡¯s smile widened as he heard that. He had not forgotten about the Lineage that Morgana was searching for, and since it was so powerful, he wanted it for himself. Chapter 176 - 176 Laws and marrow washing 176 Laws and marrow washing Cain had just reached his new residence and was ready to continue his experiments in Gic Coding when a voice appeared in his head. ¡°Brat, it is me.¡± Zarak¡¯s voice echoed inside Cain¡¯s mind as this one used his Ego Wave tomunicate. Cain was surprised to hear Zarak¡¯s voice and realized that this could stretch the Ego Wave for such a long distance. He was able to keep calm and wondered whether his master had questions about his actions during thest month. However, Zarak¡¯s question had nothing to do with that. ¡°Tell me, where did you get your body refinement auxiliary technique?¡± Cain was a little confused by the question since Zarak already knew about the Blood Refinement Art, but this was the first time this one asked about it. Although he was not fond of revealing his secret, Zarak had shown him there could be trust between them, so he decided to tell the truth. ¡°I found it in a corpse during a mission. I obtained the information from its A.I. Chip, which failed to self-destruct after the user¡¯s death.¡± ¡°Did you kill that person?¡± ¡°No, he was dead long before I arrived.¡± ..... ¡°Oh, so that is how. In that case, you are good.¡± The confusion on Cain¡¯s face only grew. There was clearly something going on with his Blood Refinement Art. ¡°Is there a problem, Master?¡± Zarak did not answer immediately, and only after a moment did Cain hear his voice again. ¡°Your technique has a problematic origin, but since you did nothing wrong, there is no need to worry. I will take care of things, and if anything changes, I will let you know.¡± After that, Cain felt Zarak¡¯s Ego Wave vanish. He was still full of questions, but it seemed he would not get any more information. Instead of worrying about things he could not control, Cain began to look at his new residence, which starkly contrasted with the one he had as a cadet. The ce was almost five timesrger, with rooms designed specifically for his training and experiments. Cain would have wanted to go ahead and make the Gic Chain for the new Lineage, but that was not possible yet. Only after bing a Peak Grand Gic Coder would his abilities reach the minimum requirement to pursue such a task. ¡°Let ¡®s start.¡± With that word began weeks of non-stop training. Cain would improve his cultivation with wave crystals while using Lightning Wave Orbs to temper his body. Cultivation upied half of Cain¡¯s time. He divided the rest between his Gic Coder training and Hypnosis Master training. Time always seemed to run short, but luckily Cain¡¯s Ego Wave had grown so powerful that he could do more than one thing simultaneously. He noticed it shortly after his Ego Wave burst with power and broke the force that Rodrick used to paralyze him. ording to the information he got from Zarak, that was his willpower breaking through the limits of a Wave Champion. Once that happened, those with talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power gained the ability to split their minds in two, being able to generate twopletely different trains of thought at the same time. Cain was still at the First Realm, but now that his willpower evolved to the Wave King level, his brain became much stronger, and soon his Alter-Ego would show signs of growth, allowing him to harness its power. Thanks to his powerful vitality and Ego Wave, Cain only needed two hours of normal sleep a week. Of course, he still required rest daily to work correctly, but his Embryonic Breathing was more than enough, and he could use it while cultivating. Three weeks passed like that, and only then did Cain stop his training and decide to take a decent night of sleep. However, before that, he used the system to analyze his cultivation and body. ¡°System, scan.¡± Seconds after Cain uttered thatmand, the always reliable system carried on with the task. [Scan of Vesselpleted ¡ª Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 4 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 6 (Low Tier 6) ¡ª Stats: Strength: 3.3¨C>3.8 Agility: 2.1¨C>2.6 Vitality: 4.4¨C>5.1 Wave: 1.6¨C>2.3 Blood Energy: 5.1¨C>5.6 ¡ª Marrow washing: 74%pletion ¡ª Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%] It had been just three weeks, but Cain¡¯s cultivation had significantly advanced, thanks to his mighty Wave Talent that resulted from his high percentage marrow washing and the new Wave Virus he obtained from Morgana¡¯s books. The new Wave Virus was much better than the Enhanced Wave Drive he obtained from Camil. Its name was Blood Revolution, and it used your vitality to fuel your cultivation. While Blood Revolution was impressive, to say the least, only people like Cain, whose vitality was impressively high for their current cultivation, could use it without suffering from side effects. The sale of Wave Viruses like this one was prohibited since there was no shortage of people that would endanger their lives for a cultivation boost. Cain had no problem keeping them since he never intended to sell them. Not only was it very costly, but the difficulty of the Blood Revolution¡¯s Gic Chain was also at the standard of a Grand Wave Virus. He would gain more by selling Enhanced Wave Drive in bulk than by spending an entire day creating a single Blood Revolution. ¡®I am much stronger than before, and the speed at which I consume Life Wave and transform it into Astral Wave is impressive. From what I can see, it is just a matter of days before I be a Level 5 Wave Warrior.¡¯ Cain adopted a solemn expression as he thought of his next breakthrough and how it would be an extremely important step in his cultivation. There was no way Cain would have forgotten about the power of the Laws that Iris had used during her fight in the underground city of Saharo. That was a might that Cain definitely wanted to master. However, there was no mention of the Laws in any part of the Fiend Devourer Cultivation Technique. At first, he thought it was a secret power only a few knew of so early in their cultivation, like the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but he was wrong. Apex had managed to obtain information about the power known as the Laws, thanks to his constant hacking of the Empire Science Academy. In a very basic way, the Laws were the matrix of the world. The forces that made everything work as it was supposed to, making fire produce warmth and ice generate cold. You can summon their power by gaining some understanding of them, just like Iris did with the Law of Wind. However, that was a gift reserved for those that follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power. The Essence Wave inside their bodies enhanced their perception and allowed them to study the Laws. Technically, someone that follows the Astral Rebirth Path of Power could still study the Laws, but that would be futile. By the time they gained even a bit ofprehension, the boost it would grant to their battle power would be insignificant. Of course, if the Essence Evolution Path of Power had ess to such a gift as the Laws, while the Astral Rebirth Path of Power had nothing topete with, the second would have vanished long ago. While the Astral Rebirth Path of Power did not grant an enhanced perception capable of studying the Laws, it allowed its user to go through marrow washing. Once the percentage surpassed 75%, an Astral Wave Cultivator would gain a boost to their strength and talent just as high as an Essence Wave Cultivator that managed to begin theirprehension over the Laws. After Apex told Cain that, this one remembered the words that Wink told them at the beginning of the training in Wave Cultivation. ¡®Essence Wave focuses on perception, while Astral Wave focuses on the foundation. Mine reached an impressive level thanks to the Blood Refinement Art breakthrough to level 2.¡¯ Cain was delighted with his current foundation, but that did not mean he would not push it harder. That is why he spent so much money on high-level cultivation resources. Finally, Cain went to sleep and woke up as the sun rose. He took a shower, ate a small meal, and bowed to his father¡¯s altar before leaving. Cain did not take long to reach arge field where hundreds of soldiers were in perfect military formation. There was a sense of discipline in their eyes, making it clear there was no one among them that did not have a strict sense of discipline. Cain noticed that among the First Lieutenant, there were Levi, Lurin, Ophelia, and many other familiar faces. The military organized people ording to their affinity, so finding themselves in the same battalion was not odd for those who had worked together. ¡®My life as a soldier finally begins.¡¯ Cain smiled as that thought crossed his mind. ¡ª End of Book 2. The Rise of the Blood Lightning Genius. Chapter 177 - 177 Full power punch 177 Full power punch Book 3 ¨C Journey through the de Mountain ¡ª Cain did not position himself with the soldiers but went ahead and ced with the four people in the lead. Those were Vice-Captains, just like him. Suddenly, Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt a presence approaching. Before he could detect the neer¡¯s exact location, a man descended from the sky andnded in front of the Vice-Captains. He was almost two meters tall, with ck hair, blue eyes, and a muscr body. Arge ck halberd behind his back unleashed a powerful blood scent. The man¡¯s aura told Cain this one was an Astral Wave Cultivator. It was the second time he saw a user of Astral Wave using a weapon instead of just relying on their bodies. The first one was Major Luma. Cain knew that using cold weapons had nothing to do with your power. It all depended on your battle style and whether or not a weapon could allow you to unleash a great battle power. Zarak was one of the strongest life forms he had seen, and this one used only his body. What truly drew Cain¡¯s attention was the fact the man could fly. Not all Wave Champions have that power, and he did not quite understand how one could do it. The man that was supposed to be the battalion¡¯s Captain stared at the Vice-Captains, and his eyes remained on Cain for a few seconds. ..... Cain did not find it odd for the Captain to focus on him. After all, he was extremely young and a cadet a month ago. Technically, Vice-Captain was not an official rank in the military. It was a special position given to people that have disyed great talent and merit so that they could hone their leadership skills. ¡°My name is Aaron Gartun, but you can call me Captain. I am not fond of words, and my motto is simple. Work hard, embrace responsibility, and do not make excuses. Most important of all, confront your challenges without hesitation. If you follow that, we will have no problems.¡± Aaron¡¯s voice was thunderous and reached every single soldier. He then focused on the Vice-Captains again. ¡°A step forward. Name your years of service and your cultivation.¡± The five Vice-Captains nodded. One by one, they took a step forward. ¡°Benjamin Ceres, Sir. Twelve years of service. Level 8 Astral Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Caleb Ceres, Sir. Twelve years of service. Level 7 Essence Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Andrew Catan, Sir. Seven years of service. Level 8 Astral Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Jason Hernandez, Sir. Nine years of service. Level 7 Essence Wave Warrior.¡± ¡°Cain Laurifer, Sir. The first year of service. Level 4 Astral Wave Warrior.¡± When Cain uttered his name, the soldiers began to look among themselves. The chatter would have started if they were not in a strict battle formation. The tales of Cain Laurifer had spread more than just among the cadets. All the soldiers had heard of the young man who gained the N¡ã1 ce in all the Pirs of Trial, killed a wounded Atrox Wave Champion, reached the graduation ceremony with the body of Level 7 Wave Beasts, and could sh with a Level 9 Vice-Captain. However, while all those stories were awe-inspiring, they were, in the end, stories. Very few of them had truly seen Cain¡¯s might. They were supposed to follow him into battle but knew nothing about him and whether or not he could handle the pressure of the battlefield and have the lives of hundreds of people on his shoulders. ¡°So you are supposed to be the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet, the genius whose battle power breaks all the charts and whose mind is as sharp as a seasoned warrior.¡± Aaron smiled as he spoke those words, but there was a cold light in his eyes as his aura began to rise, and soon a st of Astral Wave emerged from his body. ¡°I don¡¯t care if Rodrick gave you the rank of Vice-Captain for your merits. If you are going to lead in my battalion, you must prove yourself to me!¡± Aaron¡¯s aura grew even stronger, and his eyes began to glow with silver light as the Astral Wave grew denser and revolved tightly around his body. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw that silver light. It was clear that the Captain had already reached the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, and while he could not be sure, it seemed that this one¡¯s willpower was much greater than that of Major Luma. A sh of realization crossed Cain¡¯s eyes as he understood that not because you have a higher rank, your strength would be greater. However, Cain did not waste his time with those thoughts, as he had to focus on the challenge in front of him. ¡°I can not test your true leadership skills until we reach the battlefield, but I can test your battle power. Hit me with all you have, and if I find your strength insufficient, you can forget about having a leadership role in my battalion.¡± Aaron¡¯s aura seemed to reach its peak as he uttered those words. His skin turned chromatic, with red diagrams covering every corner of his body. Cain knew the man was serious, and if he did not show extraordinary battle power, he would lose the position he had worked so hard to obtain. He took a deep breath, and without hesitation, he unleashed the full power of his Astral Wave and Blood Energy. ¡°?Boom!¡± A small shock wave emerged from Cain¡¯s body due to the sudden energy output, shocking the other four Vice-Captains. They were all at a higher cultivation level, but Cain¡¯s Wave output did not fall behind any of them. Cain¡¯s energy pool was already greater than an average Level 4 Wave Warrior, and by using a 3000% Wave Burst, the might he could unleash was terrific. Not to mention he also controlled his Blood Energy using his Ego Wave, making sure this one revolved around his body at an extremely fast speed, pushing his physical might to an even higher level. ¡°Thump!¡± Things did not end there as Cain¡¯s heartbeat became so strong that all the soldiers could hear it, and everybody saw how his entire body became red. Aaron had read Cain¡¯s file and knew about his extraordinary gifts. Still, what he saw shocked him. ¡®A Level 4 Wave Warrior can really unleash such a powerful aura?¡¯ He did not look down on Cain, and his eyes glowed with an even stronger silver light as he pushed his Wave Burst to 800%. Cain walked calmly toward Aaron until he was right before this one. He then adopted a battle stance before using Wave Focus to gather every ounce of power he had into his right fist. ¡°?Boom!¡± Another shock wave emerged as an oundish amount of energy gathered on Cain¡¯s right fist. Part of the Astral Wave transformed into red lightning, while the rest focused solely on enhancing that fist¡¯s physical power. Aaron¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the level of control that Cain¡¯s had with his Astral Wave, and he understood that the willpower of the young man had already surpassed the limits of a Wave Champion. Cain could disy granr control over his Astral Wave during Levels 2, 3, and the beginning of Level 4 without a problem since his willpower was that of a Peak Wave Champion. It was like arge man controlling a small wooden sword. However, thanks to his 3000% Wave Burst, the amount of Astral Wave that Cain was manipting matched that of a Level 8 Wave Warrior. It was clear that while Cain¡¯s Astral Wave was growing, his willpower did it much faster. Aaron did not say a word and waited for Cain to attack. If he used Wave Focus, he could easily endure the punch without much damage, but that would be a low trick and would not sully his reputation like that. Cain clenched his teeth as he channeled more and more of his energy into his right fist. He felt a monstrous pressure on his muscles and circtory system but kept pushing forward. All the Vice-Captains had already moved away, not wanting to be caught in the st that punch would generate once it made contact. Cain exhaled, releasing all the air inside him, allowing his muscles to contract even more, making it easier to put his entire body weight on his fist. Just as Cain was about tounch that punch, his entire body began to rotate. The torque started in the soil of his feet, rose to his waist, and grew stronger with his back and shoulders, finally generating a massive force that exponentially increased the strength of the fist. Aaron¡¯s eyes widened as he saw Cain¡¯s superb martial skill. He was shocked that such a young man could disy that skill level, but he could only take that blow thatnded right on his abdomen. ¡°?BOOOM!¡± The sound that originated was not different from the one of a missilending on a building before shattering it to pieces. Chapter 178 - 178 The Hunt 178 The Hunt ¡°?BOOOM!¡± The sound that originated was not different from the one of a missilending on a building before shattering it to pieces. Aaron clenched his teeth as that punch violently pushed his body back. Luckily, his feet were still in contact with the ground, so he was able to use the friction to diminish the momentum and regain control of his body in a matter of seconds. Everybody saw how Aaron¡¯s body stopped twenty meters away from Cain, with a clear fist imprint in its abdomen. What left everybody shocked was the blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Even Aaron was surprised to see that. His body was incredibly resilient, and the technique he trained not only transmuted his skin but all the flesh and viscera, granting him overwhelming defensive power. The fact that Cain was able to generate internal damage in someone so powerful as Aaron left all the soldiers in a state of shock. Cain showed a small smile as he saw the effect of a full-power punch that carried every ounce of strength on his body. Of course, he understood that doing something like that in an actual battle was impossible since there was no way the enemy would stay still for over a minute while you charged your attack. Cain¡¯s smile did notst long as a wave of pain assaulted him. Hairline fractures were all over his right arm due to the immense stress and the recoil of hitting something as hard as Aaron¡¯s body. That was not all since he also pushed his circtory system to the extreme, leaving him inplete exhaustion. ..... It took a moment for Cain to calm his breathing, and as he straightened his body, he saw that Aaron was already in front of him. The duo looked at each other before nodding, and then Cain returned to his position in the military formation alongside the rest of the Vice-Captains. A grateful expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he stared at Aaron. Although some might think that this sh was the Captain making things hard for him, he knew things were not like that. That disy allowed all the soldiers to see Cain¡¯s might, appeasing their doubts over having someone so young and inexperienced as a Vice-Captain. Aaron waited for a few moments and allowed everybody to get over the shock before speaking again. ¡°Many of you are in the first year of your military service, and we usually will go to some minor conflict areas where battles between armies of the Godyer Humankind and the Dark Races ur. However, things will be different this generation.¡± Cain and the other soldiers adopted solemn expressions as they heard that. Everybody in this ce was ready to march into war against the Dark Races, but it seemed that their first mission as true military members would not be that. ¡°As all of you should remember, during thest Gaia Invasion, hundreds of Dark Races powerhouses attackedrge cities in the Copsing Lightning Sector, killing millions. However, that amount of death was just a fraction of the lives lost to the endless Wave Beasts¡¯ stampedes that took ce all over the Sector. Some of you might think that the Wave Beasts were just taking advantage of the chaos, but you would be wrong. In reality, the ones on the top of the food chain made a pact with the Dark Races¡¯ powerhouses to kill as much as possible.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, but he was not surprised. He had arrived at a simr conclusion, not that it mattered anymore. His eyes began to glow with red light as he remembered the pungent smell of blood in Rouk City. He was not alone since the killing intent emerged in the hearts of everybody in the battalion. Dozens of millions of men, women, and children perished under the stampedes of the Wave Beasts during that time. Wave Beasts did not differentiate between soldiers and civilians or old and young, so they killed everybody. Aaron nodded as he felt the killing intent in his soldiers. They would need it to carry on the next task. ¡°The Emperor had sent amand that humankind must eliminate every Wave Beast in the four Sectors that suffered the onughts during the Gai Invasion. That included the Copsing Lightning Sector. There must be no Wave Beast left in the Sector by the end of the year!¡± Cain¡¯s heart was full of killing intent a moment ago, but his eyes widened when he heard that order. He was outraged by the Wave Beasts¡¯ actions and the loss of human lives, but what the Emperor wanted was genocide! The total extermination of the Wave Beast race in the Copsing Lightning Sector meant the death of billions of those creatures. ¡°Humans, your thirst for vengeance knows no limit, and neither does your hypocrisy.¡± Cain heard Apex¡¯s voice inside his mind and clenched his fist. ¡®They attacked during our time of weakness, leveling entire cities and killing dozens of millions of our kind.¡¯ That thought appeared in Cain¡¯s mind, which Apex could read. ¡°Oh, I see. You invade their forest, butcher their race day and night for food and sometimes just for fun, but they should never think of invading your homes.¡± Cain frowned since he knew that the way Godyer Humankind treated Wave Beasts was not different from how the Old World¡¯s humans acted with farm animals. ¡°Brat, the only real crime that the Wave Beastmitted was not adapting to the universal forces as well as your race. They are weak, and you are strong. You can kill them, but they can not pay you back.¡± The frown on Cain¡¯s face grew even stronger when he heard that, but Apex had not finished. ¡°There is nothing wrong with your race killing theirs. When humans arrived at Aether, you were weak, and I am sure Wave Beasts killed your kind just for fun. The strong kill the weak. That is a fundamental truth of the universe. There is nothing wrong with that. What I detest is using excuses to shine a beacon of justice over your actions.¡± Apex did not say anything else after that, but a contemtive expression appeared on Cain¡¯s face. Those words carried a very important message. Unfortunately, he had no time to focus on them since Aaron carried on with his words. ¡°The mission is called The Hunt and will be a joint effort between the full power of the Imperial Military Force and Wave Universities.¡± That piece of information made many of the soldiers frown. Everybody knew that the rtionship between soldiers and students was not good, but Aaron continued speaking. ¡°No one above the Wave Champion level will participate in The Hunt.¡± If before the soldiers frowned, now they were confused, and fear began to appear in their hearts. While Wave Beasts tend to be weaker than Wave Cultivators at the same level, some creatures earned the title of King Beast. Those creatures reached a cultivation rank equal to Wave Kings, and a single one of them was more than enough to kill dozens of Wave Champions. Although arge army made solely of Wave Warriors and Wave Champions could kill a King Beast, the number of casualties on the human side would be astronomical. Cain was also worried, but he knew that there was no way they would send them on a suicidal mission, which is why he was not surprised by Aaron¡¯s following words. ¡°The higher-ups already took care of the King Beast in the Sector, so we will not have to worry about them. Our only enemies will be Wave Beasts and Wave Champion Beasts.¡± The soldiers rxed after hearing that. Killing Wave Champion Beasts would not be easy, but as long as they use their wisdom and formations, they can do it without much problem. After that, Aaron waved his hand, and a file reached the A.I. Chip of every single soldier. It had all they would need to know about The Hunt, as well as the reward they could get. Cain wanted to analyze the information immediately but needed to focus on hismanding officer. ¡°Are there any questions?¡± Among the First Lieutenants, Levi heard that and wanted to ask about what Wave Universities would join forces with the Imperial Lightning Fort, but he knew it was not his ce since that question was meant for the Vice-Captains. ¡°What Wave Universities would join us?¡± Luckily for Levi, one of the Vice-Captains made that question, and he was no other than Cain. Cain did not make that question because of Levi. He wanted to know if those people he encountered when he fought the Lightning Lion would appear. ¡°Every Wave University in the Copsing Lightning Sector would participate in The Hunt. As for those of other Sectors, I can not say for sure, but people of the Hellzer University and Endless Shadow University mighte since they are the closest to us.¡± Seeing that there were no more questions, Aaron nodded and left. Chapter 179 - 179 Leadership (I) 179 Leadership (I) Aaron did not say a word or give Cain and the other instructions. There was no need for that. They were Vice-Captains and should be able to know what to do without the Captain telling them. A soldier must know how to follow orders, and amanding officer must know what to do in their absence. Cain and the other Vice-Captains sped their hands and bowed as Aaron vanished in the air before turning to their troops. Cain focused on his battalion and saw there were a total of three hundred soldiers. Of course, giving orders to every one of them was inefficient, so he needed to select squad leaders. The other Vice-Captains waited in silence as Cain carried on with his job. They had done that same task when they first became Vice-Captains and knew it was difficult. Cain had the personal record of every soldier under hismand. Still, even with his cognitive abilities, it would take a long time to analyze everything and decide which were the best for the positions of squad leaders. Luckily, he had something at his disposal with even greaterputational power than his own brain. Using the [A.I. Chip Module], he made it so the system would show him all the people that matched his requirements. ¡°When I say your name, walk forward!¡± Cain uttered ten names, and those people walked orderly toward him. ..... The Vice-Captains were surprised that Cain coulde up with the squad leaders so fast. Some of them thought he might be rushing things, but when they saw the people he selected, they were indeed the best for the job. All ten had great leadership skills, had proven their courage and wisdom on the battlefield, and developed personal rtionships with most of theirrades, making it easier for them to harvest their strength. However, when the Vice-Captains saw thest three soldiers that Cain named, aplicated expression appeared on their faces. That trio was impressive when it came to leadership skills, but there was one problem: they were too old. Thosest three soldiers were only Level 3 Wave Warriors and were around seventy years old. The lifespan of a Godyer Human was 150 years old, so they were far from natural death or any cognitive detriment, but their age had already started to affect their strength. The veterans were weak due to not improving their cultivation for so long, which induced atrophy in their meridians. That, plus their age, made them even weaker than a normal Level 1 Wave Warrior. You needed strength to lead people into a battlefield since you were the one they would all follow. If you were too weak and could not fulfill that responsibility, or even worse, end up dying, it would leave your squad in a vulnerable position. Cain knew all that and saw a perfect example of how age could affect someone¡¯s battle power with Morgana. If he had to guess, the old woman was a Peak Wave Champion, but he killed her with a single strike. Yet, Cain still chose the trio to be squad leaders. Their minds were perfect for the job, even if their bodies were not. Luckily, he had a way to fix thetter. ¡°I chose you to be squad leaders. Do you have any questions or something you would like to share with me?¡± Seven of the squad leaders showed determination as they heard Cain¡¯s words and were ready to take the task head-on. However, the three veterans look at each other before softly nodding and raising their hands. Cain turned toward the trio and saw the oldest bowing before speaking. ¡°Vice-Captain Laurifer, I am First Lieutenant Michel. My brothers and I thank you for this honor, but we believe our abilities would be of greater use in other areas.¡± Michel¡¯s words were very crafty. He thanked Cain for selecting them and chose to give the excuse they could work better somewhere else so as not to embarrass this one for making a poor judgment call. Cain smiled as he heard those words. The trio had obtained great merits during their lives in the military, which is why they were all First Lieutenants despite their weak cultivation. If Michel and the other two sought to retire from active duty and obtain a desk job, it would be extremely easy with their record, but Cain could see that they wanted to remain on the battlefield as long as they could. Cain did not say a word at first, instead taking three sets of objects from his space ring. Each set contained a Wave Virus, wave crystal, and Dragon Blood Grass. The Wave Virus was one of histest aplishments, explicitly designed by Cain in case he found people like Michel. As for the Dragon Blood Grass, he no longer actively bought it, but there was plenty left in his space ring. ¡°These are Telomerase Regenerators. They are Grand Wave Viruses that revert, in some measure, the effects of aging in your bodies. It will not increase your lifespan, but your constitution will return to the state where it found itself thirty years ago.¡± Michel and the other two veterans gaze at the Wave Viruses in Cain¡¯s hand as if it was a miracle. Regaining the strength of their middle-aged bodies would be incredible. And that was not all. ¡°It will also allow your body to heal all sorts of atrophy. If you use the Wave Virus with these two, your cultivation could obtain the full power of a Level 3 Wave Warrior.¡± If before the trio was shocked, now they were in utter stupefaction. Regaining their youth and fixing the damage that time did to their meridians would be a dreame true. Utter silence reigned among the soldiers as they heard Cain¡¯s words, as the wonder was just too much. ¡°You are a Grand Gic Coder!?¡± One of the Vice-Captains could not help but shout as he saw the Wave Viruses in Cain¡¯s hands and heard its effects. Only Grand Wave Viruses could induce permanent changes in someone, and only Grand Gic Coders could make them. Cain turned toward Benjamin, the Vice-Captain that shouted those words and nodded. His abilities were already at the peak of the Elementary Gic Coders before going to Saharo City. They rose to the next level right after obtaining Morgana¡¯s books describing her life experiences. The three veterans, Michel, Samir, and John, stared at the sets in Cain¡¯s hand with absolute longing. If they have it, they could spend the next decades in the military acting like true soldiers and leading people instead of barely fulfilling their duties due to the weakness of their bodies. ¡°The wave crystal is worth 10.000, the Dragon Blood Grass 20.000. As for the Telomerase Regenerator, even if I charge you the lowest price, it would still be 50.000. In the end, each set cost 80.000 Imperial Military Credits.¡± Those words brought the trio back to reality, and they could only shake their heads. Even if they sold all they had, there was no way they could obtain the 240.000 Imperial Military Credits needed to buy the three sets. Cain knew that the price would be too much for the trio. If he was honest, he had no problem giving it to them, but that would generate all sorts of issues, which is why he took the following path. ¡°I know you do not have the resources to buy these sets, but you can not expect me to give them to you for free. I usually spend around half a million military credits a month for my cultivation, so money is tight. However, since you are under mymand, I can sell them to you on credit. Every Wave Beast killing during The Hunt trantes into military credits, and you will transfer three-quarters of what you gain to me until your debt is paid. Are you fine with this arrangement?¡± Michel, Samir, and John showedrge smiles as they heard that and immediately began nodding. With a youthful constitution and restored cultivation, the number of credits they could get would be much higher than in their current condition, so there were only gains by epting Cains¡¯ deal. Cain smiled and handed the sets to the trio. He was sure they would give everything they had once they reached the battlefield. The other Vice-Captains looked at Cain with respect and were impressed with how he handled the situation. Everything action he took was well thought out, including the fact he charged for the sets. If Cain had just given the sets to the trio, that would have alienated the other soldiers since they would have wanted the same, and there was no way he could have given so much to the three hundred under hismand. After handling the squad leaders, Cain stared at the rest of the soldiers, and his eyes glowed with red light as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave. Chapter 180 - 180 Leadership (II) 180 Leadership (II) After handling the squad leaders, Cain stared at the rest of the soldiers, and his eyes glowed with red light as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave. ¡°All soldiers under mymand, besides the squad leaders, adopt a meditative stance and rx your minds.¡± Cain¡¯s words confused the soldiers, but years of military training instilled a deep respect for the chain ofmand, so everybody did as theirmanding officer told them. A mighty force field emerged from Cain the next second, instantly covering the three hundred soldiers. ¡°Sleep.¡± As soon as Cain uttered that word, the soldiers fell unconscious one by one. However, they were not simply falling asleep. Everybody saw how the Wave inside their bodies began to revolve much faster, and an expression of utter peace appeared on their faces. All the Vice-Captains saw with utter shock as, in less than five minutes, all three hundred soldiers under Cain¡¯smand entered Embryonic Breathing. Cain felt tired after that, but arge smile was on his face. After his willpower evolved to the Wave King realm, the quality and quantity of his Ego Wave underwent an evolution. Before, it would have been a challenge to hypnotize thirty people, but now he could do three hundred. Of course, it also helped that none of the soldiers under Cain¡¯smand were above Level 5. The stronger the Wave Warrior, the greater their mental fortitude, and the harder it would be to put them in the state ofpulsion needed for hypnosis. ..... ¡®I wonder how powerful my current hypnosis ability has be. I should at least be a 4 Star Elementary Hypnosis Master by now.¡¯ Cain did not lose too much time thinking about his power and instead began to discuss battle formations with his squad leaders. The other Vice-Captains were silent for a moment, and their faces had awkward expressions as they stared at their battalions. They originally intended to render assistance to Cain, but this one needed none of it, and his legend only became stronger as he disyed his hypnosis and Gic Coder abilities. Of course, as seasoned soldiers, they did not let that bother them. All the Vice-Captains called their squad leaders forward and began to discuss strategies to face Wave Beasts¡¯ hordes in their own terrain. Cain was doing the same. He had used the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan all the soldiers and develop all sorts of battle formations to help them maximize their power and cover their weaknesses. The squad leaders were surprised by Cain¡¯s battle formation, and he was surprised by the input they gave to his strategists. While there were no massive changes, it would make things easier and possibly save lives. Aaron returned after five days. He nced at the soldiers and focused on Cain. A smile appeared on the Captain¡¯s face as he saw the squad leaders and how the rest of the soldiers were in a state of Embryonic Breathing. Cain was not the only Hypnosis Master in the Imperial Lightning Fort, but there were many that would not use their abilities with their soldiers since no one would pay them. ¡°Sir.¡± All five Vice-Captains bowed once they saw Aaron arrive. ¡°Well done. I have good news. We will be part of the force that will strike one of the main clusters of Wave Beasts, the de Mountain.¡± Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that. He knew about de Mountain due to the legends that originated around it and the fact it was a location marked as certain death for anyone that entered it, even if they were Peak Wave Champions. ¡°We will march in one week. You have until then to make preparations. We will gather in the port and aboard the Lightning Star Cruiser.¡± Aaron waved his hand after that, sending the Vice-Captains a file with information about de Mountain before turning around and leaving. Cain did not analyze the information on the spot. He turned toward his battalion first and woke them up. ¡°Disperse.¡± That was all Cain and the other Vice-Captains said before leaving. They had a lot of things to do, and every minute counted. Cain returned to his residence and bought all sorts of goods, working every single minute until it was finally time to depart. He and every soldier under Captain Aaron went to the Lightning Start Cruiser. They were not alone since thousands of soldiers from other battalions were also getting into the Star Cruiser that would march to de Mountain. It was not the first time Cain got into a ship like this, but luckily this time, he was a Vice-Captain and had his room. As soon as Cain reached his residence, he took a long shower, ate a small meal, and slept. Once he woke up and felt all the past week¡¯s exhaustion vanish, he began. Cain waved his space ring, taking out several hearts from Level 7 Wave Beasts, three Whale Lightning Orbs, and dozens of wave crystals. He waited until his body was in perfect harmony before starting to cultivate. It did not take him long before the Astral Wave inside his body burst with power, and the meridians pierced deep into his muscles. The meridians reached deep into the muscle, merging with the muscle fibers, meaning that Cain was finally rising to Level 5. That would greatly boost his physical strength as the Astral Wave could now flow directly into his entire body¡¯s muscture. However, it was not the rise in his cultivation that drew such a solemn attitude in Cain or for which he made so many preparations. It was what would happen alongside it. ording to Apex¡¯s information obtained from Empire Science Academy, once the perception of an Essence Wave Cultivator reached a certain level, they could begin to understand the Laws, which would greatly boost their battle power and talent. Those that followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power would find it almost impossible to perceive thews, but they have ess to something just as impressive. Once their marrow washing crossed the 75% threshold, they would experience a small form of rebirth. Cain felt how the rise in his Astral Wave attempted to purge the pollution deep inside his body, but it proved extremely hard. He had expelled a significant amount of the filth umted since birth, but the one left was deep inside his marrow, making it much harder to remove. Luckily, Cain had prepared. He used the Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts to revolve the Blood Refinement Art, harvest the lightning power of the Whale Lightning Orbs, and draw the Wave from the wave crystals. All that helped Cain¡¯s body, and finally, after five minutes, he felt like a wall was breaking inside his body. The next second, a foul substance, much more disgusting than the ones he had seen before, was expelled from his body. Cain smiled as the marrow washing finally crossed the 75% threshold, but he did not rx since he knew things were far from over. Shortly after Cain expelled that foul substance, his entire body began to bleed. It was as if he was sweating blood, and it happened very fast. Now that his marrow was more than 75% clean, it began to produce a new form of blood, and the old one had to disappear. The name of this process was Blood Renewal, and the benefits Cain would obtain were superb. Blood Renewal required massive vitality to bepleted, but Cain was ready. He pushed the Whale Lightning Orbs and wave crystals to the side, focusing solely on the Wave Beasts¡¯ hearts. Cain revolved the Blood Refinement Art as fast as he could, devouring those hearts¡¯ vitality. Suddenly, he focused on his old blood and saw that while it was at best subparpared with the new one, it was still full of energy. A decisive light appeared in Cain¡¯s eyes as he used his Ego Wave to focus on his blood vessels, perceiving the old blood and then using it as fuel for the Blood Refinement Art! Cain was literally eating himself. Those were the actions of a madman, no matter how you look at them. However, the effect of that was incredible. The Blood Refinement Art worked almost three times faster when Cain used his own blood to activate it. That surprised him, but he did not lose focus and carried on. Cain felt how his old blood was gradually vanishing while the new one reced it, and things did not end there. Along with the new blood, there was a reforge of his blood vessels. The blood vessels were growing thicker, more resilient, and even more flexible as well. New branches emerged from them, making it easier for the blood to reach the organs. Blood Renewal was divided into several steps, the first being the generation of new blood and the reconstruction of blood vessels. After that, there would be a gradual transformation of the viscera, with Cain¡¯s body improving in every single aspect. Chapter 181 - 181 N掳1 Rising Roc 181 N¡ã1 Rising Roc The Lightning Star Cruiser reached its destination after almost two weeks of travel. It began to descend on a zone full of rocks and unleashed a gravitational pulse that leveled the ground, generating a ne field. Such a level of destruction was simple for the Lightning Star Cruiser. While the ship¡¯s offensive power could only match that of a Peak Wave Champion due to itsck of dexterity, it could endure the attacks of Wave Kings. Not that far from where the Lightning Star Cruiser hadnded, there was another ship just as impressive as this one. It had a picture of a giant golden bird engraved on it. More than ten thousand individuals were around the ship, and one thing they all had inmon was their youthful appearance. Large metallic houses were built around the ship, making it seem like a military camp. All those youths were students from Wave Universities, and they did note alone since not too far away from them, there were ten elders whose power was much higher than a Wave Warrior. These teachers only acted as watchers and would not interfere in the battles or anything else for that matter. In the center of the encampment was a small structure that worked as the center of operation. All those inside it had powerful auras, but the two at the lead were the most impressive of all. ¡°It seems that the forces of the Imperial Lightning Fort have finally arrived.¡± One of the two imposing youths spoke with arge smile as he gazed at the descending Lightning Star Cruiser. He had a handsome face, green shining hair and eyes, a thin yet muscr body, and arge ck sword floating behind him. After speaking those words, he looked at the man by his side. This one was just as young as him but had ck hair and fiery red eyes. ..... The physical characteristics of this man made it so that the entire group already knew of his background since there was only one Noble Family with a Lineage like that, and they were the overlords of an entire Sector. Just the Hellzer Lineage was not enough to impress the young man with shining green hair. Nheless, he knew that the youth by his side was one of the great geniuses of this generation, and even more important, this one worked with the greatest genius of the Hellzer Family. ¡°Brother Amos, the two people you came to see should be in that Star Cruiser, right?¡± The young man called Amos also looked toward the Lightning Star Cruiser, and there was a cold light in his eyes. ¡°ording to my information, they are both there. The bastard is talented enough to enter a battalion that woulde to this ce. As for the other one, his talent is superb, and there is no way the higher-ups in the military would have sent him to any other site but this one.¡± When the other students in the room heard thest part, many looked at each other with expressions full of confusion. Eventually, one spoke. ¡°No matter how that person is, since he is part of the military, his talent could neverpare to people like us.¡± The one that spoke was a massive youth, almost two meters tall, with brown hair and bronze-like eyes. He was one year younger than the rest of the people in this room, but no one had rejected his presence as his power and talent allowed him a ce during the decision-making. Many students nodded as they heard the tall youth¡¯s words. When it came to the military as a whole, they would not dare to look down on it, but individually they could never lose. Their logic was not so wed. After all, Wave Universities were where the most outstanding talents chose to embark on their cultivation path. There were exceptions like Levi, who hated the Hellzer Family, and Lurin, whose family took the military as the main path for their power, but they were very few. Amos¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and he focused on the tall youth. ¡°My younger brothers did the assessment. Are you saying he made a mistake?¡± Those words made therge youth grow pale, and no one else dared say a word. Even if that person was not present, no one dared to disrespect him. That man was just fifteen years old, but his talent and wisdom allowed him a ce among the ancient monsters of the Hellzer Family. ¡°No, no, no. I would never dare to disrespect Lord Magnus. Someone like me could notpare with the wisdom of your younger brother. I am very sorry.¡± The tall youth immediately began to apologize. Even if both had the same age, he could not hold a candle to Magnus Hellzer. ¡°Hahaha, brother Amos, there is no need to put Jortar in such aplicated position. He was just uttering amon point of view held by those in Wave Universities. If we are honest, even I found it hard to believe there is such a talented youth among the military, but if your esteemed brother says so, it must be right.¡± The young man with shining green hair¡¯s voice calmed the situation and made everybody rx. Jortar turned toward the youth with an expression of gratitude. ¡°It is just as Lord Dominic said. I meant no offense to Lord Amos.¡± Amos no longer bothered Jortar and turned toward Dominic. ¡°How do you think we should proceed?¡± Amos was a very arrogant individual, making it even more impressive that he would ask for Dominic¡¯s guidance. The green youth considered things for a moment before speaking. ¡°I am sure your younger brother made a good assessment of that man¡¯s power, but it would be useful if we do it with our own eyes. If you or I were to challenge him to a battle, it would generate all sorts of problems since we are one year old and both Level 9 Wave Warriors.¡± Dominic then turned his eyes back toward Jortar and showed arge smile. ¡°Luckily, we have the N¡ã1 Rising Roc in here.¡± Jortar showed a smile full of pride as he heard that, and his eyes began to glow with fighting spirit. It was clear that Dominic wanted to use him to test the military genius, and he had no problem with that at all. ¡°I am happy to help Lord Dominic.¡± ¡°Good. This is what we will do.¡± ... Shortly after the Lightning Star Cruiser had finallynded, soldiers began to emerge from it. Ten figures acted first, rising to the sky andnding in an elevated position where they could see everything. Those were the Captains. In this mission, just like the university teachers, they could only watch and were not allowed to interfere in any part of The Hunt. The rules for The Hunt stated that only first-generation Godyer Humankind could participate. What that meant differed depending on whether you spoke about Wave universities or the military. In Wave Universities, the first generation had no connection to cultivation. It meant all students who had yet to reach seventeen years old. As for the Imperial Military Force, the first generation were all those that had yet to be Wave Champions or had arrived at that level within the first three years of their service. Besides Cain, every Vice-Captains beneath Aaron had spent over five years in the military and was over twenty years old. However, since none were Wave Champions, they were considered part of the first generation. It was clear to all that the Godyer Humankind Empire made a big concession to the Imperial Military Force when it came to the term of the first generation. Twenty-four Vice-Captains soon left the Lightning Star Cruiser, and when they saw all the Captains looking at them from a distance, they understood that everything from now on would be up to them. Not all the Vice-Captains got along with each other, but they were all smart enough to work together in this first phase. No one would gain anything by dying the generation of the encampment around the Lightning Star Cruiser. The military was known for its strict discipline and teamwork, so it was not hard for them to generate a proper military encampment. There was still a lot of daylight by the time they finished, and the Vice-Captains were about to gather in the center ofmand when they saw a group approaching. Levi was doing his work when he noticed that group, and his eyes burst with killing intent as he saw one of the men among the group. He immediately recognized Amos, and although he did not know the Hellzer Family¡¯s n, they could not be good. Levi clenched his fist, and a golden me appeared in it, but after a moment, he rxed it. ¡®Jumping into the fight would be stupid. Besides, the one at the lead is not Amos.¡¯ Jortar walked with a smile full of arrogance as he approached the military encampment. Chapter 182 - 182 Overwhelming might (I) 182 Overwhelming might (I) Cain finally woke up from his cultivation, and as soon as he did, he felt two strange sensations. There was a state of pure serenity, as if his body had finally got rid of the shackles that had restricted him for over a decade and a bursting power that filled every cell with strength and vitality. That was not all since every breath he took and every beating of his heart worked in perfect sync. Cain¡¯s body was intuitively rejecting the air pollution, and his blood moved more than three times faster, despite this one growing much denser. Before Blood Renewal, Cain¡¯s body was an old watch. It worked as intended, but there were imperceptible ws generated due to the oxidation brought by time. Now those were gone, and a mystic force refined every gear. Cain¡¯s face showed a smile, and he was ecstatic by the feeling of power running through his body. ¡°System, what is my current percentage of marrow washing?¡± [Scanning Vessel. ... Marrow washing: 79%] ¡°An increase of only 5%, despite all my preparation and the constant use of Whale Lightning Orb. I guess it makes sense. The pollution that remains is engrained deeply in my marrow. Purging thest 25% is supposed to be several times harder than the first 75%.¡± ..... Although Cain would have wanted this marrow washing to be higher, it was a significant increase, and he still was far from advancing to the Wave Champion rank, so there was a lot of time. ¡°ording to the knowledge that Apex gathered, after obtaining a 50% marrow washing, the gate to bing a Wave Champion is already open. However, those that enter with that percentage limit their growth, and it would be a miracle if they reach Late Wave Champion. Only those that experienced Blood Renewal can reach Peak Wave Champion and have a slight chance to enter the Wave King Realm. As for wless Marrow, that is not really 100% marrow washing, but 95%. That is one of the highest theoretical levels, and you are supposed to carry on with your marrow washing during Early Wave Champion. While it is near impossible, if you obtain a 100% marrow washing, your talent and foundation will experience a qualitative evolution. Yet, the number of geniuses that have reached that is extremely small. It is not just resources that are needed to achieve that. You must also have great luck.¡± Cain went through the knowledge regarding the advance from Wave Warrior to Wave Champion inside his mind and nodded. He was progressing very well, and thanks to the lucky chance obtained through the blood of hundreds of people and his Blood Refinement Art, he could reach 100% marrow washing. Of course, Cain knew that the possibility was very slight and that he would need to push himself beyond his limits during the four following levels. Cain rose from his meditative position, went to the bathroom, and cleansed his body of all the filth it had umted. After that, he wore his blue robe and attempted to mobilize his Astral Wave. Shock appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he saw just how fast his Astral Wave moved through his body. It was as if the roads in Cain¡¯s body had be highways. That made it easier for him to achieve his maximum Wave output much faster and granted him a superb talent regarding Wave Focus! ¡°My battle power obtained another massive increase thanks to Blood Renewal. If I were to fight Ondo again, I could have killed this one in less than a minute.¡± Cain analyzed his power, and while killing an Early Wave Champion at full strength would have been hard, he should be able to handle an Early Wave Champion Beast. After finishing with all the introspection, Cain looked at the day and hour, and his eyes widened. ¡°Dammit. Blood Renewal took much longer than I anticipated. It seems that the Lightning Star Cruiser hadnded several hours ago. I should not get into too much trouble since the battles will not start until the next day, but as a Vice-Captain, I should be among those that guide the encampment.¡± Cain could only sight as he made his way out of the ship. There was nothing much he could do, and he would make sure to exin his situation to the other Vice-Captains if they asked. Cain was just stepping away from the Lightning Star Cruiser when he heard shouting and frowned. He noticed how two sides had formed, one made solely of soldiers while the otherposed of students. Right between the two sides, a battle was going on. One of them was arge youth with rock-like skin, and the other was a soldier with draconic arms. Cain recognized Lurin and could see that the transformation technique of this one had grown more powerful. However, while he had no idea who the student was, this one was not only powerful but also very fast. Lurin showed great battle power and skill, but it was clear that the student was much more powerful and had higher cultivation. Lurin was a Late Level 4, while the other had reached Level 5 long ago. Cain frowned as he saw the battle but had no idea what was happening. He noticed that the university teacher and the Captains were looking from a distance, so this must not be that serious. Before doing anything, Cain wanted to know more, so he calmly walked toward the military side. He nned to ask one of the soldiers what was going on and only then interfere if needed. Unfortunately, while Cain did not want to draw attention, someone sent it to him. ¡°Cain!?¡± As soon as that word appeared, the battle between Lurin and Jortar froze, and everybody focused on the person that uttered it, including Cain. The voice did note from the soldiers but from a student with a martial robe from Hellzer University. He was a youth with a scranny constitution and a pale face. By how the other students looked at him, it was clear his status was not great. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at that student. He could not help but feel he had seen this one before, and after a few seconds, he finally remembered. He looked much worse than thest time Cain saw him, and there was nothing of the arrogance or pride he usually showed, but that student was not other than Jonathan. That was the young man that betrayed Cain¡¯s friendship and made his life in school a nightmare. Back when Cain was in the Hellzer Sector, Jonathan was a thorn in his heart that he could not remove. However, after everything that happened thisst year, after all the death, battle, and almost dying more times than he could count, Cain had actually forgotten about Jonathan. There was no hatred or resentment in Cain¡¯s heart for Jonathan. Not because he had forgiven this one. It was just that Jonathan was so insignificant that there was no point in even remembering him. ¡°Hello,¡± Cain said nothing else toward Jonathan before turning toward Lurin and Jortar and walking toward the duo. A feeling emerged in Jonathan¡¯s heart when he saw how Cain acted toward him. It was something he had not felt in a long time, making rage appear on his face. ¡°You dare to ing...¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Before Jonathan could even finish his sentence, another of the students shouted at him, making fear appear on his face. Cain noticed that interaction but did not care. Jonathan was nothing for him, and he couldn¡¯t care less about this one¡¯s predicaments. The silence only intensified as Cain walked toward the duo, bing the center of attention for both sides. Everybody in the military knew about the Blood Lightning Vice-Captain, while those from Wave Universities with powerful backgrounds knew the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. Jortar was able to get over the shock of seeing Cain¡¯s sudden appearance. A vicious smile appeared on his face as he threw a vicious punch at Lurin¡¯s chest. Lurin was surprised by the attack, and he could do nothing to avoid it. He could only make a shield with his arms and prepare to receive the punch. However, just as the punch was about tond, Lurin saw how Jortar¡¯s eyes widened with fear before immediately jumping back and making his Astral Wave burst with even greater strength. Lurin was confused by Jortar¡¯s reaction, but he then turned to the side and noticed Cain¡¯s eyes glowed with a cold red light. Cain did not use hypnosis on Jortar since that could be considered an extreme offense worthy of a battle to the death. He simply used his Ego Wave to project his killing intent toward the student, and it worked just fine. ¡°First Lieutenant Lurin,e here.¡± As soon as Lurin heard those words, he immediately worked toward Cain before bowing. All eyes focused on Cain, waiting to see what this one would do next. That pressure could affect many, but he had endured much worse. Chapter 183 - 183 Overwhelming might (II) 183 Overwhelming might (II) ¡°Blood-Lightning Vice Captain.¡± Lurin sped his hand and vowed once he reached Cain¡¯s side. Whether or not they were friends did not matter in events rted to military conduct. ¡°Exin.¡± Cain was like a rock, immune to the gazes of the thousands of people around him, focusing only on Lurin and Jortar. ¡°Shortly after we finished with the encampment, hundreds of students came to our side, and that man began to spout nonsense. He shouted that there should be a friendly spar between the best N¡ã1 Rising Roc and the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet. At first, we chose to ignore him, but soon he began to taunt us. His words were full of arrogance, and the way he spoke about us made it seem that the military would only be helpful as cannon meat. It did not take long for him to question the honor and bravery of us soldiers, something I could not allow, so as one of the best 1st-year soldiers, I challenged him to a battle.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes were full of resolution and courage, something that resonated in the hearts of many soldiers. However, those who had spent decades on the battlefield and the Vice-Captains showedplicated expressions as they heard his words. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t twist my words! I never say that the military was good for nothing.¡± Jortar immediately refuted Lurin¡¯s derations. Even if he looked like a brute, he was more than smart enough to know what would happen if he insulted the Imperial Military Force. It did not matter that Jortat was in a Wave University, and his future was bright and glorious. He knew that insulting the Imperial Military Force was a great sin in the eyes of the Godyer Humankind Empire. Cain focused on Jortar and knew that while the students were wise with words, the meaning behind them was clear to all the soldiers. However, that was not the part that drew his attention but the fact that this one wanted to fight against the N¡ã Lightning Cadet, meaning he. ..... That drew some confusion, and Cain¡¯s eyes went to the people behind Jortart, specifically the youths with shining green hair and fiery red eyes. It did not take a genius to know that the shot callers were those two. ¡®By their emblem in their robes, theye from the Hellzer Universe and Sundering Sky Roc University. Those are the best Wave Universities from the Hellzer Sector and the Copsing Lightning Sector. ¡® Cain could not help but frown as he did not intend the agenda behind the duo, but he did not lose too much thought in that, and his eyes returned to Lurin. Lurin was surprised by those eyes as they unleashed a shocking pressure and coldness. He had learned about the Ego Path of Power recently from his father and knew that Cain was generating a sh between their wills. He had experienced a lot of battles and near-death experiences in thest half a year, so he thought he could handle those red eyes much better than the first time he saw them in Korin City. However, Lurin felt that the pressure of those eyes was much more potent than before. He understood that whatever he faced, Cain had endured something much worse. ¡°You say he insulted the honor and bravery of our military, but since when have those pirs of our brotherhood be so weak that the words of a mere child could put them in question? We are about to enter a gruesome fight against millions of Wave Beasts. Death is inevitable, yet you chose to participate in a battle and risk getting injured for something so vain.¡± Lurin¡¯s eyes widened as he heard that, and his face grew pale, losing all the fighting will he had before. Something simr happened to all the other soldiers watching from the side. Veterans and the Vice-Captains acted differently than the rest of the hot-blooded soldiers because they knew getting injured before the war was a great mistake. ¡°Your actions did not just put your life in danger but also that of your fellowrades. What happens if you are too injured to fulfill your role in the battle formation, if you need to be escorted out of the battlefield, or if a medic needs to spend time healing you and neglecting others?¡± Lurin began to tremble, and a great sense of shame appeared on his face. There was a deep sense of belonging to the military inside his heart, and he saw all the soldiers fighting by his side as brothers. The fact his stupidity risked their life was something he would never forget. ¡°Lurin Sinar, due to yourck of discipline and awareness, I take away your rank as First Lieutenant. You are now a Second Lieutenant. Since this is your first deployment as a true military member, there will be no data in your military record. Now leave.¡± Lurin did not say a word and just nodded before returning with the rest of the soldiers. Benjamin Ceres, one of the Vice-Captains that worked under Captain Aaron, nced at Lurin before staring at Cain. Lurin was part of his battalion, so Cain did not technically have the authority to demote this one. While others might think that Cain was harsh, Benjamin knew that was not true. When the battle ended, he would have harshly reprimanded Lurin and left a striking mark on this one¡¯s military record. That would have made Lurin¡¯s rise in the military ranks much harder. However, now he was just demoted to Second Lieutenant, something that would not really affect his military path other than dy it a few months at best. Benjamin stared at Cain for a long time before nodding. Since this was the first time Lurin made this sort of mistake, he would let it slide. Cain returned the nod toward Benjamin before calmly walking toward Jortar, only stopping when they were less than five meters away from each other. ¡°Who are you again?¡± Cain¡¯s eyes were still bursting with red light as he made that question. Jortar was surprised by the pressure he felt when looking at those red eyes. His instincts told him that he should leave, but that was not possible since Dominic and Amos were right behind him. ¡± I am Jortar Hammer. A second-year Sundering Sky Roc University student and this generation N¡ã1 Rising Roc! Of all the first-year students in the entire Copsing Lightning Sector, I was the best!¡± Jortar shouted those words, hoping they would fill him with courage, which they did. Cain¡¯s eyes narrowed as he heard all that. The Sundering Sky Roc University was the best Wave University in the entire Sector, so if Jortar was the N¡ã1, there was nothing wrong with this one saying he was the best of all the first-year students. As for the Copsing Lightning University, there was no such thing in the Copsing Lightning Sector. The rtionship between Wave Universities and the Imperial Military Force wasplicated, to say the least. Wave Universities were put in ce by Noble Families, with the mightiest family usually founding the strongest university, just like in the case of the Hellzer Family with the Hellzer University. The strongest Noble Family in the Copsing Lightning Sector belonged to no other than the Copsing Lightning Duke. Yet, this one chose to adopt the path of the military. Technically, both the forces generated by the Wave Universities and the Imperial Military Force are under themand of the Emperor of Godyer Humankind. However, the emperor only gave missions to the Wave Universities, and the Noble Family in charge could choose how to handle them ording to their wishes. It was not wrong to think of the students of Wave Universities as the personal army of Noble Families. Cain stared at Jortar, and before choosing to do anything, he scanned this one with his [A.I. Chip Module]. The Absolute Life Form System did not take long to finish the task. [Scan of targetpleted ¡ª Name: Jortar Hammer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 5 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ?? Wave Talent: Pseudo Tier 6 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 5.1 Agility: 2.7 Vitality: 5.6 Wave: 4.0 ¡ª Marrow washing: 66%pletion] Cain was surprised by what he saw. Jortar was almost at the limit of Level 5, but his stats couldpare with someone at Level 7. ¡®It makes sense. No one who became the best student in the entire Copsing Lightning Sector could be mediocre. Fighting against him a week ago would have been very hard and the only reason, but things have changed.¡¯ Fighting spirit emerged in Cain¡¯s eyes as he stared at Jortar and ignored the rest of the students. ¡°You wanted to fight the N¡ã1 Lightning Cadet? Well, here I am.¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± Shortly after saying those words, Cain unleashed the full power of his Astral Wave, generating a small st. The Wave he generated was incredibly dense and pure. The power of his aura began to rise higher and higher as mighty gales formed around his body. Chapter 184 - 184 Overwhelming might (III) 184 Overwhelming might (III) Cain¡¯s Astral Wave shocked the people that saw him. It was extremely dense, not matching that of a normal Wave Warrior. Increasing the quantity of your Wave was not hard by raising your level or training special cultivation techniques, but improving its quality was much moreplicated. The fighting intent expressed by Cain made all the Captains frown. They were extremely pleased with his original calmness and how he analyzed the situation, but wasn¡¯t he now making the same mistake that Lurin? ¡°Aren¡¯t you acting against your own words?¡± Among the students from the Wave Universities, one of them was able to maintain a clear mind under Cain¡¯s bursting might. It was not other than the youth with shining green hair, Dominic. Those words made many students look at Cain with contempt as if he was a hypocrite, and many of the soldiers could not help but frown as well. Cain only smiled as he saw all that, and his eyes bursting with red light focused on Dominic and Amos. Such serenity made the duo frown. Even if Cain¡¯s talent was as high as they were told, what bothered them more was the mental fortitude of this one. ¡°It is true, entering a mock fight before a war is beyond stupid, as your wounds could affect not only you but also the people fighting by your side.¡± Cain confused many with those words. If he knew, then why would he enter a battle? ..... ¡°The reason why I chose to fight is simple. This person can not leave a single wound on my body.¡± Utter silence reigned after that, as people could not believe what they had just heard. Cain and Jortar were at the same Level, and it was clear that the second could also unleash a battle power much greater than that. Jortar grew furious as he clenched his fist. He would not lie and say that the battle against Cain would be easy, but the fact he could not leave a single wound was preposterous. It was not only Jortar that grew angry but all the students as well. The young man was the N¡ã1 Rising Roc, the mightiest of the 1st-year students in the entire Copsing Lightning Sector. Cain was saying that the best of them could not put a single hand on his body. ¡°I must say you are truly confident in your abilities, so how about we make this a little more interesting?¡± Dominic showed a smile as he hinted at a bet, and those around him also smiled. It was not news that those that came from Wave Universities had much greater wealth than soldiers. After all, Noble Families would spare no expense in training their greatest geniuses. Cain saw the students¡¯ smiles and waved his hand without a word, making a pile of wave crystals emerge from his space ring. The students¡¯ smiles froze when they saw those wave crystals. It was more wealth than many of them had seen in their entire life. ¡°I bet 100 low-quality wave crystals. They have an estimated price of 1 million Imperial Military Credits.¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that pile of wave crystals. He knew they were all real, and their worth was urate. To tell the truth, Dominic was not confident in Jortar¡¯s chances, but he did not care about making a bet since he thought Cain could not possess much wealth. That was a mistake, and if he were to back down now, he would be making a fool of himself. Dominic sent a poisonous stare in Cain¡¯s direction before waving his hand, making three wave crystals appear. Although they were far from the amount Cain took out, each of Dominic¡¯s wave crystals shone with much great might. They were mid-quality wave crystals, and their value was not less than the one hundred low-quality of Cain. ¡°The bet is set then. Let the battle start.¡± Cain sent the 100 wave crystals back into his ring before focusing on the young man in front of him. Jortar could not help but grow nervous as he saw the massive bet put in this fight. Even though he had said nothing, he knew Dominic would me him in case of a loss. ¡®Dammit!¡¯ Jortar cursed inside his mind before his Astral Wave exploded with even greater strength, and a rock armor formed around his body. The students and soldiers saw how Jortar transformed into a 2.2-meter golem, and that was not all. Metal pipes formed on the golem¡¯s back, legs, and arms. Lurin¡¯s eyes widened as he saw that, and he clenched his fist as he understood that Jortar had only been ying with him. He would have lost in less than a minute if this one had shown that form from the beginning of their fight. Amos was also surprised by that golem since it was an ability that surpassed the capabilities of an average Wave Warrior and entered the realm of Wave Champions. ¡°That is one of the Hammer Family¡¯s core techniques, Elemental Juggernaut. Jortar reached level 3 of that technique, something reserved for Wave Champion, thanks to the help of his Lineage.¡± Dominic¡¯s words rify some of Amos¡¯ doubts. ¡°I see. In that case, there is a chance that he could win this battle.¡± Cain was also surprised by the sudden rise in power from Jortar, but everything was still under control. He activated Virtual Sight before pushing his Wave Burst to 2000% and generating his blood lightning. Jortar focused on Cain and did not hesitate before charging to this one. Just as they were right next to each other, the metal pipes in the golem¡¯s arms unleashed a ming Astral Wave, granting its punch an immense burst in speed. Everybody saw how Jortar unleashed a barrage of punches that moved at a startling speed, but what shocked them was how Cain dodged every single one easily. Jortar did not lose focus. Right after sending a left hook, he ignited the metal pipes on his right leg and sent a vicious kick toward Cain¡¯s waist. That kick was more than three times faster than the punches, and many of them thought that Cain was doomed. Just in thest second, right as the kick was about tond, Cain made a small jump, dodging the attack andnding on Jortar¡¯s back. Jortar¡¯s entire body grew tense as Cain hadnded in the perfect position to release a vicious attack on his back, but to his surprise, nothing came. He was able to jump forward and turn around, only to see Cain waiting calmly. Amos and Dominic showed cold expressions as they saw that. The reason why Cain did not attack Jortar¡¯s back was not that he could not, but he did not want. Jortar also understood that. Being looked down on by the enemy made an immense hatred emerge in his heart, and he immediately jumped back into the fray, sending attacks with more and more power. The look on the students¡¯ faces grew worse as the fight carried on. Cain was dodging every single one of Jortar¡¯s blows. After a minute, Jortar understood that he would not be able to defeat Cain in a direct fight, so he needed to use his mind. Cain saw how Jortar jumped back before raising the Astral Wave on his body. ¡®What is he trying to do?¡¯ Virtual Sight could predict the enemy¡¯s movements as long there was information about them in the [A.I. Chip Module]¡¯s database. It could not anticipate techniques it did not know. Finally, after a few seconds, Jortar¡¯s Astral Wave reached its peak. He stomped the ground, generating a shock wave that shattered the earth in a radius of two hundred meters around him. Cain lost his bnce as the earth beneath his feet shattered to pieces, but that was the least of his problems since Jortar marched toward him at full speed. The pipes on the golem¡¯s back and legs acted at full power, and Jortar crossed his arms, transforming his body into a massive battering ram that shed toward Cain at more than 300 km/h. Cain knew he could not dodge since hecked a stable surface, but he only showed a smile. He did not need to dodge that attack. Just as Jortar was about to crash with Cain, everybody saw how the Astral Wave covering his body vanished. No matter if they were students or soldiers, none of them could understand what was happening. The strength behind Jortar¡¯s attack was dreadful, and if it were tond on Cain¡¯s unprotected body, it could very well kill this one. ¡°?BOOM!¡± An explosion echoed through the mountains as Jortar reached Cain. The next second, everybody saw a figure being sted away. ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± ¡°?Boom!¡± The figure shed against trees and rocks, shattering all of them in its path. ording to logic, the one that should have been sent flying away after the two shed should have been Cain, but it was Jortat who was puking blood two hundred meters away. Chapter 185 - 185 Overwhelming might (IV) 185 Overwhelming might (IV) All eyes returned to Cain, and they saw the reason behind that shocking scene. They were mistaken when they thought he had shut down his Wave Cloak, deactivating all his defenses. What happened was that Cain had redirected all his Astral Wave into his right fist. He used that monstrous amount of power to counter Jortar¡¯s march, sending this one flying away while puking blood. However, it did not diminish the shock they all felt even after knowing how it happened. Cain¡¯s Astral Wave was already denser and purer than the rest of the Wave Warriors present, but now he was able to mobilize it at an incredible speed through Wave Focus. Aaron and the other Captains were seeing everything from a distance, and utter awe appeared on their faces as they understood the secret behind Cain¡¯s power. They all knew the young soldier had superb control over his Astral Wave thanks to his willpower, but there was only one way he could achieve those feats they just saw. ¡°He went through Blood Renewal!¡± Those words reached the teachers close to them, making utter shock appear on their faces. ¡°Impossible! How can such a young soldier have experienced Blood Renewal?¡± One of Wave University¡¯s teachers uttered those words, but deep down, they all knew it was the truth. The teacher could not control his voice, so those words echoed through both encampments, allowing soldiers and students to hear them. Most of them did not understand what Blood Renewal meant, but a considerable portion did, and the way they looked at Cain was as if this one was a monster. ..... ¡°He experienced Blood Renewal at Level 5! No wonder my younger brother gave him such a high assessment.¡± Amos spoke with a somber tone. Dominic was just as shocked by the news, but he maintained a calm expression, showing the might of his willpower. Cain noticed the gazes of everybody around him and only showed a small smile before his eyes focused on Jortar. ¡°Enough games.¡± ¡°Thump!¡± Along with Cain¡¯s words appeared a heartbeat so strong that all the students and soldiers near him could hear it. They all saw how Cain¡¯s skin turned blood red, giving him a ferocious appearance like a monster that made his way out of hell. A smile full of delight appeared on Cain¡¯s face as he felt the state of his body. Normally First Gear of Asura Form would push his cardiovascr system to the limit, but that was no longer the case after Blood Renewal. However, Cain did not lose time and pushed his Wave Burst to 3000% before concentrating all of it on his legs, arms, and spine. ¡°Boom.¡± A small st emerged from Cain¡¯s location as this one pushed his body forward with a fantastic speed. Jortar was just rising from the ground, and even now, he did not understand how it all happened. Thest thing he remembered was about to sh with Cain when a sharp pain appeared on his chest, and an incredible force threw his body away. Unfortunately for Jortar, he could not think of anything else before a red monster appeared before him. Cain grabbed the golem¡¯s face, and without reducing his speed, he kept marching forward, using Jortar as a battering ram against all the trees and rocks on the path. Captains, teachers, soldiers, and students saw how Cain dragged Jortar through the ground, only raising this one to break the obstacles on his path. The difference between their powers was simply too much. Jortar felt as if he was a puppet being dragged by Cain, and the rage in his heart allowed him to gain a moment of rity. The metal pipes on his arm activated, allowing him to send a vicious punch at Cain¡¯s chest. That attack carried a massive amount of power, and since they were very close, it would reach its target instantly. Unfortunately for Jortar, Cain saw everything, and with Asura Form, he was more than fast enough to react. Cain let go of Jortar¡¯s face and dodged the blow before countering it. Cain¡¯s punchnded right on Jortar¡¯s temple, making the brain of this one shake, but things did not end there. He sent a kick to Jortar¡¯s chest. Jortar¡¯s massive golem form rose over ten meters in the air, and just as he was about to descend, Cain appeared next to him. ¡°?AHHH!¡± A scream of pain emerged from the earth golem as Cain connected a ferocious kick in Jortar¡¯s back, sending this one crashing into the ground. ¡°?BOOM!¡± Jortar generated a small crater on hisnding, but he did not remain there for long as Cain sent another kick to his chest. That started an onught as Cain pushed Jortar from one ce to another, not giving this one even a second to rest. Cain had just made Jortar sh against arge boulder, burying this one in it, when his eyes narrowed. ¡°Enough!¡± Along with that word came a bright green arc of wind that cut the ground between Cain and Jortar. Cain focused on the attack and was sincerely impressed by its might. Not only was it fast, but he knew it could morph and change path ording to the caster¡¯s wishes, something Astral Wave Cultivators like him could not do. There was no killing intent in that attack, and the caster did not hide his actions, so Cain was not enraged by it. He turned toward the origin and saw that the one who attacked was no other than Dominic. The young man with bright green hair stared at Cain with a stern expression while wielding his sword with his right hand. A powerful aura was evoked from every corner of his body and seemed to harmonize with the natural force. ¡®Apex?¡¯ Cain spoke with the System Spirit while focusing on Dominic. He wanted to scan this one, but only if no one noticed it. ¡°His energy defenses are special, but he is still a Wave Warrior, so there should be no problem. At most, he would feel something odd happening, but he would have no way of knowing its origin.¡± ¡®Good enough. Absolute Life From System, scan him.¡¯ As soon as Cian uttered thatmand inside his mind, the Absolute Life Form System acted, using the [A.I. Chip Module] to scan Dominic. Dominic frowned, and the grip of his sword tightened as he began to look around. He felt someone watching over him but could not find out who. It did notst long, and Dominic felt nothing wrong with him, but the experience still bothered him greatly. Cain noticed that, but he did not care as he only paid attention to the virtual screen that appeared inside his mind. [Scan of targetpleted ¡ª Name: ?? Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Level 9 Wave Warrior) Lineage: ?? Wave Talent: Middle Tier 6 ¡ª Stats: Strength: 3.4 Agility: 9.5 Vitality: 6.1 Wave: 12.9 ¡ª Note: Strange force surrounded the target. Simr to the one disyed by Iris. It matches the description of the power known as Laws.] Cain was surprised by Dominic¡¯s stats, especially the physical speed of this one. It would be high even for Astral Wave Cultivators, much less for Essence Wave Cultivators. He was not surprised that Dominic already had ess to the Laws, but itplicated things. While the raw enhancement granted by Blood Renewal was better than the one obtained by getting into contact with the Laws for the first time, thetter was full of variations. Determining whether Blood Renewal or Laws were better was impossible. It was like saying whether a spear or a sword was a better weapon for war. Both of them had strong points that the othercked, but in the end, it was all about the user. Despite knowing the chances of victory were small, Cain¡¯s eyes still burned with fighting spirit. Fighting opponents that were stronger than him was the only way of breaking beyond his limits. Dominic noticed that battle intent, and he responded with his own. The sword in his hand began to tremble as a powerful gale emerged from it. Cain smiled toward Dominic before deactivating his Astral Wave and Asura Form. ¡°It would be an exciting fight, but I can not allow myself to get injured,¡± Cain said before calmly walking toward Dominic and raising his palm. Dominic clenched his fists for a second but did not dy things and took out the three mid-quality wave crystals from his space ring before handing them to Cain. Cain smiled as he got into contact with those wave crystals. The density and purity of the Wave inside them were something those of low quality could notpare. Using mid-quality wave crystals to train would improve Cain¡¯s cultivation speed, but he knew that would be a waste. For Wave Warriors, there was little difference between cultivating with low-quality and mid-quality wave crystals. Cain did not dally too much on his thought and stored the wave crystals before turning around. ¡°Back to work. We must be ready to fight at any moment!¡± Those words were enough to mobilize thousands of soldiers. Chapter 186 - 186 The life after high school (I) 186 The life after high school (I) ¡°Back to work. We must be ready to fight at any moment!¡± Only the three hundred men had to move when they heard his words, but other than the Vice-Captains, no one remained standing. Cain¡¯s overwhelming might was enough to mobilize almost fifteen thousand soldiers. Hismander¡¯s aura was born of abination of his tremendous power, the immense respect he drew from the soldiers¡¯ hearts, and his Wave King¡¯s willpower. Most of the Vice-Captains did not care that the soldiers under theirmand would instinctively follow Cain¡¯s orders. Yet, there was a small group that did not think like that, and leading them was no other than Uriel. The young Vice-Captains clenched his fists as he stared at Cain and realized just how strong this one had be. ... ¡°Hahaha, Aaron, you sure got lucky. To have such a monster in your battalion. That boy¡¯s military feats are bound to be overwhelming.¡± One of the Captains burst intoughter as he saw Cainmanding the soldiers back to the encampment. He had a thin constitution, but a scorching heat surrounded him, making it clear he was very strong. ¡°I like that brat. Extremely cunning and fierce. I can not get enough of the faces of those snobs. ¡± Another Captain praised Cain with a smile. ..... She was a very tall woman with blue hair. There was a fierce aura around her body, and around her waist, there were a long de and small daggers. The Captain did not hide her voice, and her smile only grew more prominent as he saw the anger in the university teachers. There was no secret that members of the Wave Universities saw themselves as superior in many aspects to the military, including training. However, Cain had beaten the best 1st-year student of the entire Copsing Lightning Sector without receiving a single wound. The only reason Jortar was still alive was due to Cain containing himself and not sending his attack to vital points like the back of the head or spine. None of the Captains cared about the annoyed expression on the teachers, and they kept talking among each other. ¡°You told us that boy was strong, but not this much. You brat dare to keep secrets from me. Why did you not tell us he had experienced Blood Renewal?¡± The old among the Captains spoke, and the way he talked with Aaron was as if he was speaking with a child. Although it might seem odd, Aaron said nothing about how the old man referred to him as a brat. Aaron only showed a smile as he stared at the old Captains. He still remembers when he was a new soldier sent to the old Captain¡¯s battalion. ¡°Geezer, stop spouting nonsense. That boy should have crossed the 75% threshold during the trip to the mountain.¡± The rest of the Captains softly nodded as they heard that. Each room in the Lightning Star Cruiser was isted entirely from the rest of the world, making it a very good and secure cultivation ground. It made sense for Cain to have chosen that ce to carry on with his breakthrough, not to mention that the density of the Life Wave in de Mountain was more than ten times higher than the ones around the Imperial Lightning Fort. That was especially true now that all King Beasts were gone and no longer devouring the energy in the surroundings. As the Captains talked, the night finally arrived, and it did note alone. ¡°ROAR!¡± ?AWW!¡± ¡°OHHH!¡± The sound of Wave Beasts emerged from the forest near both encampments, and the situation changed significantly. Those roars belonged to the millions of Wave Beasts they would be fighting real soon. Although soldiers and students were the hunters, none were naive enough to think that there would not be casualties among them. The Wave Beasts would not justy down and ept their death. They would fight with everything they had and kill as many humans as possible before dying. Soldiers were able to handle the pressure of those roars better than students since many of them had spent years on the battlefield. Still, that did not mean they were unaffected since not knowing what was hiding in the darkness was terrifying. That was not the worst part. What bothered the soldiers and students most was not knowing if a horde of Wave Beasts would suddenly march out of the forest and toward them. Hiding during the night in their Star Cruiser would be counterproductive. It would waste time and make it harder for them to adapt once they have to move the encampment deep into the forest. In the Wave University¡¯s encampment, Dominic and Amos saw how many of the students became anxious as they heard those roars. The duo nodded to each other before waving their hands, making dozens of people march around their encampment¡¯s perimeters. It did not take long for dozens of three-meter tall ck pirs to cover the Wave University¡¯s encampment¡¯s perimeters. ¡°These are Sentry Posts. They will form a force field that will detect any iing enemy, warning us of the danger in time and sending energy attacks.¡± Dominic shouted, and his voice echoed through the zone, reaching students and soldiers. ¡°All Wave University¡¯s students can rest peacefully,¡± Dominic spoke thosest words before sending an arrogant smile toward the soldier¡¯s encampment. Aaron and the rest of the Captains saw that and could not help but frown. They knew about Sentry Posts, and the reason the military was not using them was that not only were they extremely expensive, but they also used a crazy amount of wave crystals to work. Now that the students were able to sleep well, they could advance faster than the soldiers, who would have to spend their night alert in case a horde appeared out of nowhere. Dominic and Amos knew that, which is why they were willing to waste a small fortune on the Wave Artifacts. However, their smiles froze the next second. Moments after the Sentry Posts appeared around the students¡¯ encampment, a majestic red force field emerged from the center of the soldier¡¯s encampment. It rose for hundreds of meters, giving everybody a shocking sight before it crashed down, flooding the soldier¡¯s encampment, and it did not stop there. The red force field also crossed into the nearby forest, and everybody could hear Wave Beast¡¯s howling in fear before running away. There was no way that a bunch of weak and unintelligent Wave Beasts would be able to discern the power behind that Ego Wave. They only understood that it was the willpower of a Wave King, and therefore they needed to run if they wanted to remain alive. Once the force field finished with the Wave Beasts in the forest, it pulled back, forming a halo around the soldier¡¯s encampment. Cain could see and hear everything inside his Ego Wave, so it was not good to cover everything. ¡°Stay inside the halo, and you will be safe.¡± Cain¡¯s voice echoed, and his words were much more reassuring than those of Dominic. Dominic and Amos told the students that the Sentry Posts would warn them about danger and give them time to react, while Cain dered boldly that every soldier inside the red halo would be safe. ¡°Hahaha, that boy is amazing. Not only did his willpower match that of a Wave King, but his mastery over Free Ego is superb. Not to mention that the timing was perfect. Just as those cocky brats wanted to show off their wealth, that boy beat them with true power.¡± The old Captainughed with all his strength as he saw that sight, and the rest of the Captains did the same, making sour expressions appear on the university teacher¡¯s faces. Dominic¡¯s eyes grew cold as he saw that Ego Wave, and he clenched his fists. However, he did not let rage ovee his mind and took a deep breath before turning toward arge man close to him. ¡°Bring them to me.¡± Therge man nodded before walking toward a corner of the student¡¯s encampment. ... All the students were looking at the red force field with awe and envy, but one among them showedplete disbelief. That young man could not believe it. No, he could not ept the reality that was presented in front of him. Jonathan, Cain¡¯s old high school ¡°friend,¡± was sitting with a pale expression and empty eyes, looking at the Ego Wave born of a Wave King¡¯s willpower. As he saw that red force field, Jonathan could not help but remember hisst interaction with Cain. It was still clear in his mind how he defeated this one with a single fist after bragging about how he would enroll in Hellzer University. Back then, Jonathan was sure he would be a shooting star at Hellzer University, rising above everybody and bing a powerful noble in a matter of time. However, the reality was not only hard but vicious. What Jonathan obtained once he got into Hellzer University was everything but glory. Chapter 187 - 187 The life after high school (II) 187 The life after high school (II) Jonathan still remembered his first day at Hellzer University. Thest years in his high school, where he was practically an overlord to the others, filled him with a sense of superiority, and it did not disappear when he reached the campus. He walked with his head high and with Cinthy by his side. His ability to bring someone with him made his sense of superiority even higher. However, Jonathan soon noticed that something was odd. Unlike the other students on the campus, he and Cinthy had to wear a mandatory green outfit, and whenever people saw it, they would throw nasty smirks in their direction. Jonathan was confused but confident about getting an answer after his first ss. The moment he reached the auditorium, he saw that everybody in that ce wore green uniforms, and none seemed remarkable in any form, unlike the other students from noble families. When the teacher reached the auditorium, Jonathan wanted to ask about the special uniforms they were all wearing. The teachers in his high school treated him as a boss, so he was used to shouting at them. Unfortunately for Jonathan, the old man that gave this ss was not happy about it, and the moment this one heard a student demanding an answer, he reacted ferociously. Jonathan did not even notice when a palm pped him so hard that he crashed against the wall with a bloody mouth and broken teeth. The other students were shocked and lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound. After venting out a little, the old teacher was in a better mood and exined to everybody their situation. Even though they attended Hellzer University, they were not technically students but part of the Grass ss. The Grass ss was a particr ss that the Hellzer University generated to gather low-level students that would one day be the Hellzer Family¡¯s foot soldiers. Those who dreamed of bing great warriors and rising to the stars were idiotic to think this ce would grant them that chance. ..... That realization shattered the heart of many of the people in the Grass ss. They all had simr backgrounds, children of humble origins who were blessed with Wave Talent better than anyone around them. Unfortunately, while they thought themselves unique, they were verymon. They might be one in a thousand, but with a Sector whose poption is in the dozens of billions, they were nothing special. That realization broke some, but others reacted differently. If they were bound to be foot soldiers, they would be the king of the foot soldiers. Jonathan also sought that path, but even among the Grass ss, he was nothing remarkable. Hecked spells that could allow him to use his Essence Wave properly, and more powerful students that followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power easily crushed him. Although Jonathan lost the fight for leadership of the Grass ss, he was still mildly talented, so he should have been able to have a fair time at Hellzer University. Sadly for the young man, something happened that put him on the cklist of the Grass ss Leader, and people began to bully him. Just like Jonathan did with Cain, rallying the entire high school against this one, the Grass ss Leader did the same with him. The shock of once again being a weak student intimidated by others after being a king for thest years was more than he could handle. A Heart Nightmare emerged in Jonathan, and despite having spent a year in Hellzer University, he was still a Level 2 Essence Wave Warrior. When Jonathan saw Cain again, something reignited inside him. Jonathan felt that if he could crush Cain again, he would feel like his previous self, which is why he acted so enraged when this one ignored him. Although he did not dare to say a word after the Grass ss Leader shouted at him, Jonathan nned to find Cain after everything was over and teach this one a lesson. However, Jonathan¡¯s stupid dreams broke when he saw how Cain unleashed an overwhelming power that defeated the best 1st-year student in the Copsing Lightning Sector. Unlike Jonathan, who became a joke for everybody in his ss, Cain rose to be a dragon among men capable ofmanding more than ten thousand soldiers. ¡°It can not be right. It must be a mistake.¡± Jonathan uttered those words again and again. His eyes had lost focus, and his mind could not process all that was happening. However, when Jonathan noticed a young man with arge body and brown haire by, he instinctively reacted and rose from the ground before saluting. ¡°Jonathan greets Grass ss Ruler, Samir!¡± Jonathan¡¯s willpower and dignity had faded a long time ago, and he did not dare to infuriate the Grass ss Leader, which is why he reacted like that. However, while the young man with brown hair usually smiled when he saw Jonathan full of fear, this time, he was enraged as this one shouted Grass ss Ruler so high. ¡°Grass ss Ruler? I did not know there was such a title in Hellzer University.¡± It was only after hearing those words that Jonathan noticed that there was a man next to Samir. This one wore an impressive robe with a bursting volcano on it. ¡®A member of the Hellzer Family!?¡¯ Jonathan was sure of his guess once he saw how the usually arrogant Samir reacted so meekly with this man. ¡°Haha, Lord Josef, do not take the words of this stupid person seriously. He is clearly spouting nonsense. I would never dare call myself the Grass ss Ruler when we all know that the Hellzer Family is in control and we are mere foot soldiers.¡± Samir smiled as he lowered his head so much that he almost bowed to the man. Jonathan was surprised to see that. He found it hard to believe that the always cocky Samir would lower his head like that. However, those thoughts vanished from his mind the next second and were reced by overwhelming rage as he saw the person behind the duo. ¡°YOU!¡± The target of Jonathan¡¯s rage was no other than the woman he brought with him to the Hellzer University, Cinthy. Chapter 188 - 188 Cain Laurifer鈥檚 background 188 Cain Laurifer¡¯s background ¡°YOU!¡± When Samir heard Jonathan¡¯s shout to Cinthy, his eyes grew cold, but he did not dare to do anything with Josef next to him. Jonathan noticed Samir¡¯s eyes, and he immediately shut up and lowered his head, but that did not diminish the loath and rage he felt in his heart. He still remembered how Cinthy acted with him in high school and was sure the woman would follow his everymand once they reached Hellzer University, but things did not go ording to his wishes. The moment Cinthy saw that Jonathan would be nothing more than an average student among the Grass ss, she moved on. Cinthy used her charms to cling to someone else, and that person was no other than the strongest member of the Grass ss. Due to Samir¡¯s rtionship with Cinthy, he used his power on the Grass ss to target Jonathan, making the life of this one a living hell. After all that, it was no wonder that Jonathan hated Cinthy so much, but he could do nothing about it. Not only was the woman under Samir¡¯s protection, but unlike his, her cultivation had advanced, and she was already a Level 3 Essence Wave Warrior. Cinthy did not take her eyes away from Jonathan, and there was nothing but disdain in them. She looked at Jonathan the same way she looked at Cain when they were back in high school. Josef saw how Jonathan and Cinthy acted around each other, and since he found the woman in Samir¡¯s residence, he could deduce the rtionship between the trio. However, nothing of that mattered to him. If it weren¡¯t for this assignment, he would not even bother to speak with people of the Grass ss. ..... ¡°Samir, go back to your post. As for you two, follow me to the center ofmand.¡± Josef did not say anything else before turning around and walking to the student encampment¡¯s center ofmand. The trio had no right to ask questions and could only follow his order without hesitation. Other than physical training and cultivation, all the students in the Grass ss were indoctrinated into following the Hellzer Family¡¯s orders, so it was no wonder that Samir, Jonathan, and Cinthy did what Josef told them. It did not take long for Josef, Jonathan, and Cinthy to reach the center ofmand. The moment Jonathan and Cinthy stepped inside, they immediately grew nervous as they saw more than thirty geniuses, all with powerful auras much stronger than theirs. ¡°Lord Dominic, I brought the duo you requested. They are Jonathan Carvery and Cinthy Ond from the Hellzer Academy¡¯s Grass ss.¡± Dominic had not even nced at the duo when they entered the building, but his eyes grew sharp and focused on them after hearing that. ¡°I see. Thanks for your help.¡± Josef only nodded before walking toward Amos and standing behind this one inplete silence. Cinthy and Jonathan grew increasingly nervous as they saw these people focusing on them. They knew enough to understand that everyone here had a powerful background and could get rid of them with a simplemand. ¡°You two,e closer.¡± The duo did not dare to disobey Dominic¡¯s words and approached him. ¡°Do you know why I sent someone to bring you here?¡± Jonathan was so nervous he could not speak, much less figure out what was happening, but Cinthy was different. The woman took a deep breath before answering. ¡°It is due to our rtionship with Cain Laurifer.¡± Dominic¡¯s eyes narrowed as he saw the confidence in Cinthy¡¯s voice and smiled before nodding. ¡°That is right. It is exactly because of that.¡± Cinthy showed a lovely smile as she heard Dominic¡¯s response. Although the young man did not praise her, she took those words as such. Jonatha saw that, and the rage in his heart only grew stronger. ¡®This slut!¡¯ There was nothing he would have wanted to do now more than to push Cinthy to the ground, but he did not even dare to look up, much less do something like that with so many powerful people around him. Dominic saw how they reacted but cared very little about their feelings. ¡°You two will tell me all you know about Cain Lurifer¡¯s past and your rtionship with him. By the way, I am aware of a lot of the information you are about to give me, so I advise you not to hide or lie about anything to me.¡± Dominic¡¯s voice grew cold at thest part, making it clear to Cinthy and Jonathan that telling the truth was their only path. Complicated expressions appeared in the duo when they heard Dominic¡¯smand. If they told the truth about their rtionship with Cain, then everybody here would know that they paid for his kindness and friendship with nothing but cruelty and betrayal. However, Jonathan and Cinthy did not dare lie, so they told everything they knew about Cain and their rtionship. When the people in the room heard how Jonathan and Cinthy began to bully Cain when they gained power, disdain appeared on their faces. Even if the students did not like Cain, that did not mean they would despise any less those that betrayed their friends. Dominic did not show anything and continued hearing everything with a calm expression and nodded from time to time until the duo finished with their report. ¡°I see. So Cain Laurifer endured all that and managed to keep his head high all this time. No wonder his willpower is so immense. It will be tough to handle a man like that.¡± ¡°How can that be right? Can you just use your background to take care of him!¡± Jonathan had just uttered those words when he realized where he was and immediately shut his mouth. He was terrified of everybody here but could not endure it when he heard how Dominic praised Cain. Even now, Jonathan could not ept that Cain had grown so much while he was nothing but a shadow of his previous self. Dominic¡¯s calm smile grew cold as he heard how Jonathan dared to utter what seemed to be a disagreement with his opinion. If it weren¡¯t for Jonathan¡¯s connection to Cain, he would have never allowed this one in his presence. However, Dominic also noticed that many people looked in his direction after Jonathan¡¯s words. Although killing someone was against thews and codes of the empire, it was not as if they had not done it before. Of course, killing a Vice-Captain like Cain would not be easy, and if there were any evidence left, it would generate all sorts of problems. Yet, it could be done if they were smart about it, and this was the perfect chance since they were in a ce full of powerful enemies. Dominic nced at Amos, and this one nodded. There was information that the member of the Hellzer Family had only shared with Dominic, but it seemed it was time for the others to know it as well. ¡°Cain Laurifer might have been an orphan a year ago, but now he is the Young Lord of the Valentine Family. Regarding background, Cain¡¯s is as strong as mine, maybe even stronger!¡± Utter silence appeared in the faces of everybody present, and the news shocked Cinthy and Jonathan more than anybody. The friend they threw away because they believed it was too weak to be alongside them now had a background they could not even imagine. Chapter 189 Enemies in all fronts Chapter 189 Enemies in all fronts "That is true!?" A voice came from a corner of the room, and people turned only to see the badly wounded Jortar with an expression of utter shock and defeat on his face. Cain had wounded him severely, but since none of the attacks generated brain trauma, Jortar was able to regain consciousness after a couple of hours. Jortar felt no gratitude at all toward Cain for this one not aiming at vital organs and wanted nothing more than to pay back the humiliation. He knew that defeating Cain in a direct battle would be pointless and was preparing to use the power of his family, but now that was not possible. The Hammer Family was a Noble Family with a Marquess as its founder, and Wave Kings were among its members. Just one Wave King was enough for a Noble Family to stand among the highest ranks of the empire, but how could Jortar not know about the Valentine Family? That Valentine Family only had one member, but it was one of the Nine Pirs of the Copsing Lightning Sector. Every family with some power in the Sector knew that Zarak Valentine was capable of crushing Wave Kings with nothing more than his pure willpower! Offending a monster like that was something Jortar knew his family would never do. If things were to escte and he offended Zarak, no one could save him. Dominic saw the awe in the eyes of Jortar and the others. Although he was not happy, he understood it. After all, going from an orphan with zero talent to the greatest genius of the Copsing Lightning Military Academy and the Young Lord of the Valentine Family in less than a year was beyond amazing. After a moment, Dominic''s eyes returned to Cinthy, and a scheming light appeared in his eyes. "Young Lady, do you think you could reignite Cain''s feelings for you under the proper circumstances? I will do all in my power to help you with that if you think you''re up to the task." Cinthy was surprised by that proposition, as were the other people in the room. After a moment, an arrogant expression appeared on her face, and she began to smile. If she could charm Cain, she could be the Young Lady of a powerful Noble Family as strong as Dominic''s. It would not be hard since, in her mind, Cain was surely still in love with her. "With Lord Dominic''s help, I am sure Cain will fall under my charm. I dare to say that he has not forgotten about me." Cinthy''s arrogance surprised the people in the room, and they could not help but think the woman was delusional. She really thought highly of herself, yet she was nothing but average. "I am d you are so confident in your abilities. Go to my residence and wait for me there. We will speak of our next movements in private." Dominic spoke with a charming smile, and Cinthy did not hesitate before nodding. She did not show any reluctance to be alone with Dominic; even if something were to happen, it was not like it would be the first time. One of the men behind Dominic walked toward Cinthy and guided her out of the center ofmand. After Cinthy was gone, Dominic turned toward Jonathan with a cold expression. "You are useless to me since I doubt Cain Laurifer even remembers you. If you utter a word of what you saw here, you will be charged with treason and die. Return to your post." Jonathan''s eyes showed the disbelief in which he found himself. Once again, the woman he once thought was his property rose above him, and he stood there like a clown. There was no will in Jonathan''s eyes as he walked away from the room like a zombie and returned to his residence in the Grass ss section. None of the presents cared about him, and they doubted he would survive the first month of The Hunt. "Do you really believe that woman can charm Cain Laurifer?" Amos asked the question on everybody''s mind once Jonathan left the room. "Hahahaha, of course not." Dominic busted intoughter the moment he heard that. "If Cain Laurifer were the kind of man that would fall for a woman like that, he would have never risen to his current position. However, that doesn''t mean we can not use her to affect his mind." A scheming light appeared in Dominic''s eyes as a devious n formed in his mind. --- Back in the soldier encampment, Uriel was walking toward the center ofmand, and his face could not be uglier. He was not alone since four other Vice-Captains were walking alongside him, and their expression showed annoyance at the current situation. The primary source of the anger of the five Vice-Captains was the red force that covered the soldier encampment. These five were unusual among the rest of the Vice-Captains since they all came from mighty Noble Families and had their full support behind them. The ancestor had sent them to the military with the sole goal that they could gain merits and rise among the ranks, and each of them received a lot of wealth so they could use it to help them in their task. Those Noble Families even asked for a lot of favors so the five would end up in the same battalion so that they could help each other in that mission. The Imperial Military Force knew about their behavior, but as long as they respected the rules and codes of the military and did their job well enough, they turned a blind eye. Uriel and the other four Vice-Captain knew surveince would be a significant problem in the first part of The Hunt, so they used their own money to buy Sentry Posts just like the ones used by Dominic. They had been ready to show their Sentry Posts right after Dominic did it, bing the center of attention for both the student and soldier encampments, but all that nning went to waste once Cain unleashed his Ego Wave. Uriel could do nothing after that happened. If he took out his Sentry Posts after that, he would only be making a fool of himself. "This is the second time that brat got in my way. There will not be a third!" Chapter 190 First march Chapter 190 First march "Remember, we must present a solid front. If we allow that brat to carry on unchecked, we will lose our chance to shine. We must convince the rest of the Vice-Captains to side with us." The other four Vice-Captains nodded as they heard Uriel''s words. Making an enemy of such a talented man like Cain was not something they wanted, but siding with Uriel had proven beneficial for all of them again and again, so they would follow him. Uriel understood that his bond with the other four was not so strong that they would give their life for him, but he knew how to manipte their greed. As Uriel approached the soldier encampment''s center ofmand, a solemn expression appeared on his face. Even if he hated Cain, there was no way to deny the might of the red force field this one was unleashing. Uriel did his best to hide it, but his eyes showed envy. He knew about the Ego Eternal Path of Power and that Cain was a divine genius for reaching the First Realm at such a young age. Of course, Uriel was sure that if he had been born with an awakened Ego Matrix, his achievements in the Ego Eternal Path of Power would have been even more outstanding than Cain''s. "Despite his talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, he is still a brat. Using his Ego Wave as this must push his mind to the limit. I am sure he can not focus on anything else now, so we must take advantage of it." Uriel was full of confidence, but the moment he entered the center ofmand, a sense of shock appeared on his face. Cain stood at the center of the room in front of a holographic tform that depicted the entire de Mountain. He wlessly exined the troops'' movements through the thousands of kilometers of forest and the hundreds of mountain ranges. "You arete," Cain spoke as he stared at the five with eyes glowing with red light before focusing again on the holographic tform. He was not putting up a strong front or overexerting himself. If his willpower were still at the Peak Wave Champion Rank, it would have been hard for him to use Ego Wave and focus on other tasks, but things are different now. The willpower of a Wave King was exponentially stronger than a Wave Champion! It not only allowed Cain''s mastery over Free Ego to be much greater, but his mental powers were so great that he could carry on twopletely separate trains of thought. For example, right now, part of his mind was focused on his Ego Wave, monitoring the entire encampment, while the other part exined the battle formation to the rest of the Vice-Captains. The four Vice-Captains beside Uriel frowned as they saw that. Clearly, Cain had more than enough mental power to keep his Ego Wave across the encampment and develop fantastic battle strategies. Uriel could feel their gazes but was just as confused as them. ording to his understanding of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, it should take all of Cain''s focus to perform this level of Free Ego. power. "As you can see, an extensive mountain range divides the first section of the forest into tworge The group was thest to arrive since the other forty-five Vice-Captains were already there, so even if they were enraged by Cain''s words, there was nothing they could say. They remained silent as they approached the holographic tform, focusing on Cain''s words, looking for a w they could exploit. Uriel clenched his fists as he heard Cain''s strategies since they were better than what he could develop. They took full advantage of the terrain, enhancing the army''s defensive and offensive power. "As you can see, an extensive mountain range divides the first section of the forest into tworge areas, so we will not have to worry about thoseing from the Wave Universities. My battle formations are somewhat crude right now as I am unaware of the battle power and specialties of the other battalions, so I am open to any input. I will do my best to improve them with each battle. I suggest we use my battle formation and thoroughly analyze them after the first encounter with Wave Champion Beasts. Also, I will generate a chat room where every battalion can share their status, and I will adjust the battle formation mid-battle." When the other Vice-Captain heard thest part, they all showed shock and awe in their eyes. Cain''s battle formations were already better than anything they coulde up with, but the fact that he dered he would adjust them mid-battle was incredible. "Are you sure you can bear that responsibility?" A young man with golden hair and blue eyes spoke solemnly. When the other Vice-Captains turned toward him, they all showed respect. Cain recognized the man as Antony Farlight. He was just a year older than Cain but was already a Level 9 Essence Wave Warrior, and his aura''s might made it clear he was far from average. There was no ill will in Antony''s voice, and he was sincerely impressed by Cain''s strategies, but while adjusting the formation mid-battle would be of great help, it could easily lead to catastrophe. Cain stared at Antony, his eyes bursting with red light. "I would not have proposed it if I was not sure I could do it." Antony stared at Cain for a moment before nodding and turning toward another person in the room. "I am fine with it. What about you, William?" The one Antony called William was a young man of his same age, with ck hair and brown eyes, whose body unleashed a shocking physical might. William stared at Cain for a moment before nodding. After seeing that Antony and William epted, all the other Vice-Captains nodded. Thest ones to respond to Cain''s strategies and ns were Uriel and the other four Vice-Captains by his side. The animosity between Uriel and Cain was no secret, so even if this one rejected the ns, the other Vice-Captains had already spoken. Uriel was smart enough to know when not to fight, so he just nodded, along with the other four. Like that, the battle formation and ns for the first march wereplete, and the entire military force was ready to march with the first ray of sunlight. Chapter 191 Bloodless #4

Chapter 191 Bloodless #4

191 Bloodless #4 When the first ray of sunlight appeared in the sky, thousands of soldiers and students marched into the forest before them. An extensive mountain range divided the area, so the students took the left side and the soldiers right, ensuring no interaction between them for the first months of The Hunt. Cain and the other Vice-captains took the lead, marching with the rest of the soldiers into the forest. Their first enemies were Wave Beasts between Levels 3 and 6, so it was no wonder they could carve a bloody path through them with little effort. Cain''s battle strategies shone from the first day, allowing all battalions to work in synergy and improving each squad''s survival capabilities. Just the first day, the soldiers killed over forty thousand Wave Beasts, with zero casualties among their ranks! As the light of day was vanishing, the soldiers returned to their encampment withrge smiles on their faces. Not only did they get massive amounts of nutritious food, but they also gained many military credits. The next few days carry on the same, with the soldiers'' powerpletely overwhelming the Wave Beasts in their path, leaving nothing but a trail of death behind them. On the seventh day of their march, things changed, and the atmosphere grew tense for the soldiers as they finally shed with a horde led by Wave Champion Beasts! There were a total of neen Wave Champion Beasts with over ten thousand powerful Wave Beasts under theirmand. It was a force that could have easily leveled a small country in the Old World! Cain, Antony, William, and Uriel took a step forward, each targeting a Wave Champion Beast. Thanks to their Wave Artifacts, skills, ma-- cultivation, they could face Wave Champion Beast individually, reducing the pressure on the rest of the army. ??????????????xt.?????? The rest of the Vice-Captains formed teams of three or two to face the rest of the Wave Champion Beasts, while the squad leaders mobilized the soldiers under theirmands to suppress the thousands of Wave Beasts in front of them. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on a Wave Champion Beast that resembled a ferocious two-meter-tall chimp with wisps of fire all over its body. He took a deep breath before exploding his Astral Wave and Blood Energy and activating Asura Form. Despite all his advantages and gifts, Cain was still a Level 5 Wave Warrior, so he had to fight with all he had from the beginning to face a Wave Champion Beasts. The other Vice-Captains did the same, unleashing all their power as they focused on their opponents. "ROAR!" "AWWWW!" The Wave Champion Beast began to roar as their Life Wave burst with immense power, rallying the thousands of Wave Beasts beneath them. Both sides charged full of killing intent, and in seconds, the sounds of explosions arid broken bones echoed across the battlefield. The battle continued for hours, with human and Wave Beasts'' bodies falling to the ground. The Captains focused their energy on their eyes, improving their eyesight to glimpse the battle between the human army and the horde. They were not the only ones since someone else focused on the soldiers, and that person stood thousands of meters in the sky. He was a three-meter-tall man with skin so white that it resembled a corpse, and there was not a single hair on his head. A ck armor covered his muscr body, leaving only his head unprotected. Despite not being a single cloud in the sky and the man''s striking appearance, no one on the ground could see him. There was no emotion on the man''s face as his eyes narrowed, allowing him to see a young soldier covered in red lightning. Thanks to his power, he could see Cain as if this one was right in front of him. He was about to step forward, ready to sh toward Cain at supersonic speed when his eyes narrowed and turned to the side. Less than five hundred meters away to his left was a man with a blue robe. "Copsing Lighting Pir, Soul Breaker Zarak." The man''s face remained emotionless, but he clenched his fists, making powerful gales around his body. Zarak smiled as a blue light burst from his eyes, making the sky tremble. "Bloodless Force, Bloodless #4." The man focused on Zarak, and a monstrous aura emerged from his body, making the sky tremble. "Since you know who I am, you know why I am here." Bloodless #4''s aura kept rising, growing even stronger than Zarak''s. Zarak''s smile did not vanish, but his eyes grew cold, and the power of his Ego Wave increased. "I know. However, that boy is my core discipline. There is some information that your leaders should know about how he obtained the Blood Refinement Art." "It doesn''t matter. Cain Laurifer can share it once we are in Blood See" Bloodless #4 did not care about Zarak''s words, making it clear he would take Cain with him. Zarak stopped smiling, and Bloodless'' #4 attitude made it clear that words would not work. He took a deep breath as a mighty river manifested around his body. When Bloodless #4 saw that river, he immediately raised his guard. "I am impressed. Despite your low cultivation, your Ego Path of Power already took a step into the Third Realm. If it were one of my brothers in the lower ranks, they would have to run." Bloodless #4 also took a deep breath, and his power skyrocketed, reaching an even higher level than Zarak''s. "However, you alone are not enough to stop me!" The blue light in Zarak''s eyes exploded as he heard that. His smile returned as he adopted a battle stance, and a revolving stream of water covered his right arm. "Fighting against someone in the upper ranks of the Bloodless Force would push me beyond my limit, and it might not be enough. However, you made a mistake." Bloodless #4''s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and he pushed his focus to the limit, concentrating solely on Zarak. "What mistake?" He had just uttered those words when a feeling of incredible danger assaulted him, and he felt a sharp pain in his back. ''Who says I am alone?'' Bloodless #4 heard those words and noticed a figure covered in shadows behind him. That individual managed to hide his presence and had just pierced his back with a de, reaching all the way to his spine! Chapter 192 Fighting 30.000 meters above the ground 192 Fighting 30.000 meters above the ground Bloodless #4 was shocked. His perception was incredible, and even if he had focused on Zarak, that individual''s assassination skill must be superb tond a sneak attack on him. And that was just the start since the de managed to make its way past his armor and reinforced skin and unleashed a strange force that began to numb his body. Bloodless #4 clenched his teeth as he clenched his fist and threw a ferocious punch behind him. Just the movement of his hand unleashed a gale that could shatter a small building. However, before Bloodless #4 couldnd his attack, Zarak tackled him. "BOOOOMMM!" Zarak''s body carried such a massive momentum that the moment he shed with Bloodless #4, a sonic boom appeared in the sky, echoing across the forest beneath them. Bloodless #4 felt like a raging ocean had shed with him, exerting pressure in all directions, making it near impossible to fight it back. Zarak, Bloodless #4, and the man covered in shadows shed across the sky, moving at supersonic speed away from the sky above the soldiers. Bloodless #4 did not simply allow the opponent to ovee him. An incredible amount of Astral Wave and Blood Energy reinforced his body, and he used all his strength to fight back. Zarak could barely believe the strength that Bloodless #4 could unleash, and he clenched his teeth as he tightened the grip around this one''s body. Zarak was not the only one shocked, as the eyes of the man covered in shadows were full of awe and disbelief when he felt that his de could not pierce into Bloodless #4''s spine. Everybody knew that Astral Rebirth Cultivators had incredibly resilient bodies, which was especially true for someone with Bloodless #4''s cultivation. Even then, the toughness of his bones was simply too much. The man covered in shadows unleashed a st of Essence Wave and infused it into his dagger, allowing it to go deeper into Bloodless #4''s body. One restrained with all his power, the other pushed his weapon deeper and deeper, and thest fought back with all he had. The trio carried on like that until they finally shed against something. The trio was thirty thousand meters above the ground, but they shed with something even higher, the peak of de Mountain. "?BOOM!" Large boulders and dust burst in every direction as the trio crashed, but it did notst long as a sonic boom cleaned the area. A figure emerged from the crashing zone while puking blood. That sonic boom originated when Bloodless #4''s punchnded on Zarak''s chest, and he was not over. The man twisted his body and sent an elbow strike toward the figure covered in shadows behind him. The attack was extremely fast and precise. The man covered in shadows was able to take his dagger and jumped back at thest second. Unfortunately for the man covered in shadows, Bloodless #4''s elbow still reached his chest, exploding his body into a sea of darkness. Zarak regained control of his body quickly, and the sea of darkness reformed next to him, showing no other than the teacher of the Assassination Military Specialization, Jonathan. "How are you?" Zarak nced at Jonathan and saw that this one could not stop coughing blood. "His attack shattered my sternum, and my left lung copsed. I can still fight, but taking another strike like that could be deadly." Jonathan did his best to regte his breathing as he circted his Essence Wave through his wounds, elerating the tissr regeneration. Zarak nodded and immediately positioned himself between Bloodless #4 and Jonathan. Bloodless #4 did not immediately chase after the duo. Although his condition was better, he was also severely wounded and needed to focus his energy on purging the numbing force left inside his body. That was not all since dozens of cuts reached the bone on the elbow he used to hit Jonathan, numbing the entire right arm. "You are just a Wave King, yet you were able to pierce my defenses before I even noticed your presence. The Aegon Family''s assassination techniques are superb. Consider me impressed." Jonathan was slightly surprised by those words, and a smile soon appeared as he sped his hand. Even if they were opponents, he respected the other side. "It is an honor to hear those words from a member of the legendary Bloodless Force. I must also congratte you. Not only is your body extremely durable, but your poison resistance is also incredible. The virus in my de can destroy the nervous system of a Wave King in a matter of seconds, but it is barely working for you." Bloodless #4 raised his right arm and clenched it with all his strength, making it seem that space itself would shatter! "Members of the Bloodless Force temper their bodies from the inside out, and our Lineage grants us a wless immune system. The fact you numbed my arm and legs is impressive." Bloodless #4 made a pause at this point. The next second, a torrent of incredibly dense Astral Wave burst from his body, generating a pir that seemed capable of shattering the sky! "Enough words. I will take that boy with me. If you insist on interfering with my mission, you could die." Zarak and Jonathan adopted solemn expressions as they saw that outstanding amount of Astral Wave. It was so much that even if theybined their energy pools, it could not equal half of it. "I will take the lead and do my best to generate an opening. When you see it, attack without hesitation, even if it means going through my body. I will survive if my heart and brain are not damaged." Jonathan nodded to Zarak''s words before his body melted into streams of shadows that fused with the sky, generating a dark domain that covered everything in a radius of two thousand meters! Zarak''s aura exploded as hebined his Ego Wave and Astral Wave, pushing the power of his body to the absolute limit before shing toward Bloodless #4 at supersonic speed! Bloodless #4 did not wait for Zarak and shed forward as Blood Energy burst from every cell of his body! "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Blue and red streams shed, generating a st of energies that flooded the sky above de Mountain, generating a death zone for anyone beneath the Wave Champion level! Chapter 193 Inferno Ape 193 Inferno Ape A few minutes prior to the first sh between Zarak and Bloodless #4, the battle between the human army and the Wave Beast horde reached its zenith. "?BOOM!" A Level 7 Golden Rhinoceros rose more than two meters into the sky when a fist triggered a st of golden mes in its belly. All the soldiers around that scene focused on the man that had slipped beneath the massive Wave Beast and killed it so brutally and beautifully. He was a young man with ck hair and fiery red eyes bathed in majestic golden mes. Of course, that was no other than Levi Hellzer. Levi was a Level 5 Astral Rebirth Cultivator, but his attacks could do lethal damage to Level 7 Wave Beast! Due to Levi''s inexperience on the battlefield, he was not fit to take the role of squad leader but was under themand of a man that knew how to fully explode his power. Levi''s squad leader was Frederick, a man in his fifties. Despite his old age, Frederick was a Level 4 Essence Wave Warrior, so he was still able to unleash the full power of his cultivation. Frederick realized Levi''s battle power from the beginning and reconstructed the entire squad''s formation around the young man. Levi''s battle style involvedrge explosions, which could lead to friendly fire on a battlefield like this one, but Frederick emptied the area around the young man. Levi only had to worry about blowing every single Wave Beast in front of him to pieces. A small smile appeared on Levi''s face as he saw the corpse of the Wave Beast and felt his strength. ''I can kill Peak Level 7 Wave Beast with a single attack. It almost kills me, but this golden me is worth it.'' Levi analyzed the power of his golden me when a series of sts in the distance drew his attention. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" He looked where the Vice-Captains were fighting the Wave Champion Beasts and focused on one in particr. A man bathed in red lightning shed against a beast covered in mes, and powerful sts echoed across the battlefield every time they collided. Levi could not help but clench his fists as he saw that battle. Each of their punches could equal his full-power golden mes explosion, and both were moving so fast he could not keep up with them. Levi was confident he could match any other top-tier Vice-Captain in time, but the one bathed in that red lightning was different. They were the same age, and Levi was by far stronger the first time they met each other, but in a short year, things had reversed. It was Cain''s first year as a soldier, and he was already fighting at the highest level on a battlefield that involved Wave Champion Beasts! A decisive light appeared in Levi''s eyes as he made his golden mes burst with even greater strength and heat before charging toward the Wave Beasts in front of him. Cain did not notice Levi''s gaze nor the hundreds of soldiers looking at him with awe and admiration. All his focus was currently on the Inferno Ape, as he could not allow any distraction. Despite the Inferno Ape being one of the most powerful Early Wave Champions, Cain was able to fight against it on equal ground for several hours. It was clear that Blood Renewal not only exponentially increased his strength and talent, but it also pushed his stamina to an incredible level. Not far from Cain was an even mightier battle involving a man bathed in golden light and a two-meter-tall lion with silver fur. The one that battled this horde''s leader was Antony, the Level 9 Vice-Captain. He used light force in his attack, simr to Uriel, but followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Antony used a bow, and golden light enhanced every arrow he fired. His skill was superb, and his attack carried ephemeral power that constantly improved his attack speed and pration power. It was clear to anyone with a high enough cultivation that Antony had gained some insight into the Law of Light. That allowed his attacks to achieve not only extreme speed but also all sorts of variations. "BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Just as the battle between the Vice-Captains and the Wave Champions beast reached its zenith, an immense explosion urred in the sky above them. That was when Zarak collided with Bloodless #4, but no one on the ground knew that. The explosion was so potent that the shock waves reached the ground, hurting the ears of the low-level warriors and beasts. While it hurt only those beneath Level 3, the explosion was so surprising that everybody, including Vice-Captains and Wave Champions Beasts, looked to the sky. That behavior was not due to ack of discipline or battle awareness but an instinctive response none could ovee. Since everybody on both sides looked to the sky, no one should have been able to take advantage of that opening, but things were not so simple. There was one person among the thousands of soldiers whose willpower was able to ovee that instinctive response. When Cain heard that st, his Ego Wave exploded with power, allowing him to retain full control of his body. He saw how his enemy, the Inferno Ape, looked to the sky and lowered its guard, allowing him a perfect chance to fire his strongest attack. The Inferno Ape was still looking at the figures coursing through the sky when he heard a sound resembling an Old World''s fighting jet. The Early Wave Champion Beast was only able to nce at the man that bnced his body from one side to the other so fast that gales formed around his body before a right hook carrying a massive momentum connected on its head. "?BOOM!" Cain''s right hook woke up everybody. Soldiers and Wave Beasts turned toward the human covered in red lightning, only to see how he unleashed a barrage of punches over the Inferno Ape. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Chapter 194 Blood Lightning Killer 194 Blood Lightning Killer "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Each of Cain''s punches carried every ounce of strength on his body, enhanced by his torque and lightning, allowing them to reach overwhelming power. "CRACK!" Before the other Wave Champion Beast could do anything to help their brethren, the sound of breaking bones echoed across the battlefield. Cain ended his onught with one final right hook, where he concentrated every ounce of Astral Wave he had! "?BOOOOMMMM!" The Inferno Ape''s head was thrust into the ground by Cain''s final punch, generating a massive crater and shattering every bone in its skull. Silence reigned on the battlefield as humans and beasts focused on the dead Inferno Ape before turning to the young man bursting with Blood Lightning above its corpse. "AHHHH!" The sound of a beast''s howl drew everybody back to reality, and they saw Antony unleashing a barrage of golden arrows the size of spears over the Silver Blood Lion. The Essence Wave Cultivator took advantage of Cain''s performance to attack the horde''s leader, and while he could not kill it, his spears did a lot of damage. "Fight!" Antony shouted with all his strength as he pushed his Wave Burst to its limit and continued his attack on the Silver Blood Lion. The soldiers'' fighting spirits exploded as they saw the dead Inferno Ape and the wounded Silver Blood Lion. They pushed their energy to their limit, ready to use everyst drop of Wave inside them during the next couple of minutes! Even after killing the Inferno Ape, Cain did not take his eyes off the beast. He formed a de with his right hand and pierced the chest of the Early Wave Champion Beast, draining its blood to regain some of his stamina. Cain felt the Inferno Ape''s blood essence reaching his body and restoring his strength while using his Ego Wave to analyze the battles between the Vice-Captain and Wave Champion Beasts. In less than five minutes, Cain had drained more than eighty percent of the Inferno Ape''s body. He took a deep breath as his Blood Energy exploded, and the next second he vanished. The Earth Crawler, a Wave Champion Beast resembling a giant armadillo with long ws, was fighting a group of Vice-Captains when it perceived a red sh above its head. Unfortunately for the Wave Champion Beast, Cain''s attack was too fast and could not prevent the punch covered in Blood Lighting fromnding on the back of its head. That attack was so powerful that it paralyzed the Wave Champion Beast for a second, something that Vice-Captains fighting against it took full advantage of. Cain had already dashed to another Wave Champion Beast when a sea of spellsnded on the Earth Crawler. He was too tired for a direct fight but could use his assassination skill to perform sneak attacks over the Wave Champion Beasts, generating an opening that the other Vice-Captains could use. That was not the only thing that Cain was doing, as the thousands of soldiers suddenly moved across the battlefield in a strange pattern under hismand. The Wave Beasts did not understand what happened until it was toote. The soldiers fighting the bulk of the Wave Beast horde divided into two sides, attacking from the nks before surrounding them and starting a carnage. "Imperial Lightning Fort!" "Imperial Lightning Fort!" The Wave Champion Beast saw how the beasts under theirmand were dying by the dozens every second, but they could do nothing since defending from the Blood Lightning Killer took all of their attention. Howls of pain and explosions filled the battlefield as the human side unleashed absolute carnage, killing thousands of powerful Wave Beasts and over half of the Wave Champion Beasts before they finally began to pull back. Cain did not let bloodlust distract him from the danger of the battlefield, and once the sun began to set, he mobilized the army back to the main encampment. The faces of the soldiers as they reached the encampment were pale as they had drained until thest drop of Wave inside their bodies during thosest few minutes of battle. However, they showed radiant smiles on their faces. Today they experienced the first sh with creatures whose power matched that of mighty Wave Champions, yet not only did they survive, but they obtained an overwhelming victory! No matter whom, every soldier could not help but nce at the young man at the front of the army. Whether it was intuitive or otherwise, no one dared to move past him as he led them into the encampment. Cain was exhausted and had little to no Astral Wave left in his body, but he stood straight as a majestic red force field covered his figure. Just as the soldiers emerged from the forest, the students did the same, but their circumstances could not be more different. Unlike the soldiers who trained their minds to face the battlefield''s cruelty, seeing theirrades die was almost too much for many students. If it weren''t for their cultivation improving their willpower, many students would have already developed signs of post-traumatic stress. At the lead of the thousands of students were Dominic and Amos. Neither showed any concerns about theirrade''s state of mind since those not fit for the battlefield would die, and there was no point in wasting their breath in them. Dominic''s eyes narrowed as he nced at the soldiers and was surprised to see Cain at the lead and how all of them were full of fighting spirit even after what should have been a battle full of hardship. Cain stopped moving when he felt Dominic''s gaze, and all the soldiers behind him did the same. He was beyond exhausted and was taking all his power to stand straight, but he was aware of just how vital motivation was for an army, especially with the n he had in mind. Cain did not take his eyes off Dominic as he channeled thest drop of Astral Wave left in his body along with his Blood Energy before raising his fist. An arc of Blood Lightning emerged from Cain''s fist, rising over three meters into the air. "Imperial Lightning Fort!" Those words reached every soldier, making them feel as if their blood was burning, and they could not stop themselves from raising their arms, just like Cain before shouting in unison. "Imperial Lightning Fort!" "Imperial Lightning Fort!" "Imperial Lightning Fort!" Chapter 195 Path to New Beginning Chapter 195 Path to New Beginning "Imperial Lightning Fort!" The shout of the soldiers reached all the way to the Captains, and they could not help but smile as they saw how Cain took advantage of the moment to boost morale while pressuring the students. You needed more than brute strength to be a great military leader. Powerful cultivation made you a good soldier, but a goodmander was someone wise enough to know how to explode the power of the others around you, and Cain was a master in it. "That brat. No matter how you look at him, he is the perfect army weapon." Aaron spoke with respect in his voice, and the other Captains softly nodded. Amos and Dominic did not care at the beginning that the state of the soldiers was better than that of the students since, for starters, they only cared about the strong ones, but there was also the fact they were younger and would be able to increase their cultivation exponentially during the next few months. Yet, Cain''s actions made the duo look very bad in contrast, and if there was something they did care about was their reputation. Ultimately, the duo could do nothing, so they only looked away and entered themand center. Cain saw that his feat had the intended effect and smiled before walking straight into his residence, and right before entering, he shouted. "We will continue our march in two days. Use this time to rest and take advantage of the military credits you have amassed. I left a book called Path to New Beginning in the militarywork. You can look at it if you so desire." The soldiers were ecstatic about the day off since they were exhausted, and although Cain took the decision without consulting them, none of the Vice-Captains said a word about it. ording to their calctions, oveing their first encounter with a horde led by Wave Champion Beasts would have taken four days, but they did it in just one. As for the book Path to New Beginning, the Vice-Captains were curious and immediately looked into it. The description was simple, and it said to have a path to Level 4 for soldiers of both the Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Path. Guides like this one were verymon, so it did not draw much interest, but shock suddenly appeared in the Vice-Captains'' eyes as they read the final part of the summary. [Three months are estimated for a Level 3 Wave Warrior to advance following the Golden Path in the guide. Rate of sess: For Level 3 Wave Warriors of the Astral Rebirth path without meridian atrophy: 99% For Level 3 Wave Warriors of the Essence Evolution path without meridian atrophy: 97% For Level 3 Wave Warriors of the Astral Rebirth path with meridian atrophy: 87% For Level 3 Wave Warriors of the Essence Evolution path with meridian atrophy: 84% Note: Depending on the level of meridian atrophy, cultivators might need two extra months. The sess rate does not vary.] Not only were the Vice-Captains shocked, but also the rest of the soldiers. Guides for powerful and young soldiers weremon, but for those older and suffering meridian atrophy, things were different, not to mention none of them would do something so bold as state their sess rate. At first, the soldiers did not know what to believe it since even if Cain was powerful and a greatmander, he was still a Level 5 Wave Warrior, so they did not know whether to take cultivation advice from him. However, all their doubts vanished when they saw the book''s price. [Price: 25 Imperial Military Credits] It was so low that no one in the entire encampment could not buy it. Even those already at Level 4 or above were tempted to buy it since 25 credits were not even a fraction of what they gained in a single hour, killing Wave Beasts. "Amazing!" The first soldier to buy the book shouted, and the amazement on his face was clear to everybody. Asking for the contents of the books was prohibited, but that awe was enough to start a frenzy, and it did not take long before almost every soldier in the entire encampment bought it, including the Vice-Captains. Antony and the others read the Path to New Beginning and were surprised by the level of detail in it. Even the dumbest person could use it, as it did not require you to think, only to follow its steps. The information focused solely on improving your foundation and fixing your ws, so everybody could use it regardless of the cultivation technique they practiced. It had three paths: Golden, Silver, and Bronze. The Golden Path required a massive amount of resources that could amount to 70.000 Imperial Military Credits, something most Level 3 soldiers would need decades to amass. Things were a little different right now as they were participating in a military mission that granted many military credits, but it was still very hard to achieve. However, those in a more difficult financial position could take the Silver Path, which only required 35.000 Imperial Military Credits. ording to the book, the sess rate did not change, but you will need eight months instead of three. There was also the Bronze Path. This one only required 15.000 Imperial Military Credits and had a time frame of two years. But it was only helpful for those without meridian atrophy. As they read the book, a me ignited in the soldiers'' hearts, and their battle will grew even stronger. Reaching Level 4 might be nothing for someone like Cain, but for the average soldier was a dreame true as they would enjoy a strong body until they were extremely old. Out of nowhere, all those soldiers that could barely hold their bodies a moment ago ran toward the Star Cruiser to use the teleportation formation to buy the resources stated in the book. Antony and the other Vice-Captains would have normally punished such undisciplined behavior, but seeing the fervor in their soldiers'' eyes made them smile. They look at each other and cannot help but wonder how Cain came up with such a thorough cultivation guide. The Vice-Captains under Captain Aaron knew of Cain''s abilities as a Grand Gic Coder, but the book was still too amazing as it adjusted to the needs of everybody, not just a few. In the end, all the Vice-Captains only took it as another fantastic feat from the youngest of them, who performed the first kill against a Wave Champion Beast. Actually, the one that created the Path to New Beginning was Apex, under Cain''s request. Apex used the [A.I. Chip Module] to monitor the veterans, which Cain helped after first taking control of his battalion, during the entire journey as they healed. That information and all the cultivation knowledge he had gained from the Empire Science Academy was enough for Apex to create the book using [Basic Virtual Simtion] and [Basic Data Gathering and Analyzing]. Cain knew that his actions would cause a lot of movement, but he did not care and threw himself into his bed and began to sleep soundly. He was too tired to project his Ego Wave across the encampment, but it would not be a problem since they had made the closest horde run a few hours ago. Cain did not simply lower his guard; the [Basic Scan Force Field] was still working at full power, ready to warn him of any danger. Even if soldiers surrounded him, he would not blindly trust them. Theck of Cain''s Ego Wave did not surprise the Vice-Captains since he had alreadymunicated his state and ensured they were ready to keep an eye during the night. Although the chances of an attack were almost zero, overconfidence was a key to failure. The soldiers spent a night without a red force field protecting them for the first time since the Star Cruisernded, but they were all so excited about Path to New Beginning that they did not even notice it. Cain woke up after roughly twelve hours and felt all his body and mind exhaustion disappear. A small smile appeared on his face as he felt the strength of his body, but it did notst long since a decisive expression soon reced it. "I request all Vice-Captains to join me in the center ofmand in an hour. I have a crucial subject to discuss that involves the entire military force." Cain sent that message to the A.I. Chip of all the Vice-Captains before looking into his space ring and ensuring he had everything he needed for the next part of his n. "Tell me, Apex. What do you think my chances of sess are?" Although they did not speak much, Cain knew that Apex was always by his side. "Your chances to achieve that goal are 60%, by what I could tell from their interactions with you. But that was before killing the Wave Champion Beast and publishing the book. Now, do they even have a choice?" Cain only smiled as he heard that and left his tent. Chapter 196 Hunt Leader Chapter 196 Hunt Leader Cain did not take long to reach themand center of the military encampment and nodded once he saw that all the forty-nine Vice-Captains were there. "Why did you call all of us so suddenly? We had important business to attend to and can not leave them due to your whims!" The one that shouted was no other than Uriel, and the expression on his face showed the discontent in his heart. No matter how well the army went, the fact that the one shining was someone he hated made every victory feel awful. The other Vice-Captains frowned as they heard the way Uriel spoke to Cain. The young man had already made a very good impression on them due to his hard work and superb military skills, which gave them great wealth. However, none of them bother to correct Uriel since they also wonder about the reason for Cain''s summoning. Cain saw that all the Vice-Captain focused on him, and with a calm expression, he walked to the holographic board in the middle of the room and disyed the entirety of de Mountain. "We are currently in the forest that surrounds the true de Mountain, and there is a mountain range that divides our path and that of the students for the next five thousand kilometers." The Vice-Captains nodded, but it did not answer their question since that was something all of them knew. "Once we cross those five thousand kilometers, we will reach the foot of de Mountain, a zone rich in cultivation resources once dominated by King Beasts. Although the dozens of Wave Champion Beasts currently popting that area are surely having a feast, they will not be able to consume all of them fully." Once again, Cain stated a piece of information that all the Vice-Captains were aware of, but the purpose of this meeting was starting to be clearer. "I want to enforce a n that will allow us to reach that zone in less than three months. That way, not only will we be able to prevent the Wave Beasts from consuming too many of the resources, but we will also reach a lot sooner than the students, saving us the trouble of splitting the riches with them." Shock appeared in the Vice-Captains as they heard Cain''s intentions. Although it would benefit them to reach the foot of the mountain before the students, traveling such a considerable distance in such a short time will be incredibly dangerous, and things could go wrong very quickly. Cain was aware of the dangers of his n, which is why he needed the Vice-Captains to agree on something if he wanted to implement it. "I am confident in achieving that goal in that amount of time if I take the role of Hunt Leader." The eyes of the Vice-Captains widened as they heard that. Cain wanted tomand the entire military forces, changing things from an alliance where all the Vice-Captains voted to one where he called all the shots. "Hmph! How can a brat that just left the military academy have the guts to propose something so outrageous." Uriel did not wait even a second before making it perfectly clear how he felt about it. Cain expected that response from Uriel, but he also saw the difort with his n in the faces of the other Vice-Captians. It did note as a surprise for him since not only was he younger by several years, but he was also not the strongest, not to mention that if he were to take the role of Hunt Leader, part of the military credits they gained would be transferred to him. It was a military rule that amander would gain a percentage of the credits of the people that they led to battle. Cain and all the others gained a lot from the hundreds of people in their battalions. "The desire to be the Hunt Leader is not born out of personal greed. I want what is best for the entire force and need total authority to implement this n. Although it is correct that this is my first battlefield as a soldier, you have all seen my leadership skills and the might of my battle formations. As for the troops, I am sure none will reject me bing the Hunt Leader." The Vice-Captains began to look at each other as they heard Cain''s words and spoke through their A.I. Chips about the best path to take. Uriel saw that and was shocked that the others did not reject Cain''s goal immediately. The rage on his face grew, but someone else spoke before he could renew his shouting. "We will like to see the n you want to enforce." Antony took a step forward as he spoke. He was not epting Cain''s proposal but was not denying it either and wanted to know more, a feeling shared by most of the Vice-Captains. Cain nodded and used the holographic board to disy the movement of the troops across the forest. Every one of the Vice-Captains put theirplete focus on the board, and all of them were amazed by the movement of the troops. Using their experience, they could see that the battle formation and tactics would be very effective but were also highlyplicated. It was only possible to implement it with a voice that couldmand every battalion with absolute authority. The Vice-Captains had seen Cain''s skills, and he was extremely talented, but he asked them to put their lives in his hands and trust him blindly on the battlefield. "If I take the role of Hunt Leader, I will also use all my power to improve the cultivation of the highest-ranking soldiers and increase their survival skills." When the Vice-Captains heard the part about the highest-ranking soldiers, they understood that Cain was referring to them, and this one made it clear that they were not empty words immediately. Cain turned toward one Vice-Captian under the same Captain as him, and his eyes began to glow red. "Rx your mind. It will be beneficial for you." Benjamin heard those words as a forceing from Cain attempted to put his mind and body in a susceptible state. He had seen Cain''s hypnosis skill and chose not to resist. Everybody saw how Benjamin''s eyes lost focus before this one adopted a meditative position on the ground, and his Wave began to revolve much faster than before. "Embryonic Breathing!" One of the Vice-Captains shouted with envy and amazement on his face. Embryonic Breathing was nothing special for someone like Cain, but each instance was a small lucky chance for the Wave Warriors present. Not only did it allow their bodies to cultivate much faster, but it also cleared their minds of all the stress and pressure of the battlefield. "Benjamin is a Level 8 Wave Warrior. You are a 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master!" To be a 4-Star Elementary Master at fifteen years of age was beyond amazing. However, Cain had not finished! "I am not a 4-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master!" Cain''s voice made the entire room grow dead silent as he turned toward Antony. The Level 9 Essence Wave Warrior was surprised by the intent in Cain''s eyes. He adopted a solemn expression before nodding and shutting down his mental defenses, allowing his mind to be as susceptible as possible. Cain pushed his Ego Wave to its maximum and focused his mind with all his power. His eyes grew bloodshot, but by forcing himself to this limit, he hypnotized Antony and made this one enter Embryonic Breathing. "You are a 5-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master!" The Vice-Captains could not believe what they just saw. Cain was a 5-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, which meant if he took the next step, he could hypnotize Wave Champions! Of course, bing a Grand Hypnosis Master was incredibly difficult and could take years, but that did not matter to the Vice-Captains as Cain right now could help each of them enter Embryonic Breathing. That already was enough to throw away all their concerns, but there was still one more thing that Cain had to offer. After taking a moment to rx his mind from the immense effort he had just unleashed, Cain waved his hand and took out fifty red capsules with a blood-red liquid. "Each capsule contains a Wave Virus by the name of Berserker State. Once injected, your body will enter an overdrive state, exponentially enhancing your speed and vitality while improving your body''s hemostasis. It willst an entire hour, but you will be left extremely weak once the effect is gone. Your body will need at least three days to recover if you are an Astral Rebirth Cultivator and six if you follow the Essence Evolution Path of Power." Although the side effect of Berserker State was dire and would impede them from participating in the battlefield for days, it was life-saving. Who would not want a trump card they could deploy in a deadly situation, allowing them to leave the battlefield with their life and no permanent sequels? Uriel''s face was pale as he saw how the other Vice-Captains noded among each other, and it was clear they had already made a decision. Chapter 197 Wave Champion in two months 197 Wave Champion in two months Cain saw the desire in the Vice-Captains eyes as they stared at the Wave Viruses and the duo in Embryonic Breathing. In their minds, they were already enjoying an enhanced cultivation speed and superb survival skills. "A Berserker State is considered A Grand Wave Virus, and their market price is 150.000 military credits. I can sell them for 90.000 on credit, and if you do not use them by the end of The Hunt, you can hand them over, and you will not owe me anything." If they were honest, the Vice-Captains wished they could get the Wave Viruses for free, but they all understood that Cain was already offering them an incredibly good deal. 90.000 Imperial Military Credits was a massive amount as those were the prices of resources used by Wave Champion, and even if they gained a lot of credits right now, it would take around two months for them to amass so much. However, there was not a single Vice-Captain that thought of refusing Cain''s deal. They could always get more money but could not buy a new life. "As for Embryonic Breathing. It will be free for Level 7 Wave Warriors since it requires little to no effort on my part. Those at Levels 8 and 9 will pay 150 and 750 credits for each session, respectively. You can also pay me on credit, redirecting part of your military exploits during The Hunt toward my ount. There will be no interest. You might not know it, but most 5-Stars Elementary Hipnosis Masters charge between 7000 and 10000 Imperial Military Credits." Like the Wave Viruses, the Vice-Captains were ready to ept Cain''s deal. Even if they did not move a muscle, they would gain much more than enough to pay for the hypnosis, thanks to the soldiers working under them. Uriel saw how the Vice-Captains looked at each other and began to nod softly. It was clear to him that they were ready to ept Cain as the Hunt Leader, something he could simply not tolerate. "I refuse!" Uriel shouted with strength. He had very little regard for bing the center of attention and carried on with his words. "I and the other four Vice-Captains under Captain Robert refuse to ept you as Hunt Leader!" The four Vice-Captains next to Uriel were surprised to see how this one decided on their name without even consulting them, causing great annoyance. Even though they tend to side with Uriel, that does not mean they would do everything he said, especially with Cain offering such an attractive deal. Uriel noticed the anger in those four and immediately sent a secret message through his A.I. Chip. "Bear with it. If the five of us refuse toply, his battle formation and tactics will not work, making it pointless for him to be named Hunt Leader. I promise topensate each of you for this." The four Vice-Captains sighed softly before adopting severe expressions, making it clear they were with Uriel. Cain saw Uriel''s nasty smile but did not care. There was no anger on his face as he simply shook his head. "Your inability to see the bigger picture tells me all I need to know from you." Cain only said that before waving his hand, changing the number of troops in the holographic board. All the Vice-Captian saw how Uriel and his friends'' troops vanished from the holographic board. Yet, not only did that not affect the battle formation, but it also made the soldiers'' movement more smooth and efficient. "I never considered your troops in my n. Adding them destabilizes the battle formations, but now they work as intended." Uriel could not help but grow pale once he heard Cain''s words. Not only did he show everybody that he cared more about personal feelings than the mission, but in the end, it was all for nothing. "YOU!" However, Uriel''s shock soon transformed into a rage as he looked at Cain with killing intent. Cain was a little surprised and made sure to increase the level of danger that Uriel presented. Using rage to focus was not easy, and those capable of doing it could be extremely dangerous. The rest of the Vice-Captain made their energy flow once they saw the killing intent on Uriel. Although none of them moved forward, it was clear they would not allow a fight between them. Uriel noticed that and took a deep breath before calming down and walking out of themand center with the other four Vice-Captains. Remaining as part of the coalition that would take Cain as the Hunt Leader was not something they could do, so there was no path for them other than leave. "There is nothing wrong in choosing a bad leader. I only hope you can reconsider and make the right decision before being left so far behind that you are no longer worth the trouble." The group froze for a moment as they heard Cain''s voice, and the rage on Uriel''s face only grew stronger. Uriel knew that the Hunt Leader was not talking to him but to the other four Vice-Captains by his side, who were already enraged by the mess he had made. "Let''s go!" Uriel shouted, making the other four move with him. Cain knew that the group would be a problem, but there were ways to handle them, and right now, his major concern was to guide the full power of the military encampment. He turned toward Antony and Benjamin, waking up the duo. The forty-four Vice-Captains turned toward Cain before putting their right first over their chest and shouting in unison. "Hunt Leader!" It was short, but that was all they needed to make Cain''s position as the Hunt Leader official. Cain nodded and did not waste time. He indicated for the Vice-Captains to take the capsules with the Wave Virus before giving everybody their assignment. In less than an hour, every single Vice-Captain knew their role in the new n and how they had to move forward from now on. There would be countless moving pieces on the uing battlefield, and some Vice-Captains could simply not keep up with them. Luckily, they only needed to obey Cain''smand and adjust ording to his instruction during the battle. "One final point. Antony, how long do you think it will take you to be a Wave Champion?" Although questions regarding his cultivation were a sensitive topic for the young man, Antony immediately answered Cain''s question. Clearly, the Level 9 Wave Warrior did not speak empty words when he epted Cain as the Hunt Leader. "I am currently suppressing my cultivation to raise my understanding of the Law of Light to the Deep Basic Understanding Level before my breakthrough. I am confident in achieving that goal in fourmonths." Cain was surprised by what he just heard from Antony. Just like there were levels of marrow washing, there were also levels of Law Comprehension, and what Antony sought to achieve in the Law of Light was equal to attaining wless Marrow! He stared at Antony for a moment, focusing on the eyes of this one, and saw the determination to carry on with that mission and the confidence to achieve it. "I can lend you 2 million military credits and prepare peak Wave Viruses to assist your cultivation, but I need you to be a Wave Champion in the next two months." Spending two million military credits just to speed up someone else''s advance to the Wave Champion Rank could sound insane, but Cain did not think so. Speed was of the essence for his n, and if he wanted to seed in this endeavor truly, he needed a powerful Wave Champion that could work as the head of the spear. He had only three choices for that job since all the other Level 9 Wave Warriors would have to leave The Hunt if they broke into the Wave Champion Rank, as they would no longer be considered first generation. Uriel was not a choice as the man hated Cain, and although he knew he could count on William, it was better to have a Wave Champion that followed the Essence Evolution Path of Power on the battlefield as they had a greater range. Antony was surprised by Cain''s offer and did not immediately ept it. He could be a Wave Champion in a month if he wanted, but that would mean neglecting his foundation, which he was unwilling to do. Two million credits would be enough to buy the resources needed to enhance his Law of Lightprehension, and he would still have money for medicines that could purify and temper his Essence Wave. If it was anywhere else, Antony might have rejected that offer, but he knew that his military exploits in The Hunt would exponentially rise when he became a Wave Champion. It was not crazy to think he could amass two million military credits in two months of killing Wave Beasts. Cain smiled as he saw Antony nod, and while it cost him more than half of his savings, it was worth it. Now all the pieces were in order. Chapter 198 Lightning-Fall Mantis 198 Lightning-Fall Mantis [Cain Laurifer has now be the Hunt Leader, bing the Great Commander of the entire military force. All soldiers must obey his orders without hesitation. A new military strategy has been implemented, with the ultimate goal of advancing 5000 kilometers within three months to reach the foot of de Mountain before the student force.] The thousands of soldiers in the military encampment woke up only to see a message reach their A.I. Chips with the signature of their respective Vice-Captains. It came as a shock for the soldiers that Cain managed to attain the highest level of authority over such a massive force, but it was not hard to ept it. Cain had shown again and again how formidable he was, and the idea he could achieve the impossible had already emerged in the minds of the soldiers. Although learning that they would have to advance 5000 kilometers in just three months made some soldiers grow nervous, to say the least, their fears slowly faded away as they remembered the marvelous battle formations of their new Hunt Leader. It did not take long for the fear to transform into greed as they imagined just how much wealth they would attain once they reached the foot of de Mountain, not to mention that the idea of pissing off the student force made many of themugh. By the time the soldiers emerged from their tents, there was no fear in their eyes, only a ferocious battle intent along with monstrous greed. Forty-five Vice-Captains were waiting at the entrance of the forest, and as they saw the state of their soldiers, some could not help but feel surpise at the resolution in their eyes. They then focused on the man at the center, and there was awe in their eyes as they understood the amazing work this one had done in motivating the soldiers from the moment the Star Cruisernded. Cain stood at the head of the entire military force, and his eyes glowed with battle intent as he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave, generating a massive red force field that charged into the forest like a tsunami. "Kill!" Words of encouragement or a motivational speech would have been useless, with every soldier already bursting with powerful willpower. Cain uttered that simple word before leading the thousands of soldiers forward. That scene caused shock in the Captains, Wave University''s teachers, and the student force. None of them had ever seen or heard of a first-year soldier managing to take control of such a massive force, and if they had, they would not believe it, yet it was happening right in front of their eyes. Dominic and Amos were the most shocked of all. They were themanders of the student force, but both of them still had to listen to the other high-ranking students, unlike Cain, who had obtained full authority. The duo could not help but frown as they saw that. For them, Cain''s strength and influence growing made it harder to implement their ns. ... Over the next month, the military force advanced through the forest like a hot knife through snow, leaving a bloody trail in their path. The military force fought from dawn to dusk, leaving when the light was already vanishing, and the sky was dark. Returning to the encampment during the night could be dangerous due to the weakened field of view, but Cain covered them with his Ego Wave. There was not a single moment of daylight that Cain did not take advantage of, and it was only during the night that soldiers were not in a constant battle. Most nights in de Mountainsted eleven hours, which was the time the soldiers had to rest, eat, and train. The battles became incredibly fierce as they advanced, with the enemies bing more and more powerful. The Wave Beast''s hordes'' size and cultivation kept growing the deeper they went into the forest, yet unlike what you would expect, the casualty rate did not increase. Although it might not make sense for the casualty rate not to increase despite the military force fighting for longer periods and against stronger opponents, it all became clear as they understood that the bulk of the army was rapidly improving their cultivation. Path to New Beginning was one of the reasons for that, and while it was among the most important, it was not the only one. Each time soldiers killed a Wave Beast, they would immediately be rewarded military credits, and the constant ughter increased their wealth very fast. The soldiers had the resources and guidance to increase their cultivation, but the key aspect behind their improvement was the threat of death. Every day they marched into a bloody battlefield where a single wrong step could lead to their end, which forced their bodies and mind to carve out every inch of potential inside them. Casualties kept urring each day, as it would be naive to think that a battlefield involving thousands of soldiers and tens of thousands of Wave Beasts would not have deaths. Still, the power of the military force only kept growing, with many of the Peak Level 3 Wave Warriors that had been stuck for years finally managing to break the bottleneck. As for the soldiers beneath Uriel and his allies, they advanced not too far behind the main force. Cain did not care about Uriel or the other four Vice-Captains but would not intentionally harm the soldiers beneath them, so he ensured Wave Beasts did not surround them. ... 14:06 One and half months after Cain took the role of Hunt Leader, the military force faced their more arduous battle. The number of Wave Beasts in the horde was not that impressive, but their cultivation was very high, and worst yet, the number of Early Wave Champion Beasts was over twenty. It pushed Cain and the other Vice-Captains to their limit, but they managed to equal the Wave Champion Beasts, thanks to every single Level 7 Wave Warrior already advancing to Level 8 and the rise of three new Level 9. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as Blood Lightning covered his body, and his heartbeat echoed with so much strength that the people around him could hear it. Asura Form worked at full power as Cain battled an Early Wave Champion Beast named Fire-Ice Two-Headed Lion. The beast constantly sted ice and fire from its maws, forcing Cain to dodge them before shing back into the fray and attacking. The battle pushed Cain as the creature was truly powerful, but it was not so much to put his life on the line, and it would be a matter of time before they managed to gain an edge and ughter this horde. ''It might take us three days to end this horde before moving forward.'' That thought just crossed Cain''s mind when suddenly, his eyes widened with shock and dread. He turned to the left and stared at two Level 8 Vice-Captains fighting a two-meter-tall gori-like Wave Champion Beast. "Watch out!" The two Level 8 Vice-Captains heard Cain''s shout, but while they did not lose focus of their enemy, they grew confused. Even if the opponent was a Rock Ape, they were able to handle it. Half a second after Cain''s warning, the duo caught a glimpse of a blue sh, but it was toote. Before they could even react, one of the Level 8 Vice-Captains was split in half! The other Vice-Captain could only see in shock as hisrade and friend perished. He had no time to mourn as the blue sh came his way, and just as death seemed inevitable, a red figure appeared before him. Cain''s teeth clenched as he used his gauntlets to stop a sharp de covered in blue lightning. His arms trembled as the strength behind that attack was so much that his bones cracked, and if it weren''t for his Blood Energy and Astral Wave reinforcing them, they would have broken. It was only then that the enemy became visible to everybody. The one that killed that Level 8 Vice-Captain with a single strike before this one could even see it resembled a one and half meter mantis covered in lightning. The rest of the Vice-Captains were able to identify the beast as a Lightning-Fall Mantis, a creature known for its sharp des, monstrous strength, and incredible speed. However, the most shocking part was its aura which put it a level above the rest of the Early Wave Champion Beasts. The Lightning-Fall Mantis was a Middle Wave Champion Beast! Although the difference between an Early and Middle Wave Champion Beast might not seem much, that could not be farther from the truth. The disparity between their battle power was not different from the one between a Level 1 Wave Warrior and a Level 4! All the Vice-Captains knew they would face Middle Wave Champion Beasts, but they did not expect it to be so soon and that the enemy would emerge out of nowhere and kill one of them. Chapter 199 Defeat 199 Defeat "FALL IN ORDER!" Before chaos could spread, Cain''s voice echoed across the battlefield. Immediately after that, a battle formation appeared in the mind of the Vice-Captains to face the current situation. It would notst long and force everybody to overexert themselves, but it was their only choice unless they wanted to suffer massive casualties. Cain did not have the luxury of focusing on anyone else who was not the monster before him and left the task of rearranging the battle formation to Apex. He made his Astral Wave burst with so much strength that even with his impressive constitution, he felt his body would crumble in a few minutes, but that was the only way he could face the Middle Wave Champion Beast. "AHHH!" Cain roared as he condensed his Astral Wave around his arms and legs, pushing the Mantis'' scythe away before sending a tornado kick. The kick was very strong, with Cain using all his torque, but it only pushed the Lightning-Fall Mantis less than three meters upon impact. Cain clenched his teeth, and he felt his leg go numb. The body of the Lightning-Fall Mantis was incredibly tough. However, Cain did not have time to focus on that as the Lightning-Fall Mantis immediately shed back into the fray and hacked with its two scythes, aiming at his neck and torso. Cain was pushed to his limits by the beast''s speed and skill, but he was able to dodge both scythes. However, his armor was not unscathed, as there was a deep cut that came dangerously close to his skin. Unfortunately, those two strikes were far from everything, as the Lightning-Fall Mantis kept hacking toward Cain with immense strength and speed. Cain did his best to dodge the attack, but sometimes he was forced to use his gauntlets to block it, and every time he did it, his arms trembled. Cain found himself struggling against the formidable Lightning-Fall Mantis. Despite his best efforts, the creature proved to be too powerful, relentlessly pushing him back and inflicting numerous cuts on his armor. Cain had just blocked a strike that pushed him over fifty meters back and saw how the Lightning-Fall Mantis jumped toward him, ready to give the final blow. Luckily, while the Lightning-Fall Mantis was in mid-air, a barrage of light arrowsnded on it, sending it crashing into the ground. Antony joined the fray, and his Essence Wave was bursting at full power as he raised his bow and kept firing all sorts of projectiles against the Middle Wave Champion Beast. It was only at that moment that Cain was able to rx for a moment. He knew that fighting the Middle Wave Champion Beast alone was not possible, but the other Vice-Captains needed time to reorganize before one coulde to help him. Cain''s arms trembled, and they were not of much use, but he did not hesitate before joining the fight. He shed forward at full speed, and before the Lightning-Fall Mantis could stabilize its body, he kicked it in the chest with all his strength. The Lightning-Fall Mantis showed rage at the fact that two humans with such weak cultivation were facing it, and its Life Wave grew stronger. Cain, Antony, and the Lightning-Fall Mantis continued their fight, each using everything they had to kill the other party. Despite the Godyer Humans'' skills and tactics, they could barely hold the beast in ce, and none of their attacks couldnd a deadly blow. Blue, red, and golden shes moved across the battlefield, and they crushed everything around them to pieces. They moved at impressive speeds, and their collision generated powerful shock waves. The rest of the Vice-Captains hoped that Cain coulde up with another miracle, as they really needed it this time. This battlefield was just one move away from bing a disaster. Cain knew what the other Vice-Captains hoped to happen. Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis was impossible, but he at least expected to wound it or achieve another type of advantage on the battlefield before pulling back. Sadly, all of Cain''s ns fell apart as he felt a spike in energy from William. The Level 9 Astral Cultivator''s body burst with immense vitality, and all his wounds closed as he pushed back the two Wave Champion Beasts in front of him. ''Dammit!'' It was evident to Cain that William''s sudden increase in energy and agility could be attributed to the Berserker State Wave Virus. It seemed likely that William was backed into a corner and had no choice but to activate the virus to fend off the two Early Wave Champion Beasts. William managed to overpower the two Early Champion Wave Beasts using his Berserker State, but it was only a temporary surge in strength. Once the effect wore off, he would need to take some time off the battlefield to recover. There was the possibility of continuing fighting, hoping for something miraculous to happen, but Cain knew the world was not a fairy tale and the only thing he would gain if the battle carried on would be more dead soldiers. ''FUCK!'' Cain cursed in his mind, but soon his eyes burst with red light, forcing his willpower to suppress his emotions as hemanded the entire military force to pull back orderly. The Vice-Captains saw that order with both relief and gloom. They were happy that the Hunt Leader would not blindly continue fighting but were also angry at losing against this horde. When the Wave Beast''s horde saw the humans retreating, they strengthened their attacks, but soldiers knew how to pull back from a battlefield without leaving any opening for the enemy. Things would have been very different if the Vice-Captains were exhausted or if the effect of the Wave Virus on William had worn off, but since Cain ordered the retreat before any of that, things went smoothly. The military force arrived at the encampment after several hours. Aside from the Level 8 Vice-Captain, the losses they incurred on this day were not greater than those experienced on any other day in the past month. Yet, there was a gloomy aura that covered the entire military force. Momentum was very important for an army, and all they amassed during thest month of victories came crashing down due to this one defeat. Cain noticed the state of the army, but words would not be of much use now. He guided the Vice-Captains to the center ofmand so they could figure out their next step. The mood of the Vice-Captains was not much better than that of the rest of the army. All of them suffered injuries during thatst part of the battle, and William could barely stand now that the side-effect of Berserker State had kicked in. "Everybody, give me your analysis of the battle." Cain spoke with a calm voice as hemanded the Vice-Captains. Everybody else had the right to feel flustered and angry by their current situation. Yet, as the Great Commander of the entire military force, that was not a luxury he could allow. The serenity in Cain''s voice helped the Vice-Captains to calm their minds and recount their points of view of the battle. Ultimately, their situation was not that dire, and the only reason they felt it like that was the death of one Vice-Captain and the sudden appearance of a Middle Wave Champion Beast. If Antony or William were to be the Wave Champion, they would be capable of defeating the Lightning-Fall Mantis on their own, perhaps even killing it. Cain hoped that Antony would break through before they encountered any Middle Wave Champion Beasts, but his calctions were wrong. The good news was that it was only a matter of time before they could crush the Wave Beast''s horde led by the Lightning-Fall Mantis and move forward. Nevertheless, time was of the essence if they wanted to reach the foot of de Mountain before the student force. Cain analyzed the situation but could note up with an answer. ''None of the Vice-Captains can unleash a power-up or killing strike great enough to take down the Lightning-Fall Mantis. Even my strongest attack, Blood Revolution, may not be enough, not to mention that to unleash that barrage of hooks, I need around a second of preparation, and the beast''s scythes will cut me more than ten times by then.'' Suddenly five persons entered the center ofmand. They were Uriel, and the other four Vice-Captains under Captain Rober, and each of them had a nasty smile on their face. "I can see that Vice-Captain Arnold is missing, and William is not looking very well. Does the mighty Hunt Leader need some help?" It was clear that Uriel and the others had learned what happened to the main force and came to gloat, making many of the Vice-Captains furious. Cain could perceive the contempt and ridicule in Uriel''s tone but remainedposed. Reacting would only serve to satisfy Uriel''s intentions. "It isn''t likely we will find an answer at this moment. We will not march tomorrow and take the day to rest. Everybody, return to your tents." Cain ignored Uriel and did not waste any more words before leaving themand center. Chapter 200 Blood Hand 200 Blood Hand Once Cain reached his tent, hisposed expression broke apart, and an immense rage emerged in his heart. "Goddammit!" Cain shouted with strength, ensuring his voice did not leave the tent. He had pure killing intent toward the Lightning-Fall Mantis, who dared to mess up with his n and wanted nothing more than to crush Uriel''s face with his fist. As the Great Commander of the entire military force, he could not show those wild emotions in front of anyone else, as it was his job to remain calm, since only then could the others freak out. It took him a few minutes, but after letting all that out, Cain was able to regain hisposure. Now that he was genuinely calm, he did not need to use his Ego Wave to control his emotions and could focus solely on the task. Cain began to think of ways to ovee this ordeal, but it was hard to find an answer. He first looked at his armor, which was full of cuts, and knew he needed to change it. The idea of buying a Wave Champion-level armor crossed Cain''s mind, but he soon discarded it. Wave Artifacts need to consume the user''s Wave to work correctly, and while Cain was impressive in every sense, his Astral Wave was simr to that of a Level 6 Wave Warrior. If one were to use Wave Champion-level Wave Artifacts with an inadequate amount of Astral Wave, the effect would beparable to cing a solid piece of metal on their body. While it may be able to block the initial impact of an attack, it would not be effective in reducing its kic force. To achieve sess, Cain had to infiltrate the Wave Beast''s horde and eliminate the Lightning-Fall Mantis. However, there were challenges ahead, with the chief one being Cain''s inadequacy in dealing with the Middle Wave Champion Beast''s imprable defenses. Cain vividly recalled the impact of his kicks on the beast''s body, and he was aware of its incredible resilience. ''Advancing to Level 6 could give me the edge to surpass the Lightning-Fall Mantis''s defenses.'' As that thought crossed Cain''s mind, he emitted amand to the Absolute Life Form System. ''System, scan me.'' Like always, the systemplied with Cain''s order, and a virtual screen appeared before him in a few seconds. [Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 5 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Middle Tier 6 (High Tier 6) --- Stats: Strength: 3.8-->5.8 Agility: 2.6-->4.1 Vitality: 5.1-->7.3 Wave: 2.3-->4.2 Blood Energy: 5.6-->7.4 --- Marrow washing: 79%pletion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%] A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw the advances he had made. He was very close to the peak of Level 5, and if he wanted, he could cross to Level 6 whenever he wanted. The only reason that had not happened yet was Cain''s suppressing his cultivation to improve his foundation, making the next breakthrough carry on a much more profound marrow washing. Cain considered raising his cultivation now but shook his head. Nothing ensured him that the rise in strength would be enough to surpass the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' defenses. And most importantly, he was unwilling to sacrifice his foundation for temporary gains. The only feasible n remained assassination, but Cain could not devise a killing card. He went through the military interface and began to look for poisons but soon frowned. During Assassination Military Specialization ss, Cain learned a lot about poisons since they were valuable tools for assassins but were extremely hard to master. The reason for that was not the poison itself but the target''s constitution. When life forms advance in levels or ranks, it is not just their flesh and blood that grow stronger but their immune systems as well. If a Wave Champion consumed a poison that could melt his stomach, his immune system would instantly iste that organ from all the others, limiting the damage. Even if the poison reached the bloodstream, the immune system would shut down all the arteries and veins around that area. If you considered using poison, it is important to note that the process is moreplicated than simply getting it into the target''s body. You need tobine your Wave with the poison and carefully manipte it to spread as far as possible before moving away from the target. Cain had learned some skills that could help him with that, but his proficiency in them was not high enough to allow him to deadly poison the Lightning-Fall Mantis before this one counterattacked. More and more ns appeared in Cain''s mind, but none of them was good enough to kill the Lightning-Fall Mantis and let him escape with his life. "Brat, it seems that you are having problems." Cain''s eyes widened as he was surprised to hear Zarak''s voice in his mind. His perception had increased tremendously after his Ego Wave rose to the level of Wave King, but his master still managed to reach him out of the blue. It was clear to Cain that for Zarak, a newly advanced Wave King was nothing. ''I wonder just how strong he is?'' Cain looked into the sky before rising from his feet and bowing. "Yes. Everything was going ording to n, but I am now facing an enemy too powerful to surpass in the immediate future." "The world will always be full of things that break our ns and shake our rhythm, no matter how strong you are. The only way forward is never to give up and learn from every defeat, as it is in those that you truly grow." Zarak''s words were full of wisdom, born from the same defeats that Cain had just experienced. "Anyway, I am speaking to you right now because I have a way to help you." Cain did not have the time to ask what Zarak was referring to when a white gem the size of his palm reached his hand. Despite its size, it was extremely heavy and glowed with a beautiful starlight. "Brat, that is a Saint Technique. I will exin more about them once we see each other again. You only need to know that it will immensely help you. To ess the information in it, you usually need to put the gem on your forehead and focus solely on it, but since you have a Free Ego, send your Ego Wave into it. Do not let anyone else use it; you must always have it in your possession. If you lose it, the consequences would be dire." Cain could discern the solemnity in Zarak''s voice, and he adopted a serious expression before nodding to the sky. Only then did he feel the Ego Wave of his master disappear. Cain stared at the starry gem and did not immediately send his Ego Wave into it. He first adopted a meditative stance on the ground, using Embryonic Breathing to clear his mind of any worry, and only then did he begin. The instant Cain''s Ego Wave reached the starry gem, his eyes widened, and there was a sense of absolute shock in them. An image appeared in his mind, but no words existed. Instead, he saw a man full of scars before a small mountain, with a fierce expression on his face. "?AHHHHH!" The man unleashed a roar that triggered shock waves as a pir of immense Blood Energy rose from his body with so much strength that it seemed it would reach the sky. He then adopted a martial stance before channeling all that energy into his right fist. Cain''s amazement grew as he saw how the fierce man''s right hand began to change. Each finger morphed until the entire hand now resembled a blood gem. What shocked Cain so much was not the sight but the fact he could discern the thoughts and emotions of the fierce man as this one activated that technique. And finally, the most fantastic part came. Cain could not say for sure, but the fierce man''s cultivation seemed to reach the peak of the Wave Champion level, yet that was all this one needed to destroy the mountain in front of him with a single punch! Cain could not believe what he just saw. Wave Champions were incredibly powerful, able to perform physical feats like moving faster than the speed of sound and leveling buildings, but shattering a mountain with a single punch was the domain of Wave Kings! After the fierce man''s punch, the image vanished, and Cain gained ess to a sea of information. It was more than just words. In it, he gained ess to the insight, feelings, and wisdom of the one that engraved the technique into the starry gem. "Blood Hand." Cain uttered the name of the technique that he found inside the starry gem, and its power was simply incredible. With it, he would gain more than enough strength to surpass the defenses of any Middle Wave Champion Beast. Chapter 201 Blood Index 201 Blood Index Cain began to analyze the information about Blood Hand, and after half an hour, he obtained a basic understanding. ''There are five levels in this technique: Blood Index, Blood Fingers, Blood Fist, Blood w, and Blood Shockwave. You must have reached the second level in the Blood Refinement Art to train this skill and develop Blood Energy. That already is an absurdly high requirement for a Wave Warrior since the second level was supposed to be exclusive for Wave Champions, and that is just the beginning. I must condense my Blood Energy, channel it into my hand, and then use it to manipte the molecr structure, exponentially enhancing strength and durability. Blood Hand generates immense pressure on the cultivators'' bodies. I can train the first two levels as a Wave Warrior. However, there is a way to begin the third level before bing a Wave Champion: by achieving wless Marrow.'' Cain took out his Ego Wave from the starry gem the next second as he analyzed all he had just learned. Blood Hand was simply too fantastic, and the power it could provide for Wave Warriors and Wave Champion was off the charts, so it was the requirements andplexity of the skill. Suddenly Cain''s eyes widened as he stared at the starry gem. Now that his Ego Wave was out of it, he found himself unable to cultivate the technique. The words were still in his mind, but theycked the insights and perception of the person that engraved them. Cain could not train without the starry gem. If he wanted to share his knowledge with someone else, it would be impossible without handing it over. Asking Cain to exin Blood Hand to someone else would be like asking him to exin a rainbow to a blind man. He would not know where to start. ''Is this the might of a Saint Technique?'' Cain could not help but wonder if all Saint Technique were as profound and strong as the one he was currently holding. Not wanting to waste any more time in useless thoughts, Cain sent his Ego Wave back into the starry gem while at the same time bringing out of his space ring several Wave Champion Beast''s hearts. The amount of Blood Energy needed to train Blood Hand was much greater than the one that Cain currently had inside his body, so unless he wanted to use his own blood, he would have to use that of the beasts he had killed over the past month. Cain put his left hand over the pile of Wave Champion Beast''s hearts while raising his right index finger. He devoured the blood essence of the hearts and transformed it into Blood Energy. Then he condensed it before channeling it into the right hand''s index finger. While Cain was training Blood Hand, three figures were thousands of meters in the sky, watching over him. They were not other than Zarak, Jonathan, and Bloodless #4. Zarak and Jonathan were pale, and it was clear they had not fully healed from the battle that happened over a month ago. Still, their vitality was calm, making it clear it was just a matter of time before their bodies fully recovered. Bloodless #4, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine. He received great injuries during the battle against the duo, but his body and regeneration abilities were so powerful that he was at his peak again. Jonathan had his hand over Zarak''s shoulder, using the Ego Wave of this one to look at Cain. Bloodless #4''s eyes glowed with Blood Energy that allowed his sight to gain supernatural power, granting him the ability to stare at Cain as if this one was in front of him. The group''s attention waspletely fixed on Cain, with no concern for anything else. Unbeknownst to the young man, the sess of this task would have a significant impact on his progress in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. Saint Techniques were more than just skills with great offensive power. Everything above the Wave Champion Rank involved them. "Blood Hand is considered a core technique of Blood Sea. I am surprised you handed it over to the boy just like that." Bloodless #4 showed nothing on his face, but there was a meaningful light in his eyes as he nced at Jonathan. "I can see by that boy''s moves that he practices the Aegon Family''s Void State. That skill is even more precious than Blood Hand." Jonathan showed a small smile before shaking his head. "I only imparted the first level of the technique. I do not have the authority to hand over the part of Void State ssified as a Saint Technique." "I see." Bloodless #4 nodded and better understood Cain''s rtionship with the Amos Family. Since the other party exined things, he will do the same. "I would have handed Blood Hand after reaching Blood Sea to test his talent. Since you are unwilling to let me bring him with me, I have no choice but to do the test here." Zarak and Jonathan exchanged awkward smiles upon hearing that. They had noticed during their confrontation with Bloodless #4 that the man was able to use all his power without overexerting himself, unlike them. If Bloodless #4 had been willing to endure some damage to his cultivation, he could have killed them, but they were relieved that he chose topromise instead. "Howplicated is Blood Hand exactly?" Zarak asked that question as he saw how Cain concentrated more and more Blood Energy into the index finger. "Core Disciples of Blood Sea usually need nine hours to enter the first level. A Blood Child only needs three hours to enter Blood Index." Zarak and Jonathan nodded to Bloodless#4 and waited. They knew that Cain was extremely hard-working and had divine talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, having achieved a Wave King level willpower at fourteen. However, the Ego Eternal Path of Power and the Astral Rebirth Path of Power were not the same. Cain had an impressive foundation, but that was due to his hard work, not necessarily a manifestation of his talent. A true talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power was the ability to decipher the mechanism in the body and learn to untapt the hidden power of your cells. While the Essence Evolution Path of Power focused on deciphering the mysteries of the world around you, the Astral Rebirth Path of Power looked within, taking your own body as a world that needed to be explored and understood. Thinking that you could rise in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power just by consuming an immense amount of resources was naive. Zarak and Jonathan look at Cain with anticipation. The duo could not help but expect the young man to show them an impressive sight again, just like he had done many times before. However, the duo''s excitement began to fade away as the hours passed, and Cain showed no sign of even getting near the first level of Blood Hand. Bloodless #4 said nothing and let the hours pass, but it was clear to the duo that this one was growing impatient. Finally, after eighteen hours of waiting, a frown appeared on his face. "It seems that the generation of Blood Energy during the Wave Warrior Rank was pure luck, and his talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power is average at most." Zarak and Jonathan could not help but sigh as they heard that. Bloodless #4 was not cruel with his words, just giving his objective analysis of Cain''s talent. "I have to go back to Blood Sea. He only has a rudimentary understanding of the Blood Refinement Art and is unable to figure out the remaining techniques on his own, so it''s not a big deal. Nevertheless, I will retrieve the Saint Technique. It''s pointless for him to possess it." Zarak nodded at Bloodless #4. The technique was not his, and he did not have the right or power to stop Bloodless #4 from taking it back. "I will speak with..." Zarak was just about to establish a telepathic link with Cain to retrieve the starry gem when this one opened his eyes, and a burst of Blood Energy emerged from his hand. The trio saw how the tip of Cain''s right index finger began to change, adopting a blood-metallic color. That meant that Cain had entered the first level of Blood Hand. Zarak and Jonathan showed small smiles as they saw that. Nevertheless, eighteen hours to achieve that was still too long, and they could see that Bloodless #4 still intended to take the starry gem back. However, everything changed when the trio saw that the transformation of the finger did not stop at the tip. A human index finger isposed of three bones that mark the point at which it can bend, named the proximal, middle, and distal phnges. Cain managed to transmute the distal phnge of his index finger, and it carried on. It only stopped once a blood-metallic color covered the middle phnge portion of the index finger. Zarak and Jonathan were not familiar with Blood Hand, but they could tell from the shock on Bloodless #4''s face that whatever Cain had done was impressive. Chapter 202 Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis (I) 202 Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis (I) Bloodless #4 did not say a word to the duo and kept his eyes on Cain. He saw how the index finger of the young man began to vibrate before this one used it to pierce the ground. Cain''s index finger entered the earth as if the ground was snow and his finger a piece of hot metal, but that was far from everything. The ground began to shake before breaking apart, and the area around Cain''s index finger trembled before being pulverized! "He advanced so much in the first level in only eighteen hours!?" Bloodless #4 was having a hard time keeping hisposed expression. He was extremely familiar with Blood Hand and knew that the first level, Blood Index, focused on channeling your Blood Energy into a single finger, causing it to vibrate rapidly at a molecr level. This vibration enhances the finger''s strength and sharpness, allowing the user to pierce through tough materials and deal catastrophic damage to the target. "Is it true that he never trained a Saint Technique before?" Bloodless #4 was having difficulty epting that Cain''s talent in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power could be so high, so he considered the possibility that the young man had already entered into contact with a Saint Technique that worked simrly to Blood Hand. Zarak could see Bloodless #4''s solemnity, and this one did not hesitate before answering. "I have never taught or seen him use one in any fight. Although I can not discard him finding one in his journeys." Zarak gave an honest answer. Cain''s luck was always great, and he might have found one Saint Technique on his travels. After careful consideration, Bloodless #4 dismissed the possibility and shook his head. He had witnessed Cain''s battle with the Lightning-Fall Mantis and knew that the young man would not have held back any techniques while fighting for his life. In the end, Bloodless #4 had to acknowledge that Cain possessed exceptional talent in understanding the body''s mechanics. It can be said that Bloodless #4 was both right and wrong. While Cain had not previously trained in a Saint Technique, his exploration of the Red King''s memories provided him with a deeper understanding of the human body, making the training of Blood Hand a more manageable task. That wisdom was part of Cain and would only help him in his journey through the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, so it did not provide a false impression about his talent. Bloodless #4 remained silent momentarily, and he analyzed the situation before turning toward Zarak. "I need to return to Blood Sea. The starry gem with Blood Hand belongs to that boy now. It is fine as long as he doesn''t hand it over to someone else." Zarak was full of questions, but Bloodless #4 only gave the duo a short nod before shing away. Zarak and Jonathan looked at each other and could not help but smile awkwardly again. Cain''s talent in Blood Hand was so exceptional that Blood Sea would undoubtedly show an even greater interest in him from now on. "Damn brat, always giving me troubles. Whatever, we have done our part. It is time to leave." The duo shed away. Being so near de Mountain was dangerous as their presence technically broke the rules of The Hunt, so the sooner they left, the better. Cain did not notice the trio''s presence or how close he was to losing the starry gem with Blood Hand. The only thing on his mind right now was the thrill of having such a powerful technique. ''Now that Ipleted the molecr transformation, I can trigger Blood Index with the Blood Energy inside my body. It will drain me very fast, but it will be sufficient tost during a fight and more than enough to use during an assassination.'' As Cain witnessed the strength of his index finger, a surge of murderous intention overtook him. However, within moments, he was struck with overwhelming fatigue. His body and mind had been working tirelessly to find a solution to his problem, and now that he had, weariness consumed him. Cain was barely able to program a meeting with the Vice-Captains in eight hours before crashing into his bed and falling asleep. When Cain finally woke up, he still felt some drowsiness but shook it off and contacted someone before making his way into themand center. He arrived at themand center quickly, where the forty-four Vice-Captains were already assembled. He chose not to call upon Uriel''s group as they would only serve as a distraction and were not necessary for the task at hand. Cain could see their faces were full of doubt and worry. The Vice-Captains did not see a path to defeat the horde led by the Lightning-Fall Mantis since not only had they lost one Level 8 Vice-Captain, but William was still unable to fight. "I have found a way to defeat the Lightning-Fall Mantis today and do devastating damage to the horde it leads." Silence reigned in the room as the Vice-Captains turned toward Cain with shock and incredulity. It had barely been over 24 hours since they encountered the Lightning-Fall Mantis, yet Cain already found a way to handle that monster. How was that even possible!? "I must be clear. It will not be easy, and the danger we all face is immense, so I need everybody to fulfill their part as if the life of the entire military force depended on it The Vice-Captains sensed the seriousness emanating from Cain and responded with grave nods. Although Cain''s n to handle the Lightning-Fall Mantis would surely entail great danger, they were soldiers of the Godyer Humankind Empire and never shied away from risk if the rewards were worth it. "That goes especially for you." Cain focused on an empty corner of the room, confusing the Vice-Captains since there was no one there, but after concentrating on it, they realized there was actually a person standing in the dark! "First Lieutenant Orin, what are you doing here!?" Benjamin shouted with anger. Orin was one of the strongest soldiers under hismand, and the woman''s assassination skills were superb, but that did not mean she could just enter themand center. Spying on the higher-up''s meetings would carry a direct court-martial, and a light punishment would be losing all your military credentials. "I told her to be here and hide. I needed to know if her skills were high enough to hide from the perception of all of you." Cain calmed the Vice-Captains and signaled for Orin toe closer. He then unleashed his Ego Wave, covering the entire room and making sure no one could listen to them. Secrecy was essential to this mission, not just for those like Uriel but also for regr soldiers. Once Cain was sure no one was listening, he began to exin his n, and the look in the Vice-Captains'' constantly changed between shock and awe. It was insane by any measure, but everybody felt the confidence in Cain''s voice as he spoke, making them believe it could be done. Everybody needed to fulfill their roles, and the most important one was tasked to no other than the weaker among them, Orin. If the girl made the slightest mistake, everything was over. "I might be asking too much of you, but it is essential that you do it perfectly. Are you confident in fulfilling this mission?" Orin would be lying if she said she did not feel the pressure of the mission Cain assigned, but a decisive expression appeared on her face as she nodded. "I will." She said nothing more, but those two words were enough for Cain. Other than Orin, only his assassination skills were enough for the mission, but he would be busy elsewhere. "Now, assemble your troops. We march at the break of dawn." The Vice-Captains nodded at Cain''smand and shouted the order, ensuring all the soldiers were ready to march. Thousands of soldiers formed in front of the military encampment, and soon confusion and shock appeared on their faces. The death of one of the Vice-Captains was clear to everybody, but now not only was William missing, but no one could see the Hunt Leader, Cain. Uriel and the other Vice-Captains under Captain Robert were in formation in the distance, and when they saw that Cain was missing, smiles full of mockery appeared on their faces. "I told you. That brat was not fit to take the role of Great Commander. Anyway, I will call a meeting once this day''s march ends and take advantage of the situation." "Haha, Uriel, your insight is as sharp as always." "We always knew that brat would fail, just like you said." Uriel''s smile grew wider as he heard thepliments of the other. As for the fact they wereining each day of the past month, he chose to ignore it. Antony saw the confusion in the soldiers but offered no exnation, and after detailing today''s battle formation, they marched. Chapter 203 Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis (II) 203 Killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis (II) After a few hours of marching into the forest, the military force shed with the Wave Beast''s horde, but things didn''t go as usual. For some reason, the Vice-Captains implemented a battle formation that focused so much on defense that they barely killed any Wave Beast. Of course, that also tranted into a decrease in the number of casualties on their side, but if they were not going to harm the horde, what was the point of marching? Antony and another Level 9 Vice-Captain were fighting with all they had against the Lightning-Fall Mantis. The duo also focused on defense, but every minute was a test against such a formidable opponent. Antony orders the military force to retreat at the first signs of sunlight beginning to fade. The Vice-Captains and the rest of the soldiers followed themand and orderly pulled back. It was not hard since, despite the long battle, they had not wasted much energy. The Lightning-Fall Mantis and the rest of the Wave Champion Beast saw the soldiers move back but did not chase, leaving that task to their underlings. At their level, they have developed enough wisdom to understand the essence of ambushes and traps and know that blindly following the soldiers could lead to disaster. The Wave Champion Beasts even used Wave Beasts with the ability to fly to keep an eye on the soldiers as they moved back and ensured none remained behind. Once the humans were far out of sight, the Wave Champion Beasts got near the corpses on the ground. The beasts considered the Evolution Cores and Rebirth Hearts as treasures since they contained an immense amount of nutrients and refined Wave that could help with their evolutions. The Lightning-Fall Mantis picked the strongest corpses, but no one dared to say anything as it was the only Middle Wave Champion Beast present. There were very few bodies, so the beast was able to carry all of them into its cave. The rest of the Wave Champion Beast divided what remained and could hear the sound of bones cracking from the Lighting-Fall Mantis'' cave, making them drool, but none dared to get near. One should not let the fact that they were working together against the soldiers fool them. Wave Beasts were highly territorial, and that aspect of their life only grew stronger alongside their cultivation. If any of the Wave Champion Beasts were to get anywhere near the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' cave, it might be enough to start a battle to the death, which is why they all stayed away. The rest of the Wave Beast''s horde returned after chasing the military force, and the first thing they did was consume the bodies on the battlefield. There were no more humans as the Wave Champion Beasts took those away, so they ate their own kind. The sound of breaking bones and tearing flesh echoed across the battlefield. Usually, such gruesome sights and noises would make training harder, but Wave Beasts did not need things like meditation. They only needed to consume enough energy and let their Lineage do the rest. That was a very straightforward path but also very limited. Once Wave Beasts reached the peak of what their Lineage could grant them, they found themselves unable to progress anymore, no matter how much energy they obtained. Deep within the night, the sound of breaking bones vanished from the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' cave. The Middle Wave Champion Beast had finished devouring thest corpse, and there was a bloody smile as it felt its Life Wave beginning to surge due to all the nutrients it had just got. However, right at that moment, as the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' Life Wave was in disarray due to the sudden surge, the beast felt a presence behind it. The entity managed to reach its back, and the beast only detected it because the attack had already begun. The Lightning-Fall Mantis'' eyes widened as it felt something prating its back, tearing apart its exoskeleton and muscles as it pierced deeper. The beast was in total shock that someone could pierce its defenses so easily despite having tempered every cell of its body with lightning for more than one hundred years! Things only grew worse for the Lightning-Fall Mantis as its Life Wave, which was rising up to a moment ago, entered an erratic state due to the sudden damage, and it found it hard to control it. The ability to hide his presence until thest second and the immense destructive power of his attack made the Lightning-Fall Mantis think that the attacker was a mighty Wave Champion. Nevertheless, once its perception finally revealed the assant''s identity, it could not believe it. The assassin was a young man with eyes bursting with red light, the same one that two days ago almost killed! All that analysis and damage took a long time to describe, but it happened in less than a second. "?AHHHH!" The Lightning-Fall Mantis screamed in pain as Cain drove his index finger forward into its chest, pushing them out of the cave. The normal Wave Beasts were still consuming the corpses on the battlefield, and since no one dared to get near the Lightning-Fall Mantis''s domain, only a small portion noticed the scream and saw the human and Middle Wave Champion Beast emerging from the cave. Cain could feel how the resilience of the Lighting-Fall Mantis'' muscles and bones grew as this one finally conjured its Wave Cloak. He could feel the beast''s heart just a few centimeters away from the tip of his finger, but he could not push deeper. A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he unleashed all the killing intent he was forced to suppress when he saw the Lightning-Fall Mantis devouring those soldiers. "DIE!" Cain shouted as he transformed all the energy in his index finger into Blood Lightning before making it explode! "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The Lightning-Fall Mantis screamed with even more strength as the st sent it crashing to the ground. The explosion generated a massive hole in its back and wounded every inner organ, including its heart! Cain smiled when he saw the damage in the Lightning-Fall Mantis and knew this one was over. Even if it was still alive, that wound was lethal, and it would not recover from it. However, Cain''s smile vanished the next second. He was still in the air and could feel the thousands of fierce gazes focused on him. Now came the part that was just as hard as killing the Lightning-Fall Mantis, surviving the wrath of the thousands of Wave Beasts about tounch themselves toward him, full of killing intent. Cain knew that all the Wave Beasts knew of his presence, so he unleashed the full power of his Ego Wave. A picture of the forest appeared in his mind with all the Wave Beasts and the Wave Champion Beasts in it. ''The good news is that the other Wave Champion Beasts have theirirs far away from this ce, most likely due to their fear of the Lightning-Fall Mantis. The bad news is that a sea of Wave Beast is in my path out of this ce.'' Cain''s Ego Wave gave him a map with the position of every enemy, but that was far from enough to escape. "ROOOAAARRRRRRR!!!" The entirety of the horde began to roar as they trampled each other in order to reach the human. Killing intent was not the only thing in their hearts, and they could not hide their desire to eat Cain alive as they felt the bursting vitality of this one. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw how the Wave Beasts looked at him, and he could imagine what would happen if they managed to trap him. The red light in his eyes grew stronger as he suppressed all his fear and worries and pushed his cognitive abilities to their absolute limit. Dozens of Wave Beasts had already made their way to the zone where Cain was about tond andunched themselves with their maws open, wanting nothing more than devour him. Cain''s heartbeat grew more and more potent as the beasts got closer, but he could not be calmer. There was no room for doubt, fear, or uncertainty in his mind if he wanted to survive! The instant Cain felt the tip of his foot reach the ground, his Astral Wave and Blood Energy exploded with so much strength that it sent all the Wave Beasts near him flying away! Killing the Wave Beasts wounded in the st would have been easy, but Cain did not hesitate before pushing Asura Form to the limit and running away as fast as he could. If one saw it from the sky, it would be an epic sight worthy of legends. A massive horde made of dozens of thousands of giant beasts dashing toward a young man bathed in red lighting, and how this one managed to carve a path through them using nothing but his body and mind. Chapter 204 Killing stroke (I) Chapter 204 Killing stroke (I) Cain focused around 80% of his Astral Wave on his legs in order to improve his speed. While 100% was an option due to his mastery over Wave Focus, that would leave the rest of his body defenseless, which would be deadly in a situation where hundreds of attacks woulde at him every second. He had not run more than five hundred meters when another tide of Wave Beastsunched toward him, with the one at the lead being a Level 5 Horn Beast. Even without using his Astral Wave, Cain could have easily defeated a Level 5 Wave Beast, but now such an insignificant opponent presented a genuine problem. If he were to kill it, that would slow him down and weaken his body''s momentum, allowing the rest of the horde to gang up on him. No matter how strong and resilient Cain was, fighting hundreds of Wave Beasts attacking from every direction was nearly impossible. And even if he could, everything would be over once the Wave Champion Beasts reach him. Cain bent his knees and passed beneath the Horn Beast, moving forward without losing momentum. The way in which Cain maneuvered his body was superb, showing granr control of every extremity and an awareness of the surroundings that could only be described as supernatural. After nearly half an hour and five hundred kilometers, the amount of Wave Beasts around Cain had reached such an outrageous number that he was forced to begin killing some of them in order to advance. Luckily for Cain, a single thrust of Blood Index sted every Wave Beast out of his path, but that gradually diminished his speed and momentum. Things were bing more dangerous for Cain as he could feel the Wave Champion Beastsing closer. He was just as fast as them using his top speed, so any dy in his path pushed him closer to a horrible scenario. Cain''s eyes narrowed. His Ego Wave showed how a Wave Champion Beast surpassed the others and was already extremely close to him. That Early Wave Champion Beast''s name was Earthfiend Monkey, a beast known for its speed and strength. It was the beast that wounded William, forcing the young man to use the Berserker State Wave Virus. Cain knew it was only a matter of time before the Earthfiend Monkey caught up to him, and there was no way he could outrun the horde all the way to the encampment. Logic stated that the best scenario would be to carry on a straight line, leaving the ordinary Wave Beasts behind before shing with the Early Wave Champion Beast. However, out of nowhere, Cain made a sharp turn to the left, diminishing his speed even more and making it easier for the thousands of Wave Beasts to surround him. The Earthfiend Monkey and the other Wave Champion Beasts were confused about Cain''s behavior, and the possibility of a trap reached their minds, but they immediately discarded it. In the mind of those Wave Champion Beasts, there was no way someone would put them in so much danger just to ambush them, not to mention they knew, thanks to their minions with the ability to fly, that the military force made it back to the encampment. Even if Wave Champion Beasts were wiser than ordinary Wave Beasts, they were still beasts and followed their instincts and desires first. Theymanded the horde to attack Cain with all they had as they pushed forward. Cain could guess the train of thought of those Wave Champion Beasts, and the focus on his eyes grew even stronger as he approached a small region nked by two small mountain ranges. He had already made it deep into the zone when his eyes narrowed as he saw how the Earthfiend Monkey ricocheted out of arge tree and fled toward him at a shocking speed. The Earthfiend Monkey advanced at a shocking speed through the air, and Cain would find it very hard to dodge the attack surrounded by so many Wave Beasts. Instead of dodging or blocking the attack, Cain jumped toward the Earthfiend Monkey, grabbing this one in the air before turning around as they dashed toward the ground. The Earthfiend Monkey was surprised by Cain''s action and could not understand what was happening. Even if the human managed to pin him down, which would be extremely hard thanks to its speed, that would only allow the rest of the horde to rip him to pieces. N?v(el)B\\jnn Everything made sense once the Earthfiend Monkey crashed against the ground. The Early Wave Champion Beast felt its back hit something hard before a blinding light appeared. "?BOOOOMMMM!" An instant after the blinding light appeared, an explosion emerged from the ground, ripping the flesh on the Earthfiend Monkey''s back and killing all the Wave Beasts around them. That explosion froze the entire horde, and they saw a single figure emerge from the st. Cain was covered in a dense cape of his Astral Wave and Blood Energy that was working to the limit, but even with that, there were burn wounds all over his body. Despite all the damage and pain, Cain''s eyes were cold as he sent themand through his [A.I. Chip Module] and activated all the bombs buried in this ce. Blinding light covered the area between the two mountain ranges, and fire explosions killed everything around them. It was a majestic sight. Hundreds of Wave Beasts perished in those explosions, with thousands more being wounded. It was like a chain reaction, and they were in the middle of it. Things only worsened for the horde since the next second, hundreds of figures emerged from the mountain ranges. The Wave Champions Beast were shocked by the sudden appearance of the humans and could not understand how they hid from their aerial surveince. Cain gracefully descended to the ground as he saw the bloodlust in the soldiers'' faces and the fear in the horde. Everything that brought them to this ce began to rewind in his mind. Chapter 205 Killing stroke (II) 205 Killing stroke (II) At the start of the day, while the entire army thought that Cain remained in the encampment, he had actually marched alongside them, hidden among the rest of the soldiers. He suppressed his battle power, making everybody on both sides think he was just another Level 4 Wave Warrior. When Antony gave the order to pull back, Cain used Void Breath to hide his presence and made his way to the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' cave, which he found using his sense of smell. That was where Cain''s hidden movements ended, but those of the rest of the military force just began. Antony guided the entire military force back to the encampment. The instant they were outside the range of the aerial Wave Beasts, he took the five hundred strongest soldiers and marched under cover of the night. It was not easy, as they needed to advance thousands of kilometers in less than two hours and do it without alerting the horde. The one that had the most defiant and crucial job was no other than Orin. She had to remain in the enemy territory, scan the area, and wait until thest moment before cing the bombs. If she did it too early and a Wave Beast detected a single one, Cain would have lost his escape route and most likely perished under the horde''s might. Considering her battle power, if any Wave Beast were to detect her, there was no way she could have survived, so the danger she faced was no less than Cain''s. Despite all the danger and the narrow window of time, Orin did a wless job, avoiding the detection of the Wave Beasts and cing all the bombs in the right ce. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "Kill everybody!" Cain''s voice echoed across the battlefield as he reached the ground. There was no more Blood Energy inside him, and his Astral Wave would follow suit, so he did not hesitate before shing away. "Protect the Hunt Leader!" "Kill!" Those two orders emerged from Antony and Orin. The first one led the Essence Wave Cultivators into unleashing a sea of spells against the Wave Champion Beasts. On the other hand, Orin led a group of fifty Astral Wave Cultivators and those specialized in furtive attacks, butchering all the Wave Beasts around Cain, leaving this one an empty path toward the encampment. Cain did not look back and only smiled as he left the horde behind and shed away from the battlefield. Once Orin saw that Cain was out of danger, she led the group toward where the Earthfiend Monkey was supposed to be. The explosion surely harmed the Early Wave Champion Beast, but she did not think it would have been enough to kill it. Orin, Levi, and Lurin reached the area of the initial explosion, and they could not hide their shock as they saw the state of the Earthfiend Monkey. The Early Wave Champion Beast''s eyes were full of disbelief, and its heart was no longer beating. Its back was a bloody mess, but that was not the reason for its demise. There was a small hole the size of a finger on the Earthfiend Monkey''s forehead that destroyed its brain. Orin, Levi, Lurin, and the others looked at the fading figure of Cain in the distance, and there was a sense of absolute awe and admiration in their hearts. Cain must have had less than a second to concentrate his energy on his finger andnd the killing blow on the Earthfiend Monkey before redirecting his Blood Energy and Astral Wave to protect his body from the st. Not only did that require a mastery over the Four Wave Arts that reached a simply outrageous level, but it also required the courage to risk his life to kill the Middle Wave Champion Beast. The group of fifty only dared to fight the Earthfiend Monkey because this one was injured, but none of them would even think of fighting against it alone. Levi stepped forward and put his hands over the Early Wave Champion Beast before sending it into his space ring. "I will hand it over to the Hunt Leader." An Early Wave Champion Beast''s corpse was a treasure, but no one said anything. No one would dare to fight against Cain for it. Once that was over, Orin''s energy and that of the rest exploded as they marched deeper into the wild horde, killing everything in their path. Antony had not remained still,manding the Essence Wave Cultivators to fire more and more spells on the Early Wave Champion Beasts. The Astral Wave Cultivators descended from the mountain ranges just in time to ze across the Wave Beasts that were just a second ago under a rain of spells. Despite the low number of soldiers, those who took part in this mission were the best of the best. There was no one among them beneath Level 4, and a considerable portion had reached Level 5. The explosion had caused chaos in the wounded Wave Beast horde, leaving them vulnerable to the soldiers. Additionally, the loss of the Lightning-Fall Mantis and Earthfiend Monkey only made things worse. Antony and the other Vice-Captains did not lose time, and after unleashing one final tide of explosions over the horde, they charged toward the Early Wave Champion Beasts full of killing intent. Cain had already left the battlefield behind him and calmly walked toward the encampment with a wave crystal in his right hand and a heart in his left. He was extremely tired, and it took everything he had to fulfill this mission, but it was worth it. Cain aplished an impressive feat by tricking thousands of Wave Beasts into a death trap and even deadly injuring a powerful Middle Wave Champion Beast. However, what truly mattered to him was the lesson he learned. A loss did not signify the end. He understood that with determination and persistence, anything could be achieved! The red light in Cain''s eyes began to burn with an even brighter light as his willpower grew stronger. Chapter 206 Silent hypnosis 206 Silent hypnosis The soldiers had already left their tents by the time the first ray of sunlight appeared in the sky but were in disarray as they did not know what was happening. Not only was yesterday''s battle futile, but now hundreds of soldiers were missing, including all Vice-Captains except for Uriel''s group. Uriel and the other four Vice-Captains had already assembled their soldiers and were in formation, ready to march into the forest. From the moment Cain became the Hunt Leader, they had been working on their own, so the disappearance of the other Vice-Captains did not affect their battle formations. Nevertheless, Uriel could not help but frown. He had nned to summon all the Vice-Captains yesterday in order to remove Cain from his role as Hunt Leader, but they just vanished without saying a word. ''What is happening? Why would the strongest soldiers leave at night and shut down allmunication with the main force?'' N?v(el)B\\jnn As Uriel was trying to figure out what happened, he saw that the soldiers began to focus on him. He was the highest-rankingmander present, which incited the soldiers to seek his guidance. Uriel''s eyes narrowed as a smile emerged on his face. He knew as much as the rest of the soldiers, but that would not stop him from taking advantage of the situation. "There are military movements taking ce right now under themand of the Hunt Leader. You are not fit to take part in it and should wait for further information if you are deemed worthy." Although vague, that answer helped the soldiers solve some of their doubts. Uriel would have wanted to spread malice against Cain and the other Vice-Captains among the troops but had no idea what was happening to them and was smart enough not to spread misinformation with the Captains looking from a distance. "I will take the role ofmander for the time being. All squad leaders shoulde to me so I can brief you on the current situation and also ask some questions." Taking orders from someone else but their Vice-Captains was odd for those soldiers. Still, they were confused, so many were ready to follow Uriel''s words. Uriel''s smile widened as he saw that. The goal of talking with the squad leaders was to recollect information about the other battalions. He was only slightly bending the rules, so the Captains could say nothing. "Hmph, what kind of report can you give if you know nothing?" All the squad leaders froze when they heard that voice, and Uriel''s smile changed into a grimace. The one that shouted those words was no other than Cain. He had silently reached the encampment, and everybody could see the blood and burn wounds all over his body. "YOU!" Uriel usually had great control over his emotions, but Cain always managed to make him angry. The young man informed everybody he was lying to the soldiers and was not worthy of knowing the movements of the other Vice-Captains. Cain did not bother with Uriel and turned toward the soldiers as his eyes burst with red light. "A mission took ce to handle the Lightning-Fall Mantis during the night. That is all you need to know. Now get back to your tents." Cain did not raise his voice, but it reached all the soldiers, and the willpower in it was so powerful that all of them saluted to him before marching to their tents. "What do you think you are doing by looking down on us like that!" Uriel''s rage reached such a level that he could barely contain it, but it grew even more when he saw that Cain did not even look at him. "You should watch your back, brat!" It was only at this point that Cain stopped, and he was not alone since the rest of the soldiers also halted. Uriel''s words could be constructed as a threat, which was a severe offense in the military. Cain turned toward Uriel, and the red light in his eyes exploded as he unleashed his Ego Wave. When the soldiers saw that red force field emerge from Cain''s mind, they moved away since no one wanted to get caught in the crossfire. Uriel''s eyes widened as he was surprised that Cain would act like that, inciting a physical conflict after a few words, but it made him happy. His cultivation was near the peak of Level 9, and he was confident in oveing Cain. There was no way for a Wave Warrior to avoid an Ego Wave that moved so fast that not even Wave Champion could dodge it, so Uriel just received it before making his Astral Wave burst. The Captains saw that and frowned as they found it hard to figure out how to proceed. Infight during a military mission was absolutely against the rules, and although Uriel started it with that threat, Cain escted things into a physical conflict. The student forces had not left their encampment. Amos and Dominic saw with excitement the discord generated between Cain and Uriel. Any weakness in the military force was good for them, not to mention that Cain was digging his grave by breaking the rules in the presence of the Imperial Lightning Fort''s Captains. Golden light covered Uriel''s body as he was ready to fight against Cain, but suddenly, a sense of absolute doom assaulted him as his instincts began to scream danger. Before Uriel could even take a step, four weapons charged with Wave appeared on top of his head, heart, neck, and spine. The attackers were not other than the Vice-Captains in Uriel''s group! "Simon, Anton, Harol, Jack. What do you think you are doing!?" Uriel shouted, but then he saw that the eyes of the four had lost focus. "You hypnotized them!" Those words shocked everybody. The Captains, Wave University''s teachers, soldiers, and students could not believe what they heard. The fact that Cain was an Elementary Hypnosis Master was not a secret, but being able to instantly hypnotize four Level 8 Wave Warriors against their will without saying a single word was shocking. Hypnosis skills at that level meant that Cain was one step away from bing a Grand Hypnosis Master! Chapter 207 Mark in military record 207 Mark in military record Cain retrieved his Ego Wave the next second and tilted his head. Before he would even open his mouth, the other Vice-Captains spoke. "Vice-Captain Uriel, you should be careful with your usations. No one is controlling me. I simply can not allow you to act in such an unruly way against the Hunt Leader, and I think my friends feel the same." Horal, the second strongest member of their group, spoke. He was nearly two meters tall, and the point of his spear was touching Uriel''s neck. "I think the same as Vice-Captain Harol." "So do I." "That makes four of us." Uriel''s heart was full of disbelief. The way the four reacted was simr to someone hypnotized, but he had no way to prove it. Things grew even more weird when the four retracted their weapons and turned toward Cain. "Hunt Leader. We remember your words from before about choosing a bad leader. I hope we can speak a little more." Cain stared at the four calmly before turning around and walking to his tent. "I am tired. Once I wake up, I will find a way to talk with those truly interested in joining me." Simon, Anton, Harol, and Jack nodded toward Cain before dismissing their soldiers and silently walking to their tents. Uriel was the only one remaining, having difficulty deciding what to do next. The Captains nced at each other before silently nodding and sitting back. The truth was that they perceived a change in the Vice-Captains, and there was a chance that Cain could have hypnotized one or even all of them, but they had no way to figure it out. Although they did not like to admit it, Cain''s skills had reached a level they could not control. They could only handle that young monster using their military rank and cultivation. Dominic and Amos were also impressed by Cain''s ability, but that was not all. "What a nefarious scheming mind." Josef, one of the highest-ranking students from the Hellzer Wave University, looked at Dominic when he heard thatpliment. "I must admit that his Hypnosis Master''s skills are impressive, but I don''t see the scheme behind his actions other than avoiding breaking the rules." Dominic turned toward Josef and showed a small smile before focusing on Uriel. "That man doesn''t know whether the other four Vice-Captains are really on his side. Although it is most likely that Cain hypnotized all four, there is no way to be 100% sure. The seed of doubt was nted, and they will never be able to fully trust each other again." Fear and apprehension appeared in the eyes of Josef and the rest of the high-ranking students as they turned toward Cain. Anyone could break someone''s bones, but only a true devil could twist someone''s mind. Cain could feel the gazes focused on him, but he did not care and kept walking to his tent. Once there, he fell into the bed and immediately went to sleep. He was too tired, and even though he regained some of his Astral Wave and vitality on the way back, he still needed a lot of rest to recover. A few hourster, Cain opened his eyes. He was still exhausted, but the [A.I. Chip Module] told him that Antony and the others had finally returned. Cain had barely taken a step outside his tent when he heard soldiers cheering with so much strength that the entire encampment trembled. It did not take him long to reach the iing group, and his eyes narrowed as he noticed Antony at the head, carrying the body of a dead Lightning-Fall Mantis. Antony had wounds all over his body, but there was a radiant smile on his face as he walked toward the encampment. However, the moment he noticed Cain''s presence, he adopted a severe expression. He headed toward this one and bowed before handing over the body of the Lightning-Fall Mantis. "Hunt Leader. Here is the body of the Lightning-Fall Mantis. It could barely stand up after your ambush, and it only took one attack from me to end its life. No one deserves to have its corpse but you." N?v(el)B\\jnn The soldiers were shocked to hear that. They knew that Cain had taken part in a mission to handle the mighty Lightning-Fall Mantis, but none of them could have imagined he had mortally wounded the Middle Wave Champion Beast. Everybody thought that Cain would be ecstatic that Antony brought the Lightning-Fall Mantis'' corpse, but when they turned toward him, they could see his eyes bursting with red light and coldness. "My instructions were clear. You were supposed to do the greatest possible damage to the horde and wound the Early Wave Champion Beasts before returning. Who gave you the authority to defy mymand and track down the Lightning-Fall Mantis?" Cain''s voice was harsh, and the red light in his eyes only grew colder as he spoke those words. Antony lowered his face and dared not look directly at Cain. The other Vice-Captains could not help but sigh as they saw that. Antony took the risk of going after the Lightning-Fall Mantis because the Vice-Captain the beast killed was one under the same Captain as him. Still, while the Vice-Captains understood Antony''s rage, that did not give him the right to defy Cain''s orders. The chain ofmand in the military was absolute, and disregarding an order was a grave crime. Cain took a deep breath as the red light in his eyes vanished, but there was still coldness in them. "You performed a great feat by leading the five hundred soldiers into the mountain ranges and preparing the ambush. However, a good deed does not erase a bad one. I will mark this offense in your military record, and I will make sure to write in detail the events that led to it." Antony showed a small smile as he heard that. A mark on his military record was by no means something he could simply ignore, but thest part of Cain''s words meant there would be a context that would diminish the burden of his offense. "Thank you for your consideration, Hunt Leader." Cain nodded and sent the Lightning-Fall Mantis into his ring before walking toward themand center. The Vice-Captains did not need a word before immediately following the young man. Chapter 208 New Wave Champion 208 New Wave Champion "How it went?" Cain did not waste time, and once he and the Vice-Captains reached the center ofmand, he ordered a detailed description along with video footage of the ambush. Antony and the other Vice-Captain nodded and gave their report while sending video files through their A.I. Chips. Cain focused on the words of the Vice-Captains and ordered the Absolute Life Form System to analyze the videos and give him a detailed analysis. Once he studied everything, a small smile appeared as he sighed. "Good. Since the damage was so immense, it doesn''t matter if there is no infight between the surviving Early Wave Champion Beasts." The Vice-Captains were a little confused by those words, but after a moment, the smartest were able to understand it and turned toward Antony. The Level 9 Essence Wave Cultivator also deciphered Cain''s words, and aplicated expression appeared on his face. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Cain refrained frommanding them to pursue the Lightning-Fall Mantis due to its vulnerable condition, making it incapable of defending itself against the Early Wave Champion Beasts. Moreover, as only one of them could consume it, there was a high likelihood of conflicts arising among the beasts. "There is no need to mourn over the past. You made a mistake and should learn from it. I am not angry, but it will take a lot for me to trust you again like I did before." Antony clenched his fists as he raised his head and looked directly at Cain with eyes full of determination. "I will prove my worth and regain my honor." Cain did not care about words, but a sh of surprise appeared on his face as he saw a blue light appear in Antony''s eyes for a second before vanishing. "Your willpower just rose to the Wave Champion Level. Very good. I will give you a chance to prove your words in the near future." Although for someone like Cain with willpower nearing the limit of the Early Wave King Rank, Wave Champion level was negligible, it was a great achievement for Antony. There was a chance the Level 9 Wave Warrior could awaken his Ego Eternal Matrix at the Early Wave Champion Rank, granting his Ego Eternal Path of Power a critical role in his battle power. Antony smiled as he heard that. The chance to fix his mistake was something he was eager to obtain. As for his willpower, while he knew about the existence of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, that was where his knowledge about the path ended. Cain noticed the oblivious nature of the Vice-Captains about the Ego Eternal Path of Power but did not bother to correct them. They only needed to focus on pushing themselves to the limit, and they would gain their reward in due time. "We will rest for the day and march at the first sign of sunlight. There is a chance topletely obliterate the wounded horde in tomorrow''s march, and we should give our all to achieve that." After that, Cain used his Ego Wave to put the Vice-Captains in Embryonic Breathing except for Antony. Cain told Antony that his hypnosis would not work on someone with the mental defenses of a Wave Champion. Antony showed an annoyed expression as he heard that, ming his bad luck, but he could do nothing about it. Luckily, he was already extremely close to achieving his cultivation goal regarding Law Comprehension, so there was no problem. Cain returned to his tent and was ready to enter Embryonic Breathing and cultivate when he saw several messages reach his [A.I. Chip Module]. The ones trying to contact him were none other than Harol and Jack, two of the Vice-Captains of Uriel''s group. [We were supposed to be in a silent partnership, but now Uriel no longer trusts me! Not to mention that you dare to hypnotize me!] [You did not even bother to ept my propositions, yet you have the gall to use your hypnosis powers on me! No matter how strong you are, you can not do this to a fellow Vice-Captain!] Cain read those messages, and scorn appeared on his face. The truth was that the four Vice-Captains on Uriel''s side had attempted to contact him and offered all sorts of deals, but the main idea behind them was that they would work as spies for him. It was clear to Cain that they wanted to work for both sides and wait for a winner to rise before deciding who to follow. Only a fool would trust people like that, and he could only use them as disposable pawns, so the fact they were angry did not matter to him. "Apex, please handle them. You can use costly rewards to calm them if it helps. They are garbage, but I still have use for them, so keep them on the hook." "What a boring task, but since it will only take me ten minutes, I will do it." Cain nodded at the System Spirit and focused on his cultivation. He could easily handle those four but did not want to sour his mood by arguing with traitorous rats. The next day, the entire military force marched into the forest, ready to ughter. A day was far from enough to allow the horde to heal from their wounds, and the soldiers were like a tsunami, obliterating everything in their path. William rejoining the military force, plus Antony''s enhanced willpower and Cain''s Blood Index were enough for thebined power of the Vice-Captains to kill all the wounded Early Wave Champion Beasts. The military force gained momentum after that major victory, and in the days that followed, they eliminated anything that got in their way. Nine days after the demise of the Lightning-Fall Mantis, just as the soldiers were in battle formation, ready to march into the forest, a burst of Essence Wave emerged from one of the tents along with a shining light. The Vice-Captains turned to the tent, and they all knew that Antony was rising to the Wave Champion Rank! Chapter 209 Level 6 209 Level 6 The lighting from Antony''s tent kept growing stronger, just like the density of the Essence Wave, drawing a sense of profound awe in the hearts of all those seeing it. Members of the student force also noticed the scene in the military encampment, and those with a powerful background and cultivation knowledge understood the meaning behind that phenomenon. Amos and Dominic disyed somber expressions as they saw that. The light could only mean that Antony was rising to the Wave Champion Rank after having developed a Law Comprehension over the Law of Light that reached the Deep Basic Understanding Level. Even the duo that was among the greatest geniuses of their generation and had the backing of extremely powerful Noble Families had to admit that it was an incredible achievement. Anyone with a Deep Basic Understanding of a Law or a wless Marrow would have a direct path to the peak of the Wave Champion Rank, and as long as their destiny kept rising, it would not be hard to be Wave Kings. A Wave King had the right to call himself a monarch and had the might to crush mountains with their bare hands! The Essence Wave densitying from Antony finally reached its zenith before the young man emerged from it, bathed in glorious golden light. He jumped more than fifty meters in the sky and was able to remain there, standing in the air like a legendary being. Walking on air was an ability all Wave Champions had, but not all of them could master it. You either needed a lot of training or an extraordinarily dense and powerful Wave. The awe and admiration of the soldiers only grew stronger as they saw Antony in the sky. Antony could not hide the ecstatic expression on his face as he felt the power running through his body and how his breakthrough improved his already potent sensitivity to the Law of Light. Amos and Dominic stared at Antony, and the moment they felt the power of this one, they clenched their fists. Although they were extremely close to Wave Champion, they were still at Level 9. There was no way Antony could have more resources than two scions like them, so there was only one exnation for this one to rise to Wave Champion faster and with such a solid foundation. Antony did not beat Amos and Dominic in terms of hard work or resources, but he had ess to daily sessions of Embryonic Breathing, something the duo did not. It made sense, after all, no matter how strong Amos and Dominic were, they did not have the means to bring a 5-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master to a military mission. The duo nced at each other, and a sh of enlightenment appeared in their eyes as they figured Antony''s edge and looked toward another point in the military encampment. Cain was oblivious to what was happening outside his tent since, just like Antony, he was also in the midst of a breakthrough. However, unlike the Wave Champion bathed in golden light, a thickyer of foul filth covered his body. After almost two months of using prime resources, Cain could no longer suppress his cultivation, and his meridians finally extended all over his muscr system. Every muscle fiber, whether smooth, skeletal, or cardiac, was now constantly nurtured by Astral Wave, and Cain could instantly improve it, exponentially enhancing his strength and speed. Now that was over, Cain''s meridians progressed toward their next target. The goal of Level 6 was for the meridian to reach the skin, allowing the Wave Cultivator to have a direct path from their energy pool into the outside. Level 6 Wave Warriors had an impressive augmentation in terms of Wave Cloak and Wave Burst, making their battle power and survival skill much higher. Only after his Astral Wave stopped bursting and he could no longer push his marrow washing forward did Cain rx his mind. His eyes narrowed as he perceived Antony''s rise to the Wave Champion Rank, but he was not surprised since he had monitored the man''s growth very closely over thest few days. ''Great. With Antony''s rise to the Wave Champion Rank, it will be much easier for us to reach the foot of de Mountain unhindered.'' Cain smiled as he waved his hand, making a burst of Blood Lightning cover his body and incinerate all the filth covering his skin. Once the stink was gone, he used the Absolute Life Form System to analyze his progress. The Absolute Life Form System fulfilled themand without dy as always, and in a few seconds, a stream of information appeared in Cain''s mind. [Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 6 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Middle Tier 6 (High Tier 6) --- Stats: Strength: 5.8-->6.4 Agility: 4.1-->.4.5 Vitality: 7.3-->7.9 Wave: 4.2-->4.6 Blood Energy: 7.4-->7.9 --- Marrow washing: 84%pletion N?v(el)B\\jnn --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%] Although the improvement did not seem that massive, thest time Cain measured his stats, he was near the peak of Level 5. Cain clenched his fists as he felt his strength and analyzed his stats with delight. ''My vitality isparable with someone at Level 8, but even more important, my marrow washing advanced by 5%!'' There was nothing more important for Cain than his marrow-washing percentage since it had a critical role in the might of his foundation and how fast he could advance in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. If Cain followed this trend, he would reach a 99% marrow washing by the time he entered Level 9. Unfortunately, obtaining a 5% improvement by level without a massive lucky chance would be impossible as it would be more demanding the more he progressed. "I need to figure out a path to improve my marrow washing. I still have time since, even with my enhanced Wave Talent, I will not reach Level 9 before the end of the year." Cain couldn''t help butugh after saying those words. He never thought he would reach a point where he had to worry about advancing too quickly in his cultivation. Chapter 210 Three vs three (I) 210 Three vs three (I) The increase in Antony''s power and Cain''s ability to single-handedly take care of the most powerful Early Wave Champion Beasts made it so that the military force crushed everything in their path. Ten days before the deadline, the military force finally surpassed the end of the massive mountain range that divided their path and that of the student force, reaching de Mountain''s foot! From afar, de Mountain was a massive structure, with its peak rising for dozens of thousands of meters, but only once they were right beneath it could the soldiers perceive its majesty. Hundreds of indentations, patches of forest, and caverns spread across the massive mountain. The density of the Life Wave around it was so deep that small clouds formed from time to time. "Everybody get in formation!" Cain''s voice echoed, pushing the soldiers'' minds out of the majestic mountain and into the task at hand. The sole goal of rushing to this ce despite the danger they would face was to secure the massive amount of resources spread across de Mountain''s foot. King Beasts inhabited de Mountain before the start of The Hunt, so the resources they could get from here were high enough to make even Peak Wave Champions green with envy. "The entire military force will be divided into four groups. One will remain here and form a new encampment, while the other three will spread across the terrain. Every single thing of value in this ce, we will take it!" Cain''s words made the greed in the soldiers'' hearts grow even more potent. Some might never see resources of this level again in the future, so they would not leave anything behind. Cain left Lurin in charge of generating the new encampment. The young man had regained his position as First Lieutenant due to his impressive feats over thest three months and had shown great skill in terms of logistics. Lurin would not work alone since Levi and Orin would be by his side, ensuring the new encampment defenses. The leaders of the three groups in charge of scouring the terrain and harvesting the resources would be Cain, Antony, and William. Cain could use his Ego Wave to silently explore the terrain, avoiding unnecessary fights. In contrast, Antony and William could use overwhelming power to crush any Early or Middle Wave Beast that would get in their way. Thest one had also evolved to Wave Champion three days ago, having achieved wless Marrow, and his battle power was phenomenal. For the next week, the military force worked non-stop, harvesting everything remotely valuable that appeared in their sight. They used every second of sunlight, and were times they would not return to the encampment until deep in the night. Each day the soldiers drained until thest drop of energy in their bodies, but the greed that burned in their hearts invigorated them every morning and helped them push beyond their limit at night. Two weeks after reaching de Mountain''s foot, the student forces finally crossed the massive mountain range just as the soldiers were harvesting resources left and right. Cain had already predicted that the student forces would arrive today and made sure no soldiers would be near that zone. His Ego Wave had shown him the thousands of students half an hour ago, so it was easy for him to call all the soldiers back. Dominic and Amos were at the head of the student forces, and their eyes narrowed when they saw the state of de Mountain''s foot. It was clear to the duo that the soldiers had harvested every type of herb and ore as far as the eye could see. Even for scions of a powerful Noble Family, resources that could be useful for King Beast were extremely valuable. It did not take long for the duo to turn toward Cain since they knew he must have been responsible for all of this. Dominic and Amos unleashed the full power of their auras, making the ground beneath their feet crack due to the highly dense nature of their Wave. It was clear that they both reached the Wave Champion Rank and did it by achieving Deep Basic Law Understanding and wless Marrow. Cain stared at the duo and was not surprised by their power. They were prodigies of powerful Noble Families, so it would be weird if they did not have powerful foundations. Cain nced back and recognized the young man as the third Wave Champion among the student force. He was initially surprised when his Ego Wave detected that not only Dominic and Amos evolved beyond the Wave Warrior Rank, but he soon understood things after perceiving the density of that man''s Astral Wave. 10:46 It mattered little to Cain that the duo had already be Wave Champions. He turned around and waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to return to the encampment. The reason why they worked day and night without rest was to harvest all the avable resources before the students arrived. Now everybody would stick to their zones, and any incursion would trigger a ferocious fight, something neither party wanted since they still had a lot of Wave Beasts to handle. "You, wait there!" A young man with dark hair, brown eyes, and a small scar on his neck shouted at Cain. His face had a hateful expression as he saw the barren terrain left after the soldiers'' harvest. Cain nced back and recognized the young man as the third Wave Champion among the student force. He was initially surprised when his Ego Wave detected that not only Dominic and Amos evolved beyond the Wave Warrior Rank, but he soon understood things after perceiving the density of that man''s Astral Wave. Unlike the duo, the density of the third Wave Champion among the students was very low. Clearly, the man exchanged his foundation for a higher cultivation speed and did note remotely close to wless Marrow. Cain did not react to the man''s words and continued walking forward. The name of the third Wave Champion among the students was Carl. He came from a Noble Family with a Marquess and had a powerful Lineage, and there was nothing but excitement in his heart at the start of The Hunt. However, the threat of death was too much for someone like him, and things reached a climax when an Early Wave Champion Beast almost ripped his head off. That experience shattered his will, so he decided to ignore his foundation and forcefully advance to Wave Champion. Carl felt great frustration after sacrificing his foundation for cultivation speed, so when he saw how a mere soldier ignored him, he exploded. "Who do you think you are!" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Chapter 211 Three vs three (II) 211 Three vs three (II) "Who do you think you are!?" Carl''s Astral Wave burst as he shouted toward Cain. He did not bother to hide the rage on his face nor his intention to fight. Silence reigned as soldiers and students saw that. Dominic and Amos had unleashed their auras, but neither deployed their Wave Cloak since that would quickly escte things. Cain stopped moving and slowly turned around as a red light burst from his eyes, and the full power of his Ego Wave emerged the next second. The red force field rose like a mighty pir into the sky before crashing down on Carl, forcefully scanning this one. The student could not do anything since he had not even taken a step in the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Carl could not fight against the red force field, but luckily two sts of dense Waves appeared next to him, making Cain retrieve his Ego Wave. Carl smiled as Dominic appeared by his side, making courage return to his heart. Dominic did not really care about Carl, but he could not let Cain simply look down on the student force. "You took all the resources in the zone, including the ones on our side of the mountain." "I just did what you would have done in our ce. Not to mention, since when do I have to ask for permission to take something I want?" Cain''s voice was cold, and it was clear he was not willing to back down. "Hphm, we would never have acted so shamelessly as you!" Carl shouted toward Cain, but his words made Dominic frown since anyone could see the falsehood in them. "What a ridiculous lie. And even if what you say is true, that only means you are stupid." "YOU!" Carl could not contain his rage and was about to sh forward when two figures appeared next to Cain, each unleashing a Wave much greater than his own. Antony and William stared at the student with coldness. Cain was the Hunt Leader and the Great Commander of the entire military force present, so Carl''s disrespect was an offense to all of them. Carl froze when he felt the power of Antony and William, and the frustration in his heart only grew when he saw that two military members at the same age were able to be Wave Champions with a much better foundation than his. Apprehension emerged when he felt the eyes of the duo on him, but he was able to calm down when he remembered that Dominic and Amos were by his side. Cain stared at the trio before ncing at Antony and William, and then he began to walk forward. The duo did not hesitate before marching by his side, increasing their energy with every step. Dominic''s eyes narrowed as he saw that and turned toward Amos. They stared at each other for a moment before nodding and walking forward as well. N?v(el)B\\jnn Carl was a little taken aback by their behavior but was able topose himself and apany the duo. The thousands of soldiers and students saw that, but none dared to intervene. This was a sh between the best of each group, and if they were to meddle, it would turn into an all-out fight, something neither side wanted. When both sides were two hundred meters from each other, Dominic rose to the sky, standing over fifty meters in the air before taking out his broad sword and waving it down. That simple motion generated a small green tornado that came crashing down at the young man in the lead of the enemy''s side. Cain saw that tornadoing at him and felt its immense force but kept walking as if nothing was happening. Just as the attack was about tond on him, a barrage of golden arrows tore it apart. Antony had risen to the sky, and after tearing down that tornado, he charged his bow, unleashing a new barrage of golden arrows toward Dominic. Each projectile was spinning at an incredible speed, granting them immense pration power. Dominic could not afford to split his focus, using all his power to face those golden arrows. He waved his broad sword from one side to the other, generating walls of superpressed air that stopped the projectiles. As a battle burst in the sky, Amos''s body ignited with red mes and unleashed a controlled explosion from his feet, propelling his body forward at a shocking speed. Just like Dominic, Amos targeted the one at the lead, but before he coulde anywhere close to Cian, a man covered in a freezing aura intercepted him. "?BOOM!" Amos'' explosive fist and William''s frost palm shed, generating a st of fire and ice. One used powerful mes and explosions, while the other used ice and cold energy. Amos'' punch carried an explosion that made William''s arm tremble, but he did note intact from the sh since a thickyer of ice covered his hand. Extreme focus appeared on Amos and William''s faces since the strength and skills of the other were perfect counters to their respective battle styles. Amos'' eyes grew sharp as he emptied his mind of everything else and focused solely on William. William shed forward, dodging Amos'' punch andnding a palm strike on the chest of this one, sending him flying away. Carl''s eyes widened as he saw the level of the battles that the other Wave Champions could achieve, and he knew he did note anywhere close to that. ''We are at the same cultivation level, yet there is so much difference between us!'' "THUMP!" A powerful heartbeat drew Carl''s attention, and he saw how Cain continued walking toward him, unleashing a st of Blood Lightning. Carl clenched his teeth as he made his Astral Wave explode, making his entire body adopt a silver color as ck armor covered him. He was not over as he took out a massive spiked rod from his space ring, and the force enhancing his skin spread into the weapon. The red light in Cain''s eyes reached its zenith as he stared at the Wave Champion before him. This would be the first time he had a genuine fight against a cultivator above the Wave Warrior Rank. Ondo was a very weak Wave Champion that rose upon reaching Level 7, not to mention the old man was exhausted before the fight even started. ''Let''s see how much I have grown in half a year.'' Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Chapter 212 Three vs three (III) Chapter 212 Three vs three (III) Carl clenched his teeth, and his heartbeat grew faster as he saw Cain''s red eyes focused on him. There was no way he could keep calm facing the willpower of a Wave King. "AHHHH!" Carl shouted as he made his Astral Wave burst, waving his spiked rod toward Cain with all his power. "?Boom!" The spiked rod generated a small st upon impact but did note close to hitting its target. Cain easily dodged the rod, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the clumsiness with which Carl used the weapon. While the scion could use his skill to enhance the weapon, it was clear he had little proficiency in it. ''Unless your weapon mastery is as good as the one you have over your own arms, there is no point for Astral Cultivators to use them. It must be a decision made out of fear.'' All those thoughts crossed Cain''s mind as he saw the rod on the ground, but he did not waste too much time in useless thoughts and carried on with his counter, sending a blow covered in Blood Lightning to Carl''s liver. As soon as his punchnded, Cain knew there was a problem. It had massive strength since he focused most of his Astral Wave, but Carl''s resistance after using the skill and wearing the armor was no joke. Carl felt pain, but there was also a smile on his face as he understood that his body could handle Cain''s attack without much problem. He raised his rod from the ground and waved it to the side with so much strength that it generated a small gale. Cain pushed his body to the ground, dodging the weapon again before rising with all his strength and sending an uppercut. He hoped the blow would shake Carl''s brain, giving him a moment to trigger Blood Revolution. Unfortunately, Cain underestimated Carl''s endurance. The uppercut was very powerful but failed to numb the scion, and before Cain could unleash his attack, a powerful silver rod came rushing at him. Cain knew he could not dodge the rod and could only raise his arms, making a shield with them before focusing on them all of his Astral Wave. "?BOOM!" The attack carried all of Carl''s strength and sent Cain flying away, making blood emerge from the corner of his mouth and numbing his arms. "Hahaha, that is what you..." Carl was not able to finish his sentence after that lucky strike since Cain immediately shed back into the fray, appearing right in front of him before thrusting an index finger into his chest. N?v(el)B\\jnn Absolute shock appeared on Carl''s face when he saw how that index finger pierced his armor and began to drill into his skin. "Get out!" The scion screamed in fear as he waved his rod like a madman. Although the attackcked any sort of finesse, it forced Cain to pull back. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that even with Blood Index, he could not instantly ovee Carl''s defenses. Of course, it would be different if he aimed at the back of the head, but that would most likely cripple, if not kill, the scion, which was going a step too far. Carl''s breathing was rough, and the threat of death made him go wild as he dashed toward Cain and began to strike with his rod using all his strength. Cain could dodge all those strikes, but unless he wanted to wait until Carl ran out of energy, he had to find a way to improve his striking power without aiming at a vital point. After around a minute of dodging the rod, Cain''s eyes narrowed, and he took a deep breath as two of his fingers began to turn into red gems. Cain had already finished with Blood Index and had begun to master Blood Hand. Right now, he could transform his index and part of his middle finger. That increased the strength of his fist exponentially but also drained a lot of his energy, so he had to end things fast. Carl had just buried his rod into the ground when he felt another of Cain''s punches on his liver, but things were different now. He felt as if Cain''s fist was a hammer and the index and middle fingers were two nails buried into his abdomen. The scion''s eyes widened with pain, and before he could even adjust, another blownded on his jaw, making his eyes lose focus for a second. "BOOM!" A st echoed across the battlefield as Cain connected a full power punch into Carl''s chest, sending this one flying away. Although the scion paralysis was the perfect chance for Blood Revolution, Cain feared that using it alongside Blood Hand could crack Carl''s skull and produce severe brain trauma. Cain deactivated Blood Hand the next second and shed toward Carl, sending a ferocious kick that carried all his torque to the scion''s head before this one could get up. That was just the beginning of Cain''s onught. Blood Hand did its job wounding Carl greatly, and now his normal attacks were enough to handle the rest. Soldiers and students saw the battle between their best warriors, and their expressions could not be more different. The first group was full of excitement, while those in the second could not help but look away. The fight between Dominic, Antony, Amos, and William was close, with neither side being able to overwhelm the other. Nevertheless, Cain practically tossed Carl around like this one was a puppet. Those powerful enough understood that the key behind Cain''s dominion was not exactly the young soldier''s strength but his enemy''sck of battle awareness. The only thing Carl gained by using a rod was that Cain could easily predict his movements, so victory was never a question. It was just a matter of time before the soldier emerged victorious, but Cain did shock people by being able to fire strikes that could easily break Carl''s defenses. "BOOOMMMM!" A final st marked the end of the battle as Cain activated Blood Hand onest time to punch Carl in the chest, burying this one into the ground. Chapter 213 Going up Chapter 213 Going up "BOOOMMMM!" Dominic and Amos noticed the st and nced to the side, only to see Cain standing atop an unconscious Carl. ''?Garbage!'' ''Useless!'' The duo cursed in their minds when they saw that Carl not only lost against Cain but was not able tost for over ten minutes against someone that had yet to be a Level 7 Wave Warrior! Dominic unleashed a small tornado while Amos triggered a massive explosion, pushing their respective opponents away before pulling back. Antony and William were about to chase after the duo but stopped once Cain raised his hand. "The fight is over. Remember to stay in yourne, or else the next time, I will not contain myself." Cain kicked Carl''s massive body, sending this one crashing toward Dominic before turning around. "Back to the encampment. Take the rest of the day to rest." The instant the thousands of soldiers heard those words, they all immediately followed themand. Cain''s aura had grown so strong that his word wasw, and everybody had to follow them no matter their strength or military rank. Dominic saw how the military force acted around Cain and could not help but clench his fists. Again and again, he found himself losing against Cain. If not for his cultivation, he would have no way topare himself with that young monster. Dominic was quite arrogant, being the scion of an extremely powerful Noble Family that had existed for thousands of years and whose authority on the Copsing Lightning Sector was only second to the Copsing Lightning Duke. He could not conceive that someone who came from nothing was stealing the spotlight from him. ''Hmph, no matter what, I will teach you that your ce is beneath me.'' A vicious light appeared in Dominic''s eyes as he nced at a group of women at the back of the student force. That was a group of beautiful women with decent cultivation since none was beneath Level 4. However, many had downcast expressions on their faces, and the other student looked at them with a mixture of pity and disdain. --- Cain had told the soldiers to rest since, from tomorrow, they would not avoid battles and continue with their mission of exterminating every Wave Beast in the area. He had just reached his tent and was preparing to sleep when he heard a voice in his mind. "Are you not bothered by that group of women?" Cain was surprised to hear Apex speak about that. He had noticed those women and had an idea of their current state. It was not secret for Cain there were cultivation techniques that used sexual intercourse to train, and those women must be the so-called "cultivation furnaces." Since Cain considered himself a hero, he was not very fond of the strong abusing the weak. However, it would be foolish for him to start a sh against the student force for something like that, not to mention that a significant portion of those women was fine with that sort of arrangement since it also benefited their cultivation. "If I could save those in need with my power, I would. Yet, I am too weak to face the entire student force and not stupid enough to waste my life for people I know nothing about." "There is one that you know." Cain frowned when he heard that and went back to his memories. The next second, his eyes widened as he saw that Cinthy was actually among that group of women. "Have things changed?" Apex''s voice had a provoking tone as if he dared Cain to act based on this information. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he adopted a meditative position. N?v(el)B\\jnn "What do you think?" "Hahaha, you have grown, brat." Cain only smiled as he heard Apex''spliment and soon fell asleep. Although doing it in a meditative position was not ideal, he was in enemy territory and needed to be ready in case anything happened. --- After rising over ten thousand meters into de Mountain, the number of Wave Beasts they found decreased tremendously to the point that there were packs of only twenty to one hundred creatures. Nevertheless, their individual power rose to a whole new level. In the following weeks, soldiers and students began to advance up in de Mountain, killing all the Wave Beasts in their path and harvesting more and more resources. Each group took a different edge to keep a certain distance between themselves. An invisible line divided de Mountain, and neither side crossed it since they had more than enough fighting the immensely powerful Wave Champion Beasts on their path. After rising over ten thousand meters into de Mountain, the number of Wave Beasts they found decreased tremendously to the point that there were packs of only twenty to one hundred creatures. Nevertheless, their individual power rose to a whole new level. It was not hard to find packs made of fifty Wave Beasts, with none beneath the Early Wave Champion Rank and more than a handful at the Middle Wave Champion Rank. Cain was in his tent, analyzing the current state of the battlefield. The situation right now made moving with a massive army impractical. Although sending thousands of low-level Wave Warriors to attack those packs full of Wave Champions Beasts would certainly weaken the enemy, the casualties would be astronomical. And there was also the fact that powerful soldiers could not fight at full power for fear of coteral damage. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he analyzed his own strength and felt the bursting Astral Wave inside him. It had been over two months since he reached de Mountain''s foot, and thebination of high-level resources and the constant battle had solidified his cultivation. "System, in my current state, what would happen if I fight the Lightning-Fall Mantis in a direct one-on-one battle?" The Absolute Life Form System immediately carried on with themand, and Cain felt how it produced countless simtions before answering. [ording to data obtained from one thousand simtions: -There is an 8% chance of Vessel killing the Middle Wave Champion Beast. -A 81% chance of Vessel forcing the Middle Wave Champion Beast to run with severe injuries. -A 10% chance of the Middle Wave Champion Beast forcing Vessel to run with severe injuries. -A 1% chance of the Middle Wave Champion Beast killing Vessel.] Cain showed a small smile as he analyzed that information. He was powerful enough to defeat Middle Wave Champion Beast, but a single mistake could lead to his death, so he could not lower his guard. Chapter 214 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (I) 214 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (I) "My current strength allows me to lead a team that can face hordes with a small number of Middle Wave Champion Beasts. Good." Only Antony and William could surpass Cain in battle strength in the entire military force in de Mountain. Uriel was also very strong, but the pressure of this mission andck of resources had pushed back the young man''s cultivation, and he remained a Level 9 Wave Warrior for the moment. "System, give a list of every soldier capable of enduring the onught of an Early Wave Champion Beast for an entire minute without assistance. Exclude Uriel, the Vice-Captains working with him, and every soldier in their squads." Although ignoring ten percent of the military force would reduce the number of soldiers avable, Cain would not pick people he did not trust for a mission where a single wrong step could lead to catastrophic casualties. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The Absolute Life Form System had already scanned every single one of the thousands of soldiers fighting beside Cain, so it was able to do that analysis. It took around five minutes before a list with one hundred and seventy-eight names appeared in Cain''s mind. Cain was slightly surprised to see that Levi, Orin, and Lumir were among those capable of facing an Early Wave Champion Beast. As he analyzed their stats, he saw that the trio had already be Level 7, and their foundation was very strong. If they kept their momentum, there was a high chance they could reach wless Marrow or Deep Basic Law Understanding. He was even more amazed when he saw that Levi had generated a secondary energy pool simr to his Blood Energy and that the strength stat of this one surpassed his. ''?A Saint Technique?'' Cain was still much stronger than Levi, but it was clear that the young man from the Hellzer Family had found some lucky chances. "Good. I will take the trio into my team." Using the system aide, Cain formed three massive teams with over fifty people each. The leaders will be he, Antony, and William, and they will separate from the main force and hunt down packsposed of Wave Champion Beasts. Remaining with the main force would only slow them down now that there were no thousands of weak Wave Beasts around them. Cain did not waste time and sent themand soon after, ensuring everything was in order. All the soldiers received Cain''s message through their A.I. Chips and instructions on how to proceed. The ones whose names were mentioned felt their blood burning. The wealth they would gain would be amazing, not to mention that fighting Wave Champion Beasts would push them beyond their limit. Of course, everybody knew that the mission would be extremely dangerous, but Cain''s name in the order extinguished all those worries. As for the ones that would not participate in the mission, Cainmanded them to maintain order in the area. That was a fancy way of saying they could spend their days inside the encampment using the extremely dense Life Wave that soaked the air to cultivate. By the time the first ray of sunlight appeared in the sky, Cain, Antony, and William were already outside the encampment with their forces in formation behind them. Although William and Antony were stronger than Cain, the soldiers that ended up in their teams could not help but look at Levi, Orin, Lumir, and the others with envy. William and Antony nced at each other as they noticed that, but they could only shake their head and show awkward smiles. None of them could deny that Cain had an aura that made it seem there was no problem great enough that could surpass him. Cain took a deep breath as his eyes grew sharp. A powerful Blood Lightning covered his figure the next second as he dashed forward, followed by the entire force. The three groups remained together, as they would only split once Cain gave the signal. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as the full power of his Ego Wave flooded the mountain. He used his mastery over Free Ego to make the red force field invisible so as not to warn the Wave Champion Beasts. After a few minutes, his eyes narrowed and focused on three different points. They were far away so as not to incite incursion from other packs but close enough so that the military groups coulde to assist in case any problem could ur. Antony and William received a message through their A.I. Chips, and the next second, they took the soldiers under theirmand and moved to the left and right, respectively. The soldiers under Cain did not know where those two would go, but it did not matter. Their mission was to follow Cain, and nothing else mattered. Cain''s aura kept rising higher and higher as the Blood Lightning and Astral Wave around his body generated a thickyer. "Charge into that ce!" All the soldiers heard Cain''s voice in their minds as hemanded them to enter arge cave five hundred meters ahead, only to see him vanish the next second. The leader''s disappearance could rock the mind of most soldiers, but the ones that were part of this group had absolute trust in Cain''s power and intellect. Levi and two Level 9 Vice-Captain were the first to enter the cave. There was a radiant sun in the sky, so the ce was full of light, making it easy for the trio to see the twenty-three Early Wave Champion Beasts inside. And if that was not enough, there was an even mightier beast at the back of the pack. "PAWOOOO!" The sound of an elephant trumpeting emerged from the back of the cave, and the entire force could see a massive beast nearly three meters tall with dark silver skin. It was a Silver-Heart Elephant, and its mere trumpeting generated a sonic st that almost sent the soldiers flying away. All the soldiers could feel Silver-Heart Elephant''s aura, and it was clear the beast had already be a Middle Wave Champion Beast, maybe even stronger than the Lightning-Fall Mantis. Just as the massive Silver-Heart Elephant was ready to march forward, a figure covered in Blood Lightning appeared out of nowhere next to its face. The Middle Wave Champion Beast was shocked, and before it could do anything, the humanoid figurended a devastating blow on its right eye, making it explode. Chapter 215 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (II) 215 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (II) "KILL!" Cain''s voice echoed across the cave, erasing the fear from the Silver-Heart Elephant''s trumpeting in the soldiers and filling them with vigor. The battle formations for the soldiers had already been distributed, so they all knew what to do. Cain smiled as he saw the soldiers instantly adopt battle formations and charge toward the Early Wave Champion Beast, free of fear and full of conviction. However, he could not split his focus for much longer as the Silver-Heart Elephant soon raised from the ground, unleashing a powerful Life Wave. Cain stared at the creature''s head and saw how his punchpletely shattered the eye and the bones around it. Although the damage was significant, it was far from crippling the Middle Wave Champion Beast. That attack carried the full power of Cain''s Blood Hand, not to mention it took the Silver-Heart Elephant by surprise. ''It can''tpare with the Lightning-Fall Mantis in terms of speed, but its vitality and defenses are formidable.'' "PAWOO!" The Silver-Heart Elephant unleashed a battle cry full of killing intent and wrath as it dashed toward Cain, ready to trample the insolent human that dared to destroy its eye. Cain''s eyes grew cold as he clenched his right fist with even greater strength. The Blood Lightning devoured the Middle Wave Champion Beast''s blood around him, making the power of his Blood Hand even mightier as he shed forward. One was a massive beast over twenty tons, while the other was a young human weighing less than one hundred kilograms. There was no need to specte about the winner in a direct sh, but just as they were less than fifteen meters away, Cain raised his right arm. Shock appeared in the Silver-Heart Elephant when he saw a sphere of red lightning emerge from Cain''s hand. It knew that humans could use spells, but those with the dark purple Wave usually used melee skills. The sphere instantly reached its face, and now confusion appeared on the Silver-Heart Elephant as the attack had no power at all. Just as it wondered what the human''s n was, it noticed that this one was no longer in front of it. "?BOOM!" Before the Silver-Heart Elephant could perceive Cain''s presence, he connected a devastating blow to the beast''s right ribs. "AWW!" The Middle Wave Champion Beast screamed in pain as the blow cracked several ribs and sent its massive body crashing against the back of the cave. Before the Silver-Heart Elephant could rise, Cain unleashed a torrent of blows that pushed it deeper and deeper against the wall. Both of Cain''s hands had three fingers resembling blood gems. His mastery over Blood Hand allowed him to metamorph more fingers, but that also drained his energy much faster. Cain held his breath and focused his entire body on punching as hard and fast as possible. Every punch he fired generated an indentation on the Silver-Heart Elephant, and he could feel how his fist shattered the muscles, bones, and even lungs. Although the Silver-Heart Elephant had immense vitality and defenses, the blows fired by Cain''s Blood Hand were so powerful that they pinned it against the wall. It went like that for ten seconds before the drain on his energy was so much that he had to deactivate Blood Hand. The Silver-Heart Elephant felt how the punches no longer incapacitated its body and attacked with its tusks, trying to strike Cain. Yet, the human jumped back, easily avoiding the attack. Cain saw how the Silver-Heart Elephant adopted a battle stance and could feel the beast''s strength, but it was clear that the damage it just took significantly reduced its battle power, and the copsed lung kept draining its energy. ''If I push myself to my limit, I could end the beast''s life in less than ten minutes. However, that would exhaust me and endanger everybody if something unexpected happened.'' After a few seconds of deliberation, Cain decided to transform his fight with the Silver-Heart Elephant into a battle of attrition. "Pawoo!" The Middle Wave Champion Beast unleashed a new battle cry as it charged toward Cain, but with much less strength than before. Cain easily dodged the Silver-Heart Elephant''s stomp and violently kicked the beast''s knee before jumping back, evading a massive tusk that sought to impale him. The Silver-Heart Elephant was already slow, and now that it had a copsed lung and severe internal damage, Cain was able to avoid all its attack using Virtual Sight and his instincts. The fight with the wounded Middle Wave Champion Beast became so simple for Cain that he could use his Ego Wave to analyze the battle of the rest of the soldiers. ''Good, none of them has received a severe injury yet, and their teamwork is excellent.'' Suddenly, Cain frowned as he saw the golden mes covering Levi''s body. They were extremely simr to the ones used by the death guards that worked for Ondo, the Wave Champion puppetmaster. He remembered very well how those golden mes increased the guards'' battle power, but they did in exchange for their blood vitality. A sh of killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes as the idea appeared in his mind that someone was using his friend for some form of experiment. However, Cain soon rxed once he noticed that Levi''s golden mes tapped into the young man''s blood vitality, using it as fuel, but at the same time, it made it grow. ''His Saint Technique.'' There was no way a technique with such power would feel beneath the level of a Saint Technique. It was clear to Cain that the ability had dangers, but if Levi chose to take that path, then everything was all right. ''A man must be ready to endure the consequences of their choices.'' Cain smiled as his father''s voice appeared again in his mind. "PAWOOO!" N?v(el)B\\jnn The Silver-Heart Elephant roared with strength one more time, and its Life Wave burst with power. The smile on Cain''s face made the beast think the human was mocking it. "Hmph." Cain only sneered as he saw the Silver-Heart Elephant marching toward him like a crazy beast. "Stupid beast." Chapter 216 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (III) 216 Killing a Middle Wave Champion Beast (III) "Stupid beast." If the Silver-Heart Elephant had shown wisdom, the battle would have been prolonged for a very long time due to its powerful defenses, but now that it attacked like crazy, things changed. Cain dodged the tusk charged with Life Wave that sought to drill his chest and dashed forward as his index finger morphed into a blood gem, and he used it to pierce into the Silver-Heart Elephant''s neck. The Silver-Heart Elephant''s eyes widened as the finger managed to pierce its defenses. Cain did not hesitate before taking the finger out, leaving a massive hole behind that began to bleed profusely. Although the Silver-Heart Elephant managed to push Cain away, its legs were trembling, and it wouldn''t be long before it fell to the ground dead. Cain continued striking the Middle Wave Champion Beast while conserving his energy and making sure to avoid any form of injury. "?Boom!" In five minutes, the Silver-Heart Elephant could no longer remain straight and plummeted into the ground, generating a small st due to its massive weight. Soldiers and Wave Champion Beasts turned toward the st only to see how Cain buried his entire arm into the dying Silver-Heart Elephant''s eyes, devouring the blood of this one. Just as the Middle Wave Champion Beast''s heart stopped beating, Cain vanished, and the next second, a cry echoed across the cave. "AWWWW!" One Early Wave Champion Beast screamed in pain as Cain pierced its back with his index finger, shattering its spine and destroying many inner organs. Not even a second after, Cain removed his finger from the Early Wave Champion Beast''s beck and vanished into the darkness again. Fear emerged in the Early Wave Champion Beasts, while the soldiers took the chance that their opponent lost their focus to pushing their offensive. Cain emerged again three minutester when an Early Wave Champion Beast was about to rip a soldier''s arm. Hended a violent fist on the beast''s jaw, shattering it before pulling back, vanishing. The battles carried on like that. The soldiers took advantage of the Early Wave Champion Beast''sck of focus, and whenever it seemed that one of them might receive a severe wound, Cain would appear and neutralize the attacker. Less than an hour after Cain killed the Silver-Heart Elephant, all twenty-three Early Wave Champion Beasts perished. Some did try to escape, but Cain would send a devastating attack that would push them to the back of the cave. All soldiers had huge smiles as they took out the hearts of the Early Wave Champion Beasts and left them at Cain''s feet. Although the hearts of those Early Wave Champion Beasts were precious, since Cain interfered in all the battles and protected them from the darkness, he had the right to them. Besides, the rest of the corpse was still very valuable, and they gained military credits just for killing the beasts. Cain only nodded as he saw those hearts and kept his hand inside the Silver-Heart Elephant''s chest. He was only able to take a small portion of the beast''s blood before, but now he could devour until thest drop. It took Cain around half an hour to devour the more than two thousand liters of blood inside the Silver-Heart Elephant''s body, and he could feel the vigor and energy running through his veins. The soldiers remained inside the cave, tending to their wounds and recovering their energy, ready to assist Antony or William''s groups in case the two needed help. After devouring every ounce of blood inside the Silver-Heart Elephant, Cain used his lightning to burn the massive beast and eat its meat. Cain was not worried about Antony or William since the packs the duo attacked had the same strength that the one he faced, and they were stronger than him. The only reason he was able to finish first was due to his assassination skills and the Silver-Heart Elephant''s foolishness. "It''s time to return to the encampment." The soldiers turned to Cain while he issued thatmand and stored the half-eaten Middle Wave Champion Beast in his space ring. Everybody nodded and rxed since it meant that William and Antony had finished their battles and did not require their help, so everything must have gone smoothly. --- For the next two months, Cain, William, and Antony led their groups higher and higher into de Mountain, killing packs full of powerful Wave Champion Beasts. The amount of wealth the trio amazed was shocking, even to Peak Wave Champion. Each kill of a Wave Champion Beast meant a direct reward in terms of military credits, not to mention they could do whatever they wanted with the bodies. The gains did not limit to simply wealth as the dense Life Wave, nutritious meat, and life-and-death battles pushed forward the cultivation of everybody. There were even Vice-Captains that reached the absolute peak of Wave Warrior and only chose not to rise to Wave Champion as they would have to leave de Mountain. Facing Middle Wave Champion Beasts stopped being a problem for the military force, but they faced a new problem once they reached the mid-way point to de Mountain''s peak. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om "?BOOOOMMMM!" A massive shock wave emerged once Cain connected his right fist to the arm of a Wave Champion Beast. He had morphed four of his fingers into blood gems and channeled a massive amount of Astral Wave into the arm, so despite the beast blocking the attack, he should have done a significant amount of damage. Nevertheless, the Wave Champion Beast barely moved after blocking Cain''s punch, and the next moment it waved its arm, sending him flying away. Cain was in mid-air and without any control over his body when he saw a beast resembling a gori twice his size, with four arms and ming hair. Just as the Wave Champion Beast was about to lunge toward him, a man covered in ice energy tackled it, sending it more than twenty meters away. "?AHHHHH!" The Wave Beast instantly regained control over its body and roared in rage toward William before a sea of golden arrowsnded on it. Cain, William, and Antony fought together because the enemy was a Hell Gori, a Late Wave Champion Beast! Chapter 217 Victory over a Late Wave Champion Beast 217 Victory over a Late Wave Champion Beast Antony''s light arrows were extremely fast, and the young man''s archery skills allowed him to grant them superb rotation and pration power. Those light arrows had proven extremely effective even among Middle Wave Champion Beast with great defenses, so it was no wonder an overwhelming shock would assault Antony''s heart when he saw the Hell Ape jumping toward him with minor wounds. Antony immediately generated tforms of Essence Wave in the air, kicking them and pushing himself up as he sought to put distance between himself and the formidable beast that sought to rip him to pieces. Unfortunately for Antony, he was not the only one that could use Air Walk as tforms of Life Wave formed beneath the Hell Ape''s feet that this one used to rise forward without losing momentum. Just as the Hell Ape was about to reach Antony, two figures intercepted it. One was covered in red lightning and the other in cold energy, and both fired a powerful blow to the Hell Ape''s stomach, sending this one crashing to the ground. "?Boom!" A st echoed once the massive figure of the Hell Ape reached the ground, but not a second passed before this one rose and shed toward William. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The young Astral Wave Cultivator''s eyes widened when he saw the Late Wave Champion Beast''s massive fist appear right before him. He could not dodge it, so he made a cross with his arms and generated a thick iceyer on top of them. "CRACK!" The ice shield crumbled instantly under the might of the Hell Ape''s punch, but it was able to drain some of its power. It sent William flying away but failed to break any of the young man''s bones. Before the Hell Ape could chase after William, a thick light spear sted into its face. The attack infuriated the beast, but most importantly, it hindered its vision and affected his senses. "?BOOM!" "AWW!" A shock wave apanied by a scream of pain echoed once Cain connected a ferocious blow on the back of the Hell Ape''s head. He focused all his Astral Wave and Blood Energy into that blow while pushing Blood Hand to the limit to enhance his right fist''s destructive power. Cain knew that focusing all his Astral Wave into his fist would leave the rest of his body unprotected, but that was the only way in which he could raise the potency of his attack high enough to harm the beast. That is why he only performed that attack once Antony hindered the Hell Ape''s senses since, otherwise, the danger would have been too much. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he felt the bones on the Hell Ape''s skull cracking, but right then, his instinct began to scream danger. The Hell Ape''s eyes almost lost focus due to that blow, but it clenched its teeth as it waved its arm to its back, aiming at the human that dared to sneak up on him. Cain raised his arms and focused his Astral Wave and Blood Energy in them as fast as he could before the Hell Ape''s forearm shed with him. "Crack!" The sound of bone shattering emerged from Cain''s arms as the Hell Ape''s forearm sent him flying away with blooding out of his mouth. Cain clenched his teeth as he pushed his Ego Wave to the limit to suppress the pain of having his arms broken and stop himself from losing consciousness. The Hell Ape''s eyes burst with killing intent as it focused on Cain, but before he could take a step forward, its knees trembled, and it fell to the ground. Cain''s punch produced severe brain trauma, and even with its vitality, that was an injury that severely affected its battle power. "Sky Rain!" Before the Hell Ape''s body could even touch the ground, Cain shed toward the beast. His arms were broken, but his legs still worked, so he sent a vicious kick covered in Astral Wave and Blood Energy to its head. 14:58 Antony did not hesitate to send his most powerful attack once he saw the Hell Ape wounded. He tenses his bow, generating arrow after arrow of light to appear in the sky. Over two hundred arrows of light appeared in the sky, draining almost all of Antony''s energy pool before falling with immense speed and power over the Hell Ape''s figure. The Hell Ape raised its arm over its head, defending itself from the light arrows. The brain trauma hindered its body''s movement and domain over Life Wave, making its Wave Cloak lose much power. By the time thest light arrow had fallen from the sky, there were dozens of bloody holes all over the Late Wave Champion Beast. "Ice Age sh!" Before the Hell Ape could even take a breath, William shed against this one. A thick, incredibly cold ice armor full of spikes covered the Astral Wave Champion''s body, and he collided with the Late Wave Champion Beast. "AWW!" The Hell Ape was sent flying away while screaming in pain. The sh not only left new holes all over its body but also left ayer of frost energy that froze its skin and muscles, leading to cellr death. Before the Hell Ape''s body could even touch the ground, Cain shed toward the beast. His arms were broken, but his legs still worked, so he sent a vicious kick covered in Astral Wave and Blood Energy to its head. Just as the Hell Ape seemed to reach its end, the beast''s fur ignited with powerful mes that pushed the trio away. Cain, William, and Antony were not able to get near the Late Wave Champion Beast and saw how this one used that chance to run away. Although the trio wanted to kill it, they were exhausted and wounded, so chasing after the Late Wave Champion Beast was not wise. Antony and William nced at Cain for a second, and after this one nodded, they went to help the rest of the soldiers. The duo was tired and had little energy left, but they were able to put pressure on Middle Wave Champion Beasts. Cain would have wanted to help, but little energy was left in his body, and he received severe wounds that needed immediate attention. Chapter 218 Clash with the student force 218 sh with the student force Cain removed several Wave Champion Beast''s hearts from his space ring before generating a mantle of Blood Lightning that devoured the blood in them and sent it into his body. His eyes grew sharp, and his Ego Wave burst with power as he focused all the Astral Wave and blood essence into his arm to improve the speed at which they healed. Dozens of battles took ce around Cain, with the soldiers battling over thirty Early Wave Champion Beasts and six that had already reached the Middle Wave Champion level. The soldiers made sure to stay away from Cain to avoid interrupting his recovery, and none of the Wave Champion Beasts dared to get anywhere near him. After five hours and having devoured the blood of nearly twenty Early Wave Champion Beasts'' hearts, Cain''s arms had fully healed, and most of his internal wounds were already gone. Cain raised his arms and clenched them, smiling as he felt his strength. He then focused on the battlefield and released a small sigh. The battle with the horde was a victory, and there were no casualties on their side, but all the Middle Wave Champion Beasts managed to escape, and most of the soldiers endured severe wounds that would force them to rest for several days. It was clear to Cain that they were not ready to advance beyond this point. The battle with the Hell Ape pushed the trio to their limits, and they nearly lost their lives more than once. A sh with a horde with more than one Late Wave Champion Beast would carry significant casualties among the soldiers. After cleaning the battlefield, Cain led the soldiers back to the encampment, where they were told to rest for the next two days. Cain reached his tent and shut downmunications as he adopted a meditative stance and focused. His heart had no frustration since he knew they would face resistance like this, and it happenedter than he expected. Of course, that did not mean he would just ept it. Immediately, his mind began to search for ways to improve his power and that of the soldiers around him. There was not much to do regarding battle formation or equipment since they already used the beast they could handle, so the answer had to emerge from within. ''My current skills can unleash the full power of my Astral Wave and Blood Energy. Blood Hand is an exceptionally powerful technique, and searching for a new Saint Technique would be foolish. The best path forward is either awakening my Visualization Technique or evolving my Asura Form.'' Asura Form was a skill of Cain''s previous life, and just like one would expect from the name of First Gear, there was a second one. He had meditated extensively on the technique and used the Absolute Life Form System to decipher the next step forward. First Gear improved Cain''s speed, eleration, and torque by overlocking the heart''s circtory system. After Blood Renewal, his body grew strong enough to endure it without side effects, which is why he thought of taking the next step. ording to his calctions, Second Gear would drive the rate of his blood circtory system five times faster than First Gear, exponentially increasing his speed and agility, and that was just the beginning. Due to the current state of Cain''s blood, Second Gear would generate a qualitative improvement in his metabolic systems, improving his speed of thought and reflexes, as well as the power of his muscles, causing a raw increase in his physical strength. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Cain did not doubt that Second Gear would raise his battle power an entire level, allowing his physical strikes to ovee the defenses of someone like Carl without the need for Blood Hand. Unfortunately, such a powerful technique required an even mightier constitution. ording to the simtion performed by the Absolute Life Form System, if Cain were to use it now, it would instantly lead to blood vessel rupture and cerebral hemorrhage, not to mention that it would submit all his organs to a level of stress they could not handle. To trigger Second Gear safely, Cain needed to achieve a 95% marrow washing, and even then, his body could not endure the stress for long. It was clear to Cain that Second Gear was not in the foreseeable future, so he turned his attention to his second card. Cain took the first step in the generation of his Visualization Technique the moment his Alter-Ego came into existence. The key to advancing was learning to harvest the power of the entity inside his soul dimension and nurture it. After Cain''s willpower rose to the Wave King level, he felt a change in his Alter-Ego, and that feeling grew stronger after oveing the ordeal that was the sudden appearance of the Lightning-Fall Mantis. Once his Alter-Ego reached the point in which Cain could draw its power from the ethereal into the material ne, the name of the Visualization Technique woulde instinctively to him. Yet, he was still not at that point, and there was no direct way to elerate things. ''The easiest way to improve my willpower would be by improving my cultivation. ording to what Master said, the power and abilities one can harness from their Alter-Ego would depend on their personality and cultivation in the Ego Eternal Path of Power. Master''s Oceanic Constitution must have evolved over the course of the years, but I am sure that even in its most basic form, it should have been of immense help.'' The feeling of hitting Zarak''s body was still clear in Cain''s mind, and he was sure that even now, with all his improvements, he would still be unable to harm this one. Understanding the strength a Visualization Technique could grant made Cain eager to develop his own. He was sure that the power of his Duality Alter-Ego would be nothing short of amazing. ''No matter how much I want it, there is no way to forcefully trigger my Visualization Technique''s awakening, and even if there were, it would undoubtedly affect its potential, so I would not take it.'' In the end, there was nothing Cain could do to force their way up, so he chose to look to the center of de Mountain. That zone must be full of packs led by Middle Wave Champion Beasts, and they would be the perfect training for the soldiers until their power rose high enough that they could take Late Wave Champion Beasts. Cain had stayed away from that zone since it could lead to an unnecessary sh with the student force, but it was not like he was afraid, so there was no hesitation as he sent themand to Antony and William. --- The next month went by without incident, with Cain, Antony, Williman, and all the soldiers that fought by their side growing stronger. "?BOOM!" The sound of explosions and broken bones echoed as Cain and his group butchered a pack of Wave Champion Beasts. There were merely twenty-five of them, with a single Middle Wave Champion Beast leading them, so it was not hard for the soldiers to kill all of them in less than an hour. Cain buried his hand in the Golden Winged Wolf''s chest, devouring the creature''s blood essence when his eyes narrowed as he looked to the left. He was the first to see it, but it did not take long for the rest of the soldiers to notice the presence of a group made of forty-two students. Dominic was the group''s leader, and his eyes grew cold as he stared at Cain and the rest of the soldiers. A tense atmosphere emerged the moment both groups looked at each other. Although there were fewer students, four of them had already be Wave Champions. Still, many Level 9 soldiers with powerful foundations and great battle experience could face them. In the end, it was impossible to say which side would be the winner in a sh, but one thing was inevitable, and that was that there would be substantial casualties on both sides. Cain removed his hand from the Middle Wave Champion Beast and sent the creature into his space ring as he stared at Dominic. A red light appeared in his eyes as he focused on the students and was ready to strike with killing intent if the other party showed any sign of violence. Although Dominic had a powerful desire to crush Cain, he was smart enough not to pick battles he could not win. If he attacked and even one of the soldiers managed to escape alive, he would be charged with breaking the codes and rules of the Godyer Humankind Empire. "Let''s go." Dominic said nothing else before leaving with the rest of his forces. The soldiers rxed as they saw that and carried on recollecting the spoils of the battle. ''Everything is fine, but more and more shes will happen as we remain in the area. I must ensure our forces are ready to handle any student''s incursion.'' Chapter 219 Invitation 219 Invitation Over the next month, soldiers and the students had several encounters, and there were times when battles almost started. It wasmon for those children of Noble Families to look down on regr soldiers, so they were enraged by the fact that they were taking down the packs they sought to kill. However, there was nothing the students could do since they could only depend on their strength in this ce, and the backing of their families did not matter. Cain made sure that the soldiers knew they had to avoid conflicts and focus on increasing their power so they could face the Late Wave Champion Beasts but also gave the order to answer to any act of violence from the student side with absolute prejudice. Antony and William were growing more and more powerful, having solidified their cultivation and making strides to the Middle Wave Champion level. Both were now using Wave Artifacts that greatly enhanced their battle powers and mastered new and more powerful techniques, making theirbined power equal that of a Late Wave Champion Beast. It would not be hard for both of them to take on the Hell Ape on their own if they faced this again, but the problem was that the packs at de Mountain''s peak had more than just one Late Wave Champion Beast. Simply relying on the duo would be foolish since there was not enough time to raise their cultivation to a level where they could take care of multiple Late Wave Champion Beasts independently. The entire military force had to grow powerful enough so they could at least hinder the movements of Late Wave Champion Beasts. Cain understood that, which is why he focused on improving the power of the soldiers and his own. Right now, he was in his tent, and there was an expression of absolute focus on his face as his Astral Wave burst with power, and a foul substance emerged through his pores. He had suppressed his cultivation as much as he could. Yet, right now, his meridian had finally extended over his entire muscr system and pierced his skin, generating a direct path from the Rebirth Heart to the outside. The power of Cain''s Wave Cloak, Wave Focus, and Wave Burst grew exponentially after finishing with Level 6, and now he needed to branch his meridians again. In Level 7, a cultivator must branch their meridians, generating a path from the outside world into their Sacred Organs. It would form a route for the Life Wave to enter the body, drastically improving your cultivation speed and stamina. A cultivator''s meridians were like a new extremity, so branching them was an excruciating process, but Cain''s eyes exploded with red light as he suppressed the pain. He could not allow any distraction as he had to focus on using his bursting Astral Wave and Blood Energy to cleanse his marrow. Every second counted, and Cain would not allow anything to mess with the improvement of his foundation, erasing everything from his mind other than the purification of his marrow. After his Astral Wave calmed down, Cain rxed. He opened his eyes and waved his hand, generating a st of Blood Lightning that burned all the filth covering his body. Cain clenched his fists, and arge smile appeared as he felt his strength and energy improvement. That thrill only grew stronger when he saw how all the fingers in both hands transformed into blood gems, and the force began to extend to the rest of the fist. Once Cain managed to alter both hands, he would have reached the limit of the second level of Blood Hand. He would have to wait to be a Wave Champion to start the third level or achieve wless Marrow. "System, scan me." The Absolute Life Form System followed Cain''smand as always, and it did not take long for a stream of information to appear in his mind. [Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 7 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Middle Tier 6 (High Tier 6) --- Stats: Strength: 6.4--> 7.9 Agility: 4.5 --> 6.0 Vitality: 7.9--> 9.9 Wave: 4.6--> 5.9 Blood Energy: 7.9--> 9.4 --- Marrow washing: 88%pletion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 16.7%] Cain was satisfied with his stats. Each of them, including his agility, was off the charts for a Level 7 Wave Warrior, especially his vitality that matched someone at the rank''s peak. Despite the improvement of 4% in his marrow washing, his Wave Talent did not improve, but Cain expected something like that. The higher the Tier, the harder it was to improve. The only thing that bothered Cain was the improvement of his marrow washing. It was 4%, which was very good, but even if he could keep that rate, which would be extremely difficult, he would only reach wless Marrow before bing a Wave Champion. Many geniuses took wless Marrow as their goal, and Cain was among them until not too long ago, but now he wanted to rise even higher. To achieve a level that even the greatest geniuses of military Noble Families could only dream of, a 100% marrow washing! "I need to find a way to drastically improve the tempering of my bones if I want any chance to reach that level." Cain was determined to do all in his power to reach that goal. It would not be easy and force him to push himself beyond his limits repeatedly, but the gains would be incredible if he managed to do it. Just his foundation would attain a level where Wave King would not be a possibility but a certainty. --- After Cain''s rise to level 7 and the upgrades of William and Antony, along with the overall improvement of all the soldiers, the military force was able to once again march higher into de Mountain, facing packs led by Late Wave Champion Beasts. Nine months had passed since The Hunt''s start, and the military force had risen over thirty thousand meters into de Mountain. At that point, the area had all sorts of craters and fists indentation. Most believe it to be the remains of a battle between King Beasts, but those were actually left by a certain sh between three very powerful cultivators. Cain returned to his tent when night fell, and he was so exhausted that he fell to the ground. They had just faced a pack with two Late Wave Champion Beasts, and the pressure he, Antony, and William faced was overwhelming. N?v(el)B\\jnn It was not the first time they faced that particr pack, but today was the day they pushed themselves and used every ounce of power inside their bodies to kill the Late Wave Champion Beasts instead of just making them flee the battlefield. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Cain saw that a message had reached his [A.I. Chip Module], and the one that sent it was no other than his counterpart in the student force, Dominic. There was no doubt that Dominic hated his gut, and he had no problem with that since the feeling was mutual, which is why Cain was so confused to see this one sending a message to him. He had nothing to lose by seeing what was inside, so he opened the file and got an invitation. Dominic wanted the soldier force led by him, Antony, and William to help the student force take care of a pack. Dominic knew that Cain would have many questions, so he wrote all the details into the file. It turned out that the student force hade in contact with a mine full of wave crystals, and it seemed there were mid and even high-quality wave crystals inside. Although the scion would have wanted to keep everything for himself, there was a strong pack with four Late Wave Champion Beasts protecting the mine and devouring the wave crystals inside it. If they did not move fast enough, those beasts would eat everything and leave nothing, so speed was of the essence. After reading that letter, Cain had a lot to consider, but the first thing he did was rest. He closed his eyes, and after making sure the Absolute Life Form System surveilled the area, he fell asleep. Five hourster, Cain opened his eyes. He was still tired but had regained enough strength for a reconnaissance mission. Dominic did not reveal the localization of the wave crystal mine in the message, but it was not hard for Cain to predict the movements of the student force using the times they shed with the soldiers as a reference. Cain left the encampment after ensuring Antony and William were ready to handle any possible night incursion. Then he traveled to the side of the mountain upied by the student force, and after almost two hours, a mine full of wave crystal appeared in his Ego Wave. Chapter 220 Lightning Lupus fight 220 Lightning Lupus'' fight Cain slowly spread his Ego Wave into the mine, analyzing every Wave Beast inside. His mastery over Free Ego was high enough to hide it from those beasts as he thoroughly analyzed their battle powers. Just as he reached the bottom of the mine, he felt two sets of eyes focusing on him. Cain did not hesitate before immediately retrieving his Ego Wave and using Void Breath to hide his presence before leaving the arena. "ROAR!" "SSSSS!" Powerful bestial howls emerged from the mine as two Wave Champion Beasts detected someone watching them. Luckily, Cain had been very careful, not revealing his presence and leaving the ce as soon as those Wave Champion Beasts detected his Ego Wave. Cain nced at the mine as he fled. For those beasts to detect his Ego Wave, they were not only extremely powerful, but their perception was top-notch, so any assassination attempt for his part would be suicide. ''Peak Wave Champion Beast.'' A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he understood that two of the four so-called Late Wave Champion Beasts were Peak Wave Champion Beasts. There was a chance that Dominic did not know, but it was most likely that the scion knew and just hid it. The good news was that the number of Wave Champion Beasts inside the mine did not surpass forty, although half were Middle Wave Champion Beasts. Cain returned to the encampment and called William and Antony to his tent. There he exined what he found out and discussed their next step. Although Cain was the Hunt Leader, epting Dominic''s invitation was not something he feltfortable doing without asking for the opinion of the other two. After some discussion, the trio decided to ept Dominic''s invitation. Sooner orter, they would have to face that pack, and it was better to take care of them before they consumed every wave crystal inside the mine. Cain did not waste time and responded to Dominic with the condition for the work, exactly what they would take care of, and the amount of wealth they would keep for themselves. Dominic was surprised when he saw that message since it had information about the mine and pack that he had not disclosed. However, he did not dy things and epted Cain''s conditions since they were fair. N?v(el)B\\jnn Once Cain saw that everything was in order and the fine details of the mission were taken care of, he sent a message to the soldiers'' A.I. Chips, informing them of the conjoin mission between the soldier and student forces. 15:00 Once Cain saw that everything was in order and the fine details of the mission were taken care of, he sent a message to the soldiers'' A.I. Chips, informing them of the conjoin mission between the soldier and student forces. There were many soldiers that did not like what they read since thest encounters they had with the student force had soured their already bad rtionship, but Cain did not ask their opinion. He, Antony, and William would put their lives on the line when they faced the Peak Wave Champion Beast, and the others would follow through or suffer the consequences of insubordination. --- The soldiers led by Cain, Antony, and William meet with the student force five kilometers meters away from the mine''s entrance. The ones at the head of the student force were Dominic, Amos, and another young man with characteristics of the Hellzer Family. Now that there were many Wave Champions among the students, Carl was far from being among the top three, and Josef took that ce. Cain nced at Josef, and his eyes narrowed. The young man had a very powerful foundation, but it did not seem this one rose to Wave Champion after having achieved wless Marrow. Still, Cain did not look down on the man since the power of his bloodline made him a real threat. Dominic and Cain stared at each other briefly before nodding and shing to the mine. A little over three hundred warriors were between both groups, but even if they worked together, none felt in the mood to chat. Once they were less than two hundred meters from the mine entrance, soldiers and students unleashed their Wave Cloak and made it burst with power. Cain and Dominic knew they could not trust each other, so even if they were working together; they would not fight together. Each force would take care of one Peak and Late Wave Champion Beast along with half of the pack and establish their battlefield away from the other. That is why soldiers and students made their Wave burst, alerting the beasts of their presence. None of them worried that the beasts would remain inside the mine since, just like humans were greedy, beasts were extremely territorial and would respond to any challenge to their authority with fierceness. The first one to emerge from the mine was a massive insect-like beast that resembled a giant centipede. The creature had a dark exoskeleton, and a green liquid dropped from its fangs and legs. Dominic adopted a solemn expression as he stared at the Peak Wave Champion Beasts by the name of One Hundred Poisons. He grabbed his massive sword and waved it with all his power, sending an enormous wind de to the beast. Despite its massive body, One Hundred Poisons managed to dodge that wind de, and its eyes focused on Dominic as it charged to this one alongside several more Wave Champion Beasts. When Dominic saw how one of the Late Wave Champion Beasts was apanying One Hundred Poisons, he fired another strike before moving away with the student force. Cain saw the number of Wave Champion Beasts that went after the student force and was around half of the battle strength of the entire pack inside the mine. Both Peak Wave Champion Beasts seemed to have already divided the other beasts, making their job easier. "RUMBLE!" The sound of lightning drew Cain''s attention, and he turned to the entrance of the mine as a mighty wolf emerged from it. The Peak Wave Champion Beast had white fur bathed in blue lightning. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he stared at the Peak Wave Champion Beast he had chosen to face, a Lightning Lupus. The Godyer Human and Wave Beast looked at each other and felt the bloodline running in the other. However, the only response they incited was killing intent. The fact they shared the same Lineage did not matter as they were from different species, and right now, one had the sole mission of killing the other. Cain''s energy exploded as Blood Lightning covered his body, and the fingers in both hands transformed into blood gems. He would not see the end of this fight if he did not unleash all his strength from the star. Not far away from Cain, William unleashed all his power, generating an ice armor to grow above his Wave Artifact. Once the aura of the duo reached its peak, Cain and William shed toward the Lightning Lupus, and they were not alone since the seven strongest Essence Wave Cultivators among the soldier force moved behind them. The Lightning Lupus'' Life Wave burst and shed toward Cain and William just as the Essence Wave Cultivators unleashed a barrage of spells against it. Those spells moved at supersonic speed as the Essence Wave Cultivators pushed their energy to the limit, but even then, the Lightning Lupus could dodge all of them while approaching the duo. It was about to reach Cain and William when several light arrows that hid in the shadow of the other spells collided with its body. Antony had hidden his aura and joined the other Essence Wave Cultivators, only showing his power in thest second so he could take the Lightning Lupus by surprise. Those light arrows did minor damage to the Lightning Lupus due to the powerful defenses of the lightning armor around its body but hindered its movements long enough for Cain and William tond a punch in its chest. Cain and William''s joint strike sent the Lightning Lupus flying toward the mine entrance''s edge, but before the dust could disperse, the beasts shed back into the fray. William raised his arms in thest second as a lighting w shed with it. The Lightning Lupus'' paw was small, but the young man felt a mountain crashing against him. The Lightning Lupus'' reflexes and speed surprised the rest of the soldiers, but there was one that knew just how fast and durable the beast was. The instant the Lightning Lupus'' w stroked against William''s arms, a kick bathed in Blood Lightning and charged with a massive amount of Astral Wavended on the beast''s ribs. That w strike sent William flying away just as Cain''s kick pushed the Lightning Lupus to the side, and that was just the start since a new barrage of spells fell into the beast before this one could get up. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as the full power of his Ego Wave focused on the Lightning Lupus'' movements and instructed the soldiers when and where to attack. He knew that if the beast was left unhindered for a second, at least one of the Essene Wave Cultivators behind him would die. Chapter 221 Blade Dimension (I) 221 de Dimension (I) The battle between Cain, Antony, William, and the seven Essence Wave Warriors against the Lightning Lupussted over half an hour and leveled everything around them. Deep wounds were all over the Lightning Lupus, with parts of its body covered in ayer of frost, but the humans were not any better. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Cain''s left arm was broken, and so was Antony''s right leg, and there was arge cut on William''s chest as a w strike managed to pierce his armor and reach his skin. "?BOOM!" A shock wave echoed across the battlefield as a fist bathed in Blood Lightning collided with a lightning w. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the bones on his wrist and shoulder about to snap, but he resisted long enough until a light spear collided in the Lightning Lupus'' left ribs. The light spear pushed the Peak Wave Champion Beast away with a bloody hole in its chest, and just as it turned toward the shining young man in the air, a barrage of spells came at it. The beast had no problem dodging those spells but allowed Antony to fire light arrows that forced it to pull back. It took all of the Lightning Lupus'' focus to dodge those arrows, which is why it did not notice William appear right behind it. An ice armor that covered Williman burst with cold energy the instant he tackled the Peak Wave Champion Beast. "AWW!" The Lightning Lupus yelled in pain as the tackle sent it flying away, and things were not over. While the beast was in mid-air, Cain jumped toward it and fired a ferocious right hook to its head. "Crack." The sound of bones cracking emerged from the Lightning Lupus'' skull as that blow sent it crashing into the ground. Antony, William, and the seven Essence Wave Cultivators smiled when they heard that sound since it meant that the damage to the Lightning Lupus had reached a critical point. None of the soldiers wanted to lose that chance, and they shed at full speed toward the crashing zone as they made their Wave explode and were ready to unleash their mighties attacks on the wounded Peak Wave Champion Beast. "Go away!" The soldiers were around fifty meters away from the Lightning Lupus, a perfect distance to fire their spells, when they heard Cain''s voice, and the next thing they saw was a st of lightning. Powerful arcs of lightning spread in every direction from inside the Lightning Lupus, instantly covering a radius of forty meters. The second they heard Cain''s voice, the soldiers stopped advancing, saving themselves from the st, but their instinct screamed danger as the lightning arcs began to spread out even further, at blinding speed and with outrageous strength. All the soldiers immediately ran away from the Lightning Lupus, but the lightning arcs were so fast that it caught one of them in a second, and everybody saw how it vaporized his body, killing him on the spot. The lightning arcs grew even stronger after killing that soldier and continued spreading. Just as another of the Essence Wave Cultivators was about to get caught, Cain appeared in front of this one and put his arms forward as he formed a shield with his Blood Lightning. Awe appeared in the hearts of the Essence Wave Cultivators as they saw Cain holding back the wave of blue lightning arcs. It was like a man stopping the might of a tsunami on his own. Cain''s bloodline granted him resistance to lightning, and his Blood Lightning was of higher quality than the blue lightning, but the power of the Lightning Lupus was too great. His entire body trembled, and burn marks spread across his skin as he held the lightning wave. An overwhelming killing intent appeared in the Lightning Lupus as it saw Cain holding its attack back, but as it intended to pour even more of its Life Wave into the blue lightning, its body shook and puked a mouthful of blood. The arcs of blue lightning vanished since the Lightning Lupus could not hold the attack any longer due to the severe internal damage, not to mention that the technique consumed its blood vitality in order to unleash its full power. Cain nearly fell to the ground once he no longer had to resist the wave of blue lightning arcs but was able to stand still as he focused on the Peak Wave Champion Beast and the terrain around them. The wave of lightning arcs had melted the ground around them, making it seem they were fighting on top of a volcano! ''That was Lightning Rage. It was supposed to be a technique a Lightning Lupus obtained after bing a King Beast, but this one managed to unleash it at Peak Wave Champion by using its blood vitality as a catalyst.'' Cain had already learned all he needed from his enemy, which is why he was able to react so fast to the Lightning Lupus attack. It would be a lie to say that the attack did not surprise him, but he knew it would not happen again, and it was their chance to end this battle. "Attack!" Just like the soldiers did not hesitate to follow Cain''smand when this one told them to pull back, the instant they heard the order to fight, they made their Wave explode with all the power left in their bodies and shed back into the fray. The Lightning Lupus was not going just to resign itself to its death and made its Life Wave burst onest time as it charged toward the humans, full of killing intent. Cain and William took the front while Antony and the remaining six Essence Wave Cultivators unleashed their most powerful spells against the Peak Wave Champion Beast. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Explosions echoed across the melted battlefield as the nine soldiers shed against the Peak Wave Champion Beast, slowly draining the life of the beast one attack at a time. Cain saw how the Lightning Lupus shed at him with its maws open, aiming at his neck. His eyes grew sharp as a cold light appeared in them, and he dodged those fangs at thest second before sending a right punch toward the beast''s throat. ''It''s over.'' That punch pushed the Lightning Lupus back, and while it could remain standing, it could no longer breathe and was drowning with its own blood. Fear appeared in the eyes of the beast as it saw the young man bathed in Blood Lightning walking forward, and the idea of running away appeared in its mind. Cain saw that, but he was not worried. The Peak Wave Champion Beast was fast but received too much damage during this battle and would not be able to run from him and Antony. "Time to end this." The battle had been hard and truly pushed Cain and the rest of the soldiers beyond their limit, so he would not y around with the Lightning Lupus and would grant it a respectful death. Cain clenched his fists as he channeled all his strength in it and was ready to sh forward when it happened. "Rumble!" The ground beneath his feet began to tremble and did not limit itself to a small area. An earthquake covered the entire de Mountain! Cain''s eyes widened as he was shocked by the sudden turn of events. The Godyer Humankind Empire''s technology was incredibly advanced and was able to predict things like earthquakes with 100% certainty, but there was no such report regarding de Mountain. "RUMBLE!" The earthquake grew even more powerful, generating massive crevices all across de Mountain, and just as things seemed they could not get any more wild, the mountain peak shattered as a giant beam of energy rose into the sky. "BOOOOMMMM!" The energy beam seemed to have shed with an invisible wall in the sky, and giant cracks appeared before copsing, leaving behind a ten thousand-meterrge portal! Cain''s mind froze for a second as he saw that gargantuan portal in the sky. "GO!" Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, making a burst of red light emerge from his eyes as he clenched his teeth and ran up the mountain. Cain was the first but was not the only one, as all Wave Champion Beasts began to run toward the portal, forgetting about their fights. Soldiers and students were shocked to see that even those dying Wave Champion Beasts moved toward the portal as if a force they could not resistpelled them to go. Most people were confused and shocked by the portal, but Dominic and Amos understood what it meant, and a ferocious greed emerged from their hearts as they forgot about everything else and prepared to sh forward. However, Dominic stopped at thest second, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he shed toward the student encampment. When they saw Cain and Amos dashing toward the portal, everybody understood that whatever was on the other side would be amazing. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 1/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 222 Blade Dimension (II) 222 de Dimension (II) Cain''s body burst with Blood Lightning as he pushed forward, using thest shred of energy left in his body to reach the massive portal in the sky. Although his eyes remained in the portal, his Ego Wave had silently spread around, showing him the actions of humans and beasts. Cain saw how Amos unleashed sts from the bottom of his feet in order to impulse his body forward, and he was not alone since all the soldiers and students were also making their way to the portal. The behavior of soldiers and students made sense, but Cain could not help but frown as he saw the way the Wave Champion Beasts were acting. Every beast in the entire de Mountain began to run toward the portal as if their life depended on it. The way those beasts acted was as if they were under the control of powerful hypnosis, and they would not hesitate to give their life in order to fulfill themand imnted in their mind, which was to enter the portal. That was already weird enough, and what came next shocked everybody as a gravitational pulse emerged from the portal and covered the entire de Mountain. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Cain felt that force went through his body and did nothing to him or the other humans, but it affected the Wave Champion Beasts, raising them from the ground and driving them into the portal. Some of those Wave Champion Beasts weighed over thirty tons, but the gravitational force raised them as if they were feathers and drove them into the portal at a shocking speed. The Captains and university teachers were watching the state of de Mountain using the devices in their respective Star Cruisers, and what they saw was a picture that came from legends. Hundreds of humans were rising to the mountain peak to reach a massive ten thousand meterrge portal that was currently sucking hundreds of Wave Champion Beasts! Cain ran at full speed, but he saw how the others were closing in, and there was not much energy left in him since the battle with the Lightning Lupus left him exhausted. However, he was unwilling to allow anyone, whether a soldier or student, to rush past him. A decisive light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he channeled what little Astral Wave was left inside him into his feet and jumped with all his strength. Amos, Antony, and William saw how Cain jumped to the sky, and they did not understand what he sought to achieve. There was no way he could have mastered Air Walk as a Level 7 Wave Warrior, and even if it did, that was not faster than climbing the mountain. However, the trio then saw how Cainnded on the back of one of the Wave Champion Beasts that the portal''s gravitational force pulled from the ground, and they understood the n of this one. Cain wanted to use the Wave Champion Beasts as stepping stones in order to reach the portal faster! If that was not a high enough disy of wisdom and ingenuity, what happened next reached the peak. Cain had justnded on one of the beasts as he buried his hands on its back. ?AWW!" The Wave Champion Beast screamed in pain when that hand pierced its back and reached its heart, but its eyes did not leave the portal in the sky. Cain devoured a burst of blood essence that he transformed into Blood Energy to enhance his legs'' power and jump toward the next beast. "?Boom!" There was so much strength in Cain''s jump that he generated a small shock wave, and everybody saw how he raised to the sky at a speed that not even Wave Champions could equal. Amos, William, and Antony saw that, but although their feelings toward Cain differed, the trio admitted that his ingenuity was superb. They noticed that some sought to emte Cain''s actions and shook their heads. Carl jumped toward one of the floating Wave Champion Beasts and nearly fell. Standing on top of the beast was incrediblyplicated as this one was constantly shaking, and trying to get a stable base from which to jump was nearly impossible. Cain could stand on top of the beast''s back without a problem because of his superb control over his body. As for jumping, his Ego Wave showed him every corner of the beast, revealing to him where to kick. "?Boom!" A small st echoed across the mountain when one of the people that attempted to copy Cain fell from the Wave Beast and crashed into the ground. Cain heard that st but did bother to look at those dumb enough to use the Wave Champion Beasts as literal stepping stones without the body control needed to actually remain on top of them. There was a wave crystal in his mouth that he used to recover some of his Astral Wave while rising. Every time he attacked one of the Wave Champion Beasts, he would use a small portion of the blood essence to recover some of his stamina. He was getting closer and closer to the portal, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he finally reached the massive phenomenon that covered the sky above de Mountain. It was even more majestic up close and swallowed those giant Wave Champion Beasts as if they were candy. Cain had no idea what was on the other side of the portal, but he had read of such majestic events taking ce across history, and all of them were associated with massive lucky chances. "Don''t you dare to get in!" That booming voice appeared in the sky just as Cain was about to rise into the dimension. All the soldiers and students turned to the origin and saw a figure in the distance shing in their direction at a shocking speed. He was a middle-aged man with short dark hair, and a powerful st of mes emerged from the soil of his feet, allowing his body to move at a supersonic speed, generating one sonic boom after another! The man was too far away to discern much from him, but those mes and the speed at which his body moved tell everybody two things. He was much more powerful than a Peak Wave Champion and was likely connected to Hellzer University. Amos showed a mixture of surprise and happiness when he saw that. He recognized the middle-aged man as one of the Elders of the Hellzer Family but had no idea this one was in the vicinity. It was not just a coincidence that an Elder from the Hellzer Family would be here. The group from Hellzer University had several geniuses with great potential, and there was no way a Noble Family would leave them unprotected. Normally, these powerhouses would remain hidden to give the illusion to the geniuses that they were in real danger and stimte their potential. Still, the emergence of the portal in the sky made the middle-aged man''s heart explode with greed. He wanted whatever was on the other side for him and would not allow a bunch of brats to get in his way. In the middle-aged man''s mind, there was no way Cain would ignore his word, allowing him to be the first to enter the portal, but that only proved how little he knew the young man. "Hmph!" Cain sneered before jumping from the back of the beast, vanishing inside the portal. The crash sent the middle-aged man stumbling back, but he was able to regain control of his body extremely fast before focusing on the portal in the sky. This one seemed to have generated an invisible force field around de Mountain, limiting certain people''s passage. 21:17 The middle-aged man had lived for a long time and knew that this type of dimension seemed to prefer young people full of potential and disdained old geezers like him who had already reached their growth limit. "You dare!" The eyes of the Elder from the Hellzer Family burst with rage when he saw how a mere Wave Warrior dared to ignore his words, and the jet of mesing from his feet grew even stronger, improving the speed at which he approached the portal. "?BOOM!" An explosion echoed across the sky when the middle-aged man seemed to have crashed against an invisible wall surrounding de Mountain. The crash sent the middle-aged man stumbling back, but he was able to regain control of his body extremely fast before focusing on the portal in the sky. This one seemed to have generated an invisible force field around de Mountain, limiting certain people''s passage. The middle-aged man had lived for a long time and knew that this type of dimension seemed to prefer young people full of potential and disdained old geezers like him who had already reached their growth limit. "You can not stop me!" Most people in his position would have given up, but the Elder from the Hellzer Family was unwilling. People think that a Wave King was a great monarch, and they were right most of the time, but there were cases when they only worked as glorified babysitters. That was the case of the middle-aged man, which is why he was ready to burn everything in his path in order to enter that dimension. "?BOOM!" mes emerged from the middle-aged man''s body as he prepared to force his way in. His actions might harm the young people inside de Mountain, but he couldn''t care less. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 2/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Chapter 223 Blade Dimension (III) 223 de Dimension (III) "Hellzer Burst!" The mes covering the Elder glowed with a red light as if blood was being used as fuel. He then shed forward like a meteorite toward the invisible force field, ready to st a hole through it. Fear appeared in the hearts of the soldiers and students on the mountain when they saw that. Even the dumbest of them understood that the sh between the Elder and the force field would generate a rain of fire that would fall on them. A crazy light appeared in the Elder''s eyes as the idea of obtaining the treasure on the other side of the portal appeared in his mind. Just as he was about to sh with the force field, a figure appeared in front of him and grabbed his neck. "?BOOM!" The sh between the Elder and the unknown figure generated a st of mes, but giant streams of water emerged from the body of the first and instantly extinguished them. Shock and fear appeared in the Elder''s heart when the hand tightened around his neck. He saw the blue light in the eyes of the other person, and any idea of fighting back vanished from his mind. The man who managed to stop the Hellzer Elder was a legendary figure in the soldiers'' hearts and someone scions were always warned to stay away. Zarak stared at the Hellzer Elder with coldness. He put more and more power on his left hand, suffocating the middle-aged man before using his right fist to punch this one right in the chest. "AWW!" The Elder unleashed a cry of pain as blood and pieces of his internal organs emerged from his mouth, and things were far from over since Zarak was not satisfied with a single blow. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Every blow of Zarak on the Elder had so much power that shock waves spread across the sky. After the fifth blow and seeing how the middle-aged man was about to fall unconscious, he unleashed one final punch with all his strength. Zarak''s punch sent the Elder flying away, making him dive thousands of meters before crashing into the ground. Soldiers and students saw how the Elder generated a massive crater upon impact and did not know whether he was alive or not, but they did not care either. Even the scions of the Hellzer University did not care since the Elder''s actions almost put their life in danger. Just as they wondered what would happen next, they saw an incredibly powerful blue Ego Wave emerge from Zarak and sh against the invisible force field covering de Mountain. Unlike the Hellzer Elder, who acted rashly and unleashed more power than he could control, Zarak disyed absolute dominion over his Ego Wave. The blue Ego Wave spread across the force field, trying to find a way in, and when it found there wasn''t one, Zarak extended his palm and began to squeeze. The Ego Wave mimicked its master and squeezed around the force field, trying to break it. "RUMBLE!" The force field trembled under the Ego Wave''s pressure but remained firm despite Zarak exerting enough power to crush a small mountain. Zarak retracted his Ego Wave after a few seconds since it was clear that the force field protecting the de Mountain had more than enough power to stop him. A figure covered in shadows appeared next to Zarak, ncing at the portal with a profound gaze. "So this is the reason you say we should remain nearby." Zarak nced at Jonathan before looking back at the portal in the sky. Although his cultivation was higher, Jonathan was an Essence Wave Cultivator and mastered the Law of Shadows, which allowed this one to perceive disturbance in space. "I felt the presence of a strong dimensional force for a moment during our battle against Bloodless #4. Still, I never expected that it would be something like this." Seeing such a fantastic phenomenon in the sky filled Jonathan''s heart with awe, and part of him wanted to enter it, but he was not as foolish as the Hellzer Elder. "It might be due to the presence of youths full of great potential or just coincidence. In any case, it rejects people like us. I will send the information to the Imperial Lightning Fort. What will you do?" Zarak would have wanted to silence any information about the portal in the sky, but that was not possible, and he knew that powerful individuals woulde to this ce very soon. He was strong, but the portal above de Mountain would incite greed in people whose power stood way above the Wave King Rank. Jonathan stared at the portal for a few seconds before softly shaking his head. "The sphere of influence from the Aegon Family does not spread into de Mountain. I will inform my superior when I am back." Zarak turned toward Jonathan, and a grateful light appeared in his eyes as he softly nodded. The fewer powerful organizations meddled in this ce; the easier it would be for the Imperial Lightning Fort to establish control. "That brat was the first to enter. Considering Cain''s will and talent, he may reach the highest stage of that dimension. That ce holds power that vastly surpasses Wave Kings. Do you think he will be fine?" n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Zarak could not help but adopt a solemn expression when he heard that. Cain was extremely talented, but the dangers inside that dimension would push him to the limit, and if he ascended high enough, the sun''s heat could melt his wings and make him fall into oblivion. "There is no point in wasting my time thinking about what could happen. I can only prepare for the time when he emerges from the dimension." Jonathan understood thest part of Zarak''s words. If Cain managed to obtain a great fortune inside that dimension, many powerhouses could try and take it away from him. "I will you and that boy fortune. I will be leaving now. It was a pleasure fighting by your side." Jonathan sped his hands and performed a small bow toward Zarak before transforming into streams of shadows that faded in the sky. Zarak also sped his hands at the fading shadows before adopting a meditative position in the sky and looking at the portal onest time before closing his eyes. --- After crossing the portal, Cain found himself in a dark dimension full of shining dots of light in the distance. It was like a starry dark sky, and he was at the center of it. Just as he wondered what he was supposed to do, an immense pain assaulted him as streams of blood, Astral Wave, and even Ego Wave emerged from inside his body and began to amass in front of him. "?AHHH!" Cain shouted as the agony was unbearable, and if it was not for his willpower, he might have lost consciousness. More and more of those three essences emerged from Cain, generating a bigger and bigger cocoon in front of him. The processsted for around twenty seconds. Cain fell to the ground and was having difficulty breathing as that unbearable pain was still clear in his mind. Luckily, the next second, the dots of light began to unleash streams of shining energy that flooded his body and therge blood cocoon in front of him. A sense of shock and awe appeared in Cain''s eyes when he noticed how that shining light took less than three minutes topletely heal his body and regenerate all that the cocoon had taken from him. ''This shining light! It is stronger and more pure than any other energy I have used before.'' Cain did not lose this opportunity and adopted a meditative position, trying to mobilize that shining light to cultivate. The shining light posed no resistance, and Cain felt how it nurtured his flesh and blood, strengthened his meridians, and tempered his Astral Wave. As the starry light improved his cultivation and foundation, Cain focused on the blood cocoon that wantonly devoured it. Although whatever was inside was certainly essential for this ce, there was nothing he could do about it other than wait. Cian did not hesitate before activating Embryonic Breathing in order to push his cultivation speed to a new level. He stood like that for over an hour before opening his eyes since the starry light faded. "Thump!" Just as the starry sky stopped nurturing him, a heartbeat emerged from the blood cocoon, and it was the first of many. "Thump!" "Thump!" "Thump!" Cain noticed as the heartbeats grew faster and more powerful, as cracks emerged on the blood cocoon. It did not take long for the blood cocoon to shatter to pieces, and what appeared in front of Cain was a sword, more specifically, a machete. The weapon was not very long or wide and had a red handle with a thin chain. Cain stared at the weapon for a moment and felt as if it was part of him, which taking into consideration itsponent, it was. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 3/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Chapter 224 Sword Monster 224 Sword Monster N?v(el)B\\jnn Cain opened his palm, and the machete instantly flew to him. At the moment it was in his grasp, he teleported out of the dimension full of starry light. He appeared in a forest packed full of giant trees that rose over one thousand meters with crowns sorge that they covered the sky. However, what truly mattered was the immense weakness that assaulted him. "System!" Appearing in an unknown ce and having most of his strength gone was not a goodbination, so Cain immediatelymanded the Absolute Life Form System to scan the surroundings and check the state of his body. Like always, the faithful system gave Cain an answer. [Analysing... --- -Basic Scan Force Field works without any problem. No life forms are near Vessels. -Unknown force invaded Vessel''s body, weakening body and energy pool to the standard of a Level 1 Wave Warrior. --- Searching for a counter against weakening force. ... ... ... -There are possible solutions, but they will require time for the system to provide them. Permission to use the full power of the system in the task?] Cain did not immediately answer the system. Now that he knew there was no immediate danger, he took a moment to analyze his surroundings and talk with the one who incited him into this ce. "Apex, do you have any specific information regarding this dimension?" Cain was not illiterate regarding the type of phenomenon, like the portal above de Mountain. Although his knowledge was shallow, he knew there were times when special dimensions would spontaneously open and were the key to unique inheritances. Those inheritances may have been left behind for an ancient powerhouse or generated by the world. The second was rarer and also much more valuable,ing into existence once a specific ce''s Laws and natural power reached a zenith. 21:17 Apex constantly gathered information about the Gaia Continent and the world as a whole, so Cain hoped this one would have an answer for him. "There are records of de Mountain showing signs of possibly birthing an inheritance, but those were primarily based on gossip, so I can not be sure. Either way, this ce is special, and you might find a lucky chance." Unfortunately for Cain, Apex did not have the answer he sought. He sighed, but there was not much he could do about it. "Apex, work with the system to find an answer to this weakness." "Ok." The System Spirit knew that while the dimension could contain a massive lucky chance, there were bound to be dangers, so he would do his best to help Cain. "Rumble!" Just as Cain was trying to figure out his next step, the forest began to tremble, and a gale of wind hit him with so much strength that it almost sent him flying away. The sources of the gale came from what seemed to be the center of this ce, and just as Cain focused on it, a wall of light appeared one hundred meters behind him. Cain immediately moved away from the wall of light, and he noticed that it seemed to extend all over the forest''s edge. A strange feeling appeared in Cain''s heart when he focused on the wall of light. The idea appeared in his mind that he would leave this ce if he touched it. From where that feeling came, Cain had no idea, but he would not act on instinct if he had the chance to prove it. His eyes narrowed as he attempted to use his Free Ego, and slowly a red force field emerged from his mind. Even though his body and Astral Wave were at the boundary of Level 1, he could still use his Ego Wave. However, this one also weakened, and its range was barely a few dozen meters. ''Whatever the force weakening me is, it can affect my body, energy pool, and even Ego Wave, but can not hinder the power of the Absolute Life Form System or its [A.I. Chip Module]. Unfortunately, I can not contact the exterior even if the module works perfectly.'' After that small analysis, Cain manipted his Ego Wave and sent it into the wall of light. A piece of his red force field touched the phenomenon, and it was ripped from the main part of his Ego Wave, generating a sharp pain in his mind. He lost control of that piece of his Ego Wave, and that part of his willpower would crumble into nothing in seconds now that it was disconnected from the Ego Eternal Matrix. Yet, before disintegrating, that fragment of the red force field transmitted an image. "At least there is an exit." In the image, Cain saw de Mountain''s sky, meaning there was a way out of this ce. That calmed him a little since that discarded the idea this ce was a ughterhouse for young geniuses. "If that is the exit, then..." Cain turned to the center of the forest and assumed that he would find the path forward there, whatever that might be. He then nced at the weapon and attempted to mobilize his Astral Wave into it. The machete could not only wlessly blend with Astral Wave, but every ounce of energy Cain channeled into it was condensed and refined, leaving a very thin and sharp dark purple edge. Clearly, this was a melee weapon designed for Astral Wave Cultivators, but Cain shook his head. No matter how good the machete was, it was not wise to use it if his mastery over it was lesser than that over his arms. Cain sent the machete into his space ring, but that proved to be a mistake as a sense of vertigo and nausea assaulted him the moment the weapon left his hand. It was so powerful that he fell to the ground. Luckily those feelings faded once Cain took out the machete from his space ring and held it. Cain took a moment to regte his breathing before looking at the machete again and understanding that he could not lose it no matter what. Those feelings of nausea and vertigo were so intense that he could not stand, much less fight, in that condition. ''This ce demands me to fight using the weapon birthed from my essence.'' Although he did not like it, there was not much Cain could do about it, and he had to hold the machete with his right hand. He then began to move forward to the center of the forest. He had not advanced even one hundred meters when his eyes narrowed as he nced to the left. A creature appeared in the [Basic Scan Force Field] and slowly approached him. Cain continued walking forward as if he had not noticed it, and once the creature finally showed itself and lunged toward him from the back, he easily dodged the attack and hacked with his machete. The weaponnded right in the center of the creature''s chest, leaving a deep cut and sending it flying away over ten meters. "AWWWW!" A cry of rage and pain emerged from the creature. It had a humanoid body made of wood and flesh, with a single arm that held arge sword. Cain stared at the creature, and his eyes grew sharp as he saw that the flesh in it seemed to belong to a Wave Champion Beast. ''So that is where they end up.'' Thousands of Wave Champion Beasts entered the portal. Cain had wondered what happened to them, and it seemed that whatever was in control of this ce used them as aponent for the monsters like the one in front of him. "AWW!" The monster roared for a second time, generating a st of Life Wave before charging toward Cain with absolute bloodlust in its eyes. Cain was able to dodge the monster''s sword strikes with ease. They were both at the same cultivation level, but he could use his Ego Wave to enhance his speed of thought and reflexes. After a few minutes and verifying that the monster could only use melee strikes without any spell or skill, Cain decided to end it. He dodged the monster''s sword before cutting its neck with the machete. The creature fell to the ground after having its head separated from its body and immediately began to tremble, unleashing a dark mist and withering. Cain jumped away and held his breath while using his Wave Cloak to prevent the mist from entering his body. He did not know what it was or if it was poisonous. However, while he did not want to be near it, the machete had other ns. It unleashed a suctioning force that drew the mist, leaving nothing left. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt he had regained a little strength and focused on the weapon. ''It seems that the machete is fighting back the weakening force, and it grows more powerful by devouring the mist left by those Sword Monsters.'' After all the mist was gone, the Sword Monster''s corpse crumbled into a pile of dust except for a small red orb. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 4/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 225 Developing swordplay 225 Developing swordy Cain stared at the red orb and picked it up before sending his Ego Wave into it. He immediately noticed the immense blood vitality and pure Life Wave inside. The quantity was small, but the quality was superb. After making sure there were no other Sword Monsters around, Cain focused on the red orb and began to absorb its energy. Awe and shock appeared in Cain''s eyes as he felt how the power purified his Astral Wave and tempered his flesh and blood. The effect of training with the red orb was better than anything Cain had used before. Not only was the energy overwhelmingly potent, but it was also very serene so he could use it non-stop. Unfortunately, Cain drained the red sphere in less than three minutes, and this one crumbled into dust, just like the red of the Sword Monster''s body. Cain began to smile as a red light emerged in his eyes. The red spheres were what he needed to temper his body so he could rise above wless Marrow. ''I will need thousands of these red spheres to generate a qualitative improvement in my constitution.'' Killing intent emerged in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the forest. Logic stated that the closer he got to the center, the more numerous and stronger the Sword Monster would be. Cain took a deep breath as he began to walk faster and faster into the forest. Despite his speed increasing, his presence grew weaker and weaker until it practically vanished. He was not going to wait for the Sword Monsters'' attacks and intended to be the hunter, killing those monsters so the machete would fight off the weakening force and collect the red spheres. If he was a normal cultivator, following that path would have beenplicated, but he had the Absolute Life Form System working as a scout. It did not take long for another Sword Monster to appear in the [Basic Scan Force Field]''s range, and Cain did not hesitate before silently approaching the beast. Unlike the first Sword Monster that Cain battled, this one was nearly three meters tall, with huge arms holding two massive swords. Like Wave Champion Beasts, it seemed that the monsters were not the same and had unique features. The Sword Monster was on a tree''s branch, over fifty meters above the ground, waiting for the presence of a human to attack when suddenly, a figure appeared behind it. It raised one of its swords, stopping the machete from cutting its head, but that careless defense broke its stance, making it easy for Cain to send it crashing into the ground with a single kick. "?Boom!" Cain saw how the Sword Monster stood up from the ground without much problem, but the fall broke one of its arms, and it could no longer hold two swords simultaneously. ''Its battle power equals that of a Level 2 Wave Warrior, but while its defense and strength are formidable, it has very low agility.'' "AWWWW!" The Sword Monster roared with rage as it focused its Life Wave on its sword and legs before escting the three in order to reach Cain. ''There is no wisdom in them, only killing intent.'' Cain shook his head at the foolish behavior of the Sword Monster. He charged his Astral Wave into his legs and jumped toward the monster. Taking advantage of the fact that it could not move freely with the sword buried into the tree''s trunk, he cut its head off. The Sword Monster fell to the ground, and just like the other, a dark mist emerged from its decaying corpse, leaving nothing more than a red sphere. Cain picked up the red sphere as the machete devoured the dark mist. He smiled at realizing that the amount of energy in this sphere was more than in thest one, reducing the amount he would need. --- For the next two weeks, Cain advanced into the forest, facing more and more Sword Monsters. Although all the monsters had humanoid forms, their battle styles varied. Some Sword Monsters use multiple swords, while others use only one. There were those that focused on speed, others on strength, and even those whose swordy focused solely on defense. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Cain slowly regained his strength due to the dark mist the machete consumed, and his constitution and energy pool kept improving due to the constant use of red orbs. However, the fights were not getting easier since not only were the Sword Monsters growing more powerful, but their swordy began to evolve alongside their cultivation. --- Three thin swords and a machete shed again and again. The swords disyed much greater skills, but the one wielding a machete was faster and could predict the enemy''s movements. Cain''s eyes were extremely sharp as he deployed the full power of his Ego Wave and Virtual Sight to face the Sword Monster. There was not much difference between Cain''s current strength and the monster''s, yet it took everything he had not to lose. For the first time since he started this cultivation journey, Cain found himself pressured by an opponent with simr cultivation. 21:18 The reason was that Cain could not let go of the machete, allowing him only to use one arm free and that the Sword Monster disyed truly superb swordy. Cain saw how those swords could change from incredibly fast to immensely strong, and every attack he used was either blocked or redirected. If it weren''t for his Ego Wave improving his speed of thought, he would have been forced to run away a long time ago. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he pulled back to avoid the Sword Monster from cutting his neck. He then took a deep breath and pushed his focus to the limit in order to unleash his secondary energy pool. Blood Energy was not essible to Cain when he first appeared in the forest, but after strengthening the machete over thest few weeks, he was able to unleash a very small amount of it. Cain generated a small st of Blood Lightning that covered his arms and machete, allowing him to hack toward the Sword Monster with so much strength that he pushed the three swords out of his way before severing. The machete made a diagonal cut on the Sword Monster''s chest, spitting this one in two and killing it. Cain did not feel happy when he saw the Sword Monster''s death. He had to deploy a greater cultivation stage than the enemy to defeat a single monster, which meant that he could not advance deeper. He stared at the machete, and since he could not stop holding it, there was only one real path forward. ''I need to learn how to use this weapon.'' That thought appeared with the notion that those who had already mastered the sword had a serious advantage in this ce. It was a problem considering that one of Cain''s enemies showed immense dexterity with a broadsword. --- Over the next few days, Cain no longer advanced deeper and instead chose to fight Sword Monster strong enough to push him, but not so much that he could not divide his attention. The battles took a while as he no longer fought with the intent of just killing the Sword Monsters but learning from their swordy. The Absolute Life Form System also analyzed all that Cain saw and learned. Although the focus was on figuring out a way to handle the weakening force, developing swordy took less than 5% of itsputational power. In only three days, Cain''s domain over the machete went from apleteck of it to one that did not fall too much behind his control over his own arm. Cain''s swordy focused on speed and strength, exploiting the enemy''s blind spots and openings tond decisive strikes. Every strike sought to sever limbs and leave deep cuts that reached the internal organs. After those few days of training, Cain faced another Sword Monster that was as powerful as the one welding three weapons. It had tworge swords and a very thin body that seemed to exude speed. The Sword Monster shed at Cain and hacked from above and to the right, aiming at the young man''s head and waist. Just as those swords were about to reach their target, Cain used his machete to push one away and block the other. Next, he twisted his machete in a small circle, cutting the Sword Moster''s wrist and severing that hand! Now that the machete was no longer a handicap and could use it as intended, Cain became much more powerful. "AWWWW!" The Sword Monster unleashed a roar of pain of rage as it hacked with his remaining hand, but Cain countered it. Cain''s machete shed toward the left but did not aim at the sword. "AWWWWWWWW!" The Sword Monster screamed with greater strength this time since the machete cut his elbows, severing his only arm left. It could not yell for much longer as the machete separated its head from the rest of its body. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 5/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought Chapter 226 Temporary alliance 226 Temporary alliance Cain and a Sword Monster with a single arm were fighting on top of a very thin tree branch. The human and the monster disyed superb footwork, and their weapons shed at an impressive speed. Despite only having a single arm, the Sword Monster could manipte its weapon better than any of the monsters Cain had faced before and was able to blend attack and defense wlessly. Cain took a step back just in time to avoid a sword from cutting his neck, and then he immediately moved forward, hacking with his machete. The battle was extremely intense and pushed him to his limits, but that was precisely the type of training that allowed him to advance so fast. After a month inside the forest, Cain''s cultivation returned to the start of Level 4, and he unleashed Level 6 battle power thanks to his Blood Energy and Ego Wave. His mastery over the machete grew with every battle, and it was reaching the point that he felt extremelyfortable with the weapon by his side. That was just the improvement in terms of his machete''s ability to shield him from the weakening force. Cain''s cultivation had undergone a terrific refinement thanks to the red orbs, with his Astral Wave reaching an exceptionally pure state. As for the improvement in his constitution, it was hard to tell for sure, but Cain was confident that his next marrow washing would be extremely potent. A sharp light appeared in Cain''s eyes when the machete and the Sword Monster''s weapon shed, and neither could push the other back. He stomped the tree''s branch with his feet, breaking the part in front of him and sending the monster falling to the ground. While the Sword Monster was still mid-air, Cain lunged toward it at full speed and hacked with so much strength that it split it in two. Dark mist emerged from the corpse and was devoured by Cain''s machete as he took the red orb and deposited it into his space ring. He had killed so many of these monsters that consuming the red orbs directly after a fight was no longer productive. The battle was hard but did not leave Cain exhausted, so he was ready to advance further when a figure appeared at the edge of the [Basic Scan Force Field], and it was not a Sword Monster. Cain focused on that ce for a moment, and after some thinking, he went forward. --- A young man with golden hair fought a massive Sword Monster that held a sword nearly asrge as its body. Every swing of the bastard sword generated small gales due to its power, but the young man maintained a safe distance. The weapon in the young man''s hand was not exactly a sword, as it would be better to call it a de due to its form. It was not thatrge and thin, granting it great speed but also fragility. Luckily, that was not a problem due to the young man''s battle style. Every time the young man waved his de, arcs of golden light would emerge from it and sh at immense speed toward the Sword Monster. The Sword Monster was able to shatter most of the arcs of golden light, but some managed to reach its body, leaving deep wounds. "AWWWW!" A cry of rage and pain emerged from the Sword Monster as it charged toward the young man, ready to split this one from the head down. The young man saw the wild charge of the Sword Monster, and his Essence Wave burst to its limit, making a golden light cover his entire body. Instead of moving back, he pushed his focus to its limit and waited. Just as the Sword Monster appeared by his side and hacked down toward his head, he took a single step to the side, using his de to hit the bastard sword''s upper edge and burying it into the ground. The bastard sword nearly vanished into the ground due to its potency, temporarily immobilizing the Sword Monster since these creatures could not let go of their weapons. After that, the young man''s golden light exploded with even greater power and began shing at the Sword Monster with a shocking speed. All the de strikes did not only cut since they also unleashed arcs of golden light, making the wounds extremely deep. The young man''s battle style disyed the reason why calling Essence Cultivators simply magic casters would be a grave mistake. "AWWWW!" One final roar of pain and rage emerged from the Sword Monster as the de and arcs of light cut its body to pieces. A smile appeared on the young man after killing the Sword Monster and seeing the vast amount of dark mist entering his de. Just as he was about to grab the red orb left behind by the monster, a hand touched his shoulder. The young man''s eyes widened when he realized that someone had managed to stand right behind him, and he did not notice it until that person made contact. He immediately made his Essence Wave explode with all its power, shing forward before turning around and sending a barrage of arcs of golden light. Those arcs of golden light were sent in a hurry, but they had great power. Yet, a machete bathed in Blood Lightning shattered all of them with a single movement. "Cain!" "Hello, Antony." The first person that Cain saw inside the dimension was no other than the first soldier to be a Wave Champion among the thousands that reached de Mountain. Cain suspected that dozens, if not hundreds, of people had reached this dimension, but he had not seen anyone before since he advanced too fast. His dy due to his swordy training must have been the reason some of the strongest were catching up to him. Antony put his guard up when he saw Cain. They were in a different dimension, and there was no way tomunicate with the outside world, so the rules and codes of the empire mattered very little at this point. However, he was able to rx when he remembered that shoulder tap and realized that if Cain had wanted to harm him, that machete would have cut his head off. "Temporary alliance?" Antony proposed something that wasmon knowledge for all cultivators across the entire world, especially humans that were known for their greed. Individuals could form a temporary alliance during the search for treasures. It was an unwritten rule that they would look after each other during the search, doing their best to protect the other. However, that would stop the moment they found the treasure, and at that point, they would have to decide how to advance. Cain showed a small smile as he heard that and nodded. Antony showed a battle power at Peak Level 5 and would be of help in the ensuing battles. Now that everything was in order, Antony took the red orb before adopting a meditative position and began cultivating to restore his strength. "Do you have any insight about this ce?" Cain asked while looking around, tactically unleashing his Ego Wave, so Antony would not question his ability to perceive the surroundings. "Although Ie from Noble Family, my father was only a Viscount, so our knowledge about the Copsing Lightning Sector is very limited. However, I noticed that the light wall surrounding this ce was advancing." Cain was a little surprised to hear thest part. The forest was so full of trees, and he had advanced so much that he could no longer see the wall of light. It seemed there was a time limit to reach the forest''s center. "How fast?" "It is hard to tell, but from what I saw, it should reach this ce in around ten days." Learning that his advancing speed was enough to leave the wall of light far behind rxed Cain. That way, he would not have to sacrifice his sword training to avoid being expelled from the dimension. "What about you?" Now it was Antony''s time to ask Cain about his understanding of this ce. "I don''t know much other than it seems to be a natural inheritance since itmunicates to us through feelings instead of actual words. Also, touching the wall of light will take you out of this dimension and back to the real world." Antony was surprised to learn that he could leave this ce by simply touching the wall of light, and when he wondered how Cain managed to figure it out, he looked at the red force field that moved around him. "Our next step should be making our way into the center of the forest, but slowly and focusing on developing our swordy. There must be a reason why the dimension forces us to use the swords at all times." Antony agreed with Cain''s strategy. Simply rushing forward and ignoring their weapon would be a dire mistake. "By the way, before we move forward, I need to ask. How many people have you killed?" Antony was surprised by that question and could see in Cain''s eyes that this one needed an answer. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 6/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Chapter 227 Fight with students 227 Fight with students Antony stared at Cain for a moment before shaking his head. He had taken part in all kinds of missions, including capturing criminals, but never was he forced to take a life. Cain was a little surprised. He found it hard to believe that Antony had reached this far without having to murder someone, but he also saw that this one was telling the truth. "Brat, don''t use yourself as a frame for what ismon." Apex''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, making him release a slight chuckle before sighing. Taking a life had be a very normal thing for him, especially after those months inside the dream of his past life in the awakening of his Alter-Ego. ''Am I bing more like my previous life, insensible to everything?'' Cain did not lose too much time on those thoughts and simply shook his head. "When we meet other people, follow my lead and do not hesitate." Antony''s eyes grew sharp as he understood the meaning behind those words and nodded. They were in a separate dimension full of people seeking to obtain whatever treasure was inside. He was not naive enough to think that everything could be solved with words. Now that was out of the way, and after Antony recovered enough energy, the duo shed toward the center of the forest. Cain and Antony spent the next two weeks going from one battle to another. The duo advanced quickly, but not as fast as they could since they deliberately prolonged certain fights for hours when finding a Sword Monster with a swordy that they could learn from. Right now, Cain and Antony were fighting against a three-meter-tall Sword Monster that held a single longsword between its hands. Despite its massive size, the monster moved its body and waved its sword phenomenally fast. A rain of small arcs of light fell to the Sword Monster, but this one was able to shatter all of them with a single wave of its sword, and without losing momentum, it twisted its body and parried a machete bathed in Blood Lightning that sought to cut its head off. Cain frowned as he saw how the Sword Monster easily pushed him back, and things only grew more dire as this one chased after him. He managed to dodge most of the sword strikes, but some managed to reach him and cut past his armor and into his skin. None of those wounds were deadly or weakened his battle power, but everything could change if he made a single mistake. Cain endured that barrage for thirty seconds, and his eyes grew sharp as a new shower of arcs of light fell from the sky above the Sword Monster. The Sword Monster unleashed a powerful strike that sent Cain flying away before shattering all the arcs of light above its head. That was supposed to be it, but there was a reason why Antony took thirty seconds to unleash that attack. The broken pieces of the arcs of light became sharp needles that shed toward the Sword Monster from all directions at speed this one could not avoid or block. The Sword Monster could only raise its arms to defend its head as the rain of light needles pierced into its body. Unfortunately for the monster, as it did that, Cain appeared right in front of it and hacked with all his strength, severing its right leg off. "AWWWW!" A cry of rage and pain emerged from the Sword Monster after losing its leg and falling to the ground. Now that it could not adopt a battle stance, it took less than three minutes for Cain and Antony to destroy the monster''s head. Great quantities of dark mist emerged from the Sword Monster''s corpse, and both the machete and de unleashed a suctioning power, devouring as much as they could before there was nothing left. Cain picked up the red orb and stored it in his space ring. He and Antony hade to an arrangement that they would divide the orbs equally, and this one was his. The duo moved away from the battlefield, and after finding a ce empty of all enemies, they began to restore their energy. Just as they were ready to move again, Cain''s eyes narrowed as he turned to the south. Antony frowned as he saw that, and the next second, Cain spoke in his mind using Ego Wave. The words he heard surprised him, and the next second, a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he nodded. Cain and Antony rose from the tree branch they were in and began to move to the south, in the opposite direction from the center of the forest. The reason for their movement became clear after a few minutes when two men appeared in their sight. They were members of the student force. By what Antony remembered, both were Level 9 in the outside world. None of them would be a problem for him, a mighty Wave Champion, but things were different in this dimension where everybody''s cultivation had been suppressed. Cain discarded the notion of a diplomatic approach from the beginning as he did not intend to waste his time with scions if there was a better way to find what they knew. Antony saw how Cain suddenly vanished but was not concerned since this was part of the n. His mind became focused as he tightened the grip on his sword, and before the duo could find his presence, he unleashed a barrage of arcs of light. "What!?" "Look out!" The attack took the student by surprise. Both made their Wave Cloak burst at full power before using their skills to defend. A bark armor covered one of the students, making him resemble arge Trent as he raised his bastard sword and used it as a shield to defend his head and vital organs. On the other hand, the second student waved his sword, generating streams of water around his body that deflected some of the arcs of light. Both of them could resist the attack, but there were still deep wounds on their arms and legs since they focused on protecting their heads and upper body. "It is Antony!" "Get him!" Rage and killing intent burst from the eyes of both students as they attacked with all they had the instant they saw Antony on a tree branch. The Astral Cultivator shed at full speed toward Antony, making his armor bulkier. Antony was ready to unleash a barrage of strikes toward the Trent-like student, but he was forced to focus on the jets of water fired in his direction. The Essence Cultivator aimed his sword as if this one was a cannon, concentratingrge amounts of water into the de before firing thin jets of water that could make a hole in a tree. Antony was able to neutralize those jets with his arcs of light. The distraction fulfilled its purpose since the Astral Cultivator was about to jump toward his tree branch. A melee fight with the Trent-like student would not be wise, so Antony jumped out of the branch. In mid-air, he sent a sharp arc of light that cut the branch just as the Astral Cultivatornded on it, making this one fall to the ground as well. The Essence Cultivator intended to fire water jets toward Antony while this one was mid-air, but his partner got in the way and had to attack with much slower streams. Antony saw how the water streams moved around the Astral Cultivator and made their way toward him but did not grow worried as his arcs of light easily destroyed them. The Astral Cultivator focused his Wave on his legs, so the moment he touched the ground, he could sh toward Antony at a shocking speed. Antony had already predicted that but did not move away, and as the bastard sword came his way, he dodged to the side with ease before unleashing a flurry of de cuts that shattered the bark armor. The Astral Cultivator was taken by surprise by the melee attack and was able to push Antony away by waving his bastard sword, but the damage he endured was too much since there was not a part of his body that was not bleeding. "Marlon, help me!" Now that the battle had be too dangerous, the Astral Cultivator shouted for his friend toe by his side so that this one could cover their retreat and they could escape. When no answer came to his plea, an ominous feeling appeared in the Astral Cultivator''s heart, and he turned his eyes away from Antony only to see how a figure bathed in red lightning held Marlon by the neck and suffocated him. "Cain?" An overwhelming fear appeared in the heart of the Astral Cultivator when he realized that one of the worst nightmares of the student force hade for him. "Hmph, where are you looking?" The Astral Cultivator heard a sneer in front of him before a barrage of arcs of lightnded point-nk on his chest. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 7/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld N?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 228 Bloodshed 228 Bloodshed Marlon slowly opened his eyes, and there was a confused expression on his face as he looked around, trying to figure out what just happened. Thest thing he remembered was two red eyes and then losing consciousness due to suffocation. He looked down and saw his hands and legs tied up, but the sword was still in his hands. The rope around Marlon''s hands and legs was made of special flexible steel, so he could not easily break out of it. "Chris!" Marlon shouted when he noticed hisrade was by his side, and fear emerged in his heart when he saw the dozens of deep cuts on this one. Chris turned to the side and stared at Marlon, but a voice interrupted them before he could say a word. "I was getting bored. Now that the two of you are awake, we can start." Marlon and Chris turned to their left and saw Cain walking toward them. They also noticed Antony resting against a tree, but this one seemed to have no interest in them. Antony knew that Cain was more suited to handle this type of situation, so he just watched. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as the power of this Ego Wave burst, and he sent it to the duo''s minds. Chris and Marlon trembled for a second, and their eyes almost lost focus, but they were able to resist. A sh of pain appeared on Cain''s face as the duo managed to resist his hypnosis. He was a 5-Star Elementary Hypnosis Master, and the scions had no overwhelming willpower, so the hypnosis should have worked. Unfortunately for Cain, this dimension weakened his Ego Wave but did not affect people''s mental defenses. "Ahh, I guess we will have to do it the hard way!" Chris could not stop trembling as the shadow Cain cast over his heart was too great, but Marlon was different. "Who do you think you are to tied me! I am the son of Marquess Gdriel!" Marlon was the only son of a Marquess, a mighty Wave King who had pampered him all his life. No matter how great the trouble he got in, his father would always make all go away. That upbringing made Marlon think there was nothing he could not do as long as the victims had a lower background. 21:21 "Untie me now, and I will pardon this..." Marlon could not finish his sentence as Cain grabbed him by the chest and began to strike his face. Cain showed nothing as he punched Marlon repeatedly, breaking the bones on the face of the scion and making it bloody. Even when the scion could no longer breathe due to the broken bones and blood, Cain did not stop. "Stop! You are going to kill him!" Chris finally could not hold on anymore and shouted, but the next second he wished he had kept his mouth shut as Cain turned toward him. Those red eyes and bloody fists terrified him so much he could not stop trembling. Cain took out a green capsule from his space ring and injected it into Marlon''s neck, making the body of the young scion spam before slowly healing. "It will take around ten minutes for him to regain the ability to speak. If you have not answered all my questions by then, I will have to make a lesson out of you so that your friend knows that I am serious." Chris'' eyes widened when he heard that, and the idea he would suffer an even worse punishment than Marlon terrified him. "I will tell you all you want to know!" Cain''s assassination training also included intelligence gathering and phycological torture, so breaking down a couple of scions was a piece of cake. He asked many questions to Chris, and this one could not answer them fast enough. Ultimately, Cain and Antony got all the intel they could possibly need from Chris, and they could not help but frown at what they just learned. Chris and Marlon were part of arger team led by Amos. Unlike Cain, Amos could promise people that followed him great rewards using his background, so he formed a group with twelve powerful cultivators around him. Amos sent the duo to scout the surroundings with the sole purpose of finding other humans. It was clear to Cain that the young master from the Hellzer Family was not interested in a fairpetition and nned to squash it down as soon as possible. Thanks to Chris, Cain learned the name and battle power of all the people in Amos'' group. Once the interrogation was over, the idea of killing the duo crossed Cain''s mind, but he soon shook his head. While killing people he considered evil was extremely easy, he saw himself as a hero and would not go around killing everybody that got in his way. Cain took out the two scions'' swords and their space rings, making them so weak they could not even talk. "If you remain here, the wall of light will eventually send you out. You could try to return to Amos, but there is a 99% chance you will die at the hands of a Sword Monster. Your choice." Cain did not wait to see the expression on the duo''s faces, and he nced toward Antony before both shed out of that ce. Antony''s eyes narrowed as he saw the direction that Cain took was precisely the one that Chris told them Amos'' group was. "Are you nning on fighting them?" Although Antony and Cain worked very well together and disyed great battle power, there was no way they could handle Amos and another ten scions. "We will first perform some reconnaissance. Amos''s group is dangerous, so we must gather more information about them. There is also the task that man gave about searching for other humans, which means that some people we know might be in danger, especially a friend of mine. We will decide how to proceed once we have enough information." Cain did not hide the emotional factor of his decision, but he deployed an objective approach to the problem that was Amos. Antony considered things for a moment before nodding. He would not jump into a suicidal battle just because Cain said so, but he would support this one if the decision made sense. The duo had advanced for less than half an hour when Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he detected three people. One of them was running, and the other two were chasing. The one running was no other than Orin, and the ones chasing her were Carl and Jortar. The young woman disyed superb footwork, dodging all the attacks that came her way, but arge scorched cut on her left leg and right arm hindered her speed. Carl and Jortar showed fierce smiles as they pushed their Astral Wave to their peak, closing the distance toward Orin. Jortar appeared right behind Orin, thanks to the metal pipes on his back, impulsing his body forward. His smile grew vicious as he raised his sword and hacked toward Orin''s back. "?BOOM!" Before Jortar''s arm could descend, a shock wave echoed across the forest, and a red sh propelled toward the trio at a shocking speed. The next thing everybody saw was an arm covered in rock armor holding a long sword flying away. "?AHHHHH!" Jortar unleashed a scream of unbearable pain as a machete just cut off his right arm, and the next second, a sense of nausea and vertigo pushed him to the ground since he no longer held his sword. Carl''s eyes widened as he saw that, and all the fierceness in his heart vanished, reced by an immense fear when he saw two red eyes focusing on him. "Wait!" Carl could not say anything else before Cain shed forward and began to strike. The scion defended himself but was no match for Cain, and in less than ten seconds, the machete severed his right wrist, making a hand and sword fall to the ground. "?AHHH!" Like Jortar, Carl unleashed a scream of pain before the weakness of losing his sword threw him to the ground. Antony appeared on the battlefield once all was over. He had to move as fast as possible, but Cain was faster. Just as the duo turned toward Orin and were about to ask if she needed help to recover, the women spoke. "There is no time to lose. Amos'' team ambushed mine. I escaped under William''smand to find help, but these two followed me." Orin did not lose time, going straight to the point, and the expression on her face made clear the urgency of the matter. N?v(el)B\\jnn Antony frowned when he heard that, and he knew that they needed to act fast. "How do we handle them?" Antony had just finished his question when he saw Cain cut Carl''s head off before shing toward Jortar and doing the same to this one. Current schedule: 7 chapters a week. 1/7 Bonus chapters: Over 400 power stones: 1 extra chapter. Over 800 power stones: 2 extra chapters. Over 1200 power stones: 3 extra chapters. Redsunworld Creator''s Thought The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 229 Turning the tables Chapter 229 Turning the tables Cain did not wait for a second or exin his ruthless behavior to the duo as he stored the space rings of Carl and Jortar before picking Orin and putting the women on his back. "Where?" Orin was a little taken aback by the sudden bloodshed. Still, as someone who took the Assassination Military Specialization, she could focus her mind in a second. "Six o''clock. Nine thousand meters!" Cain''s Blood Lightning burst with power as he shed in that direction. Antony did not remain behind, using his Light Armor to follow the duo. --- "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Elemental explosions and shock waves echoed across the forest as nine young men with university marks fought against a group of six soldiers. Two long swords shed repeatedly in the center of the battlefield, one bathed in explosive mes and the other in cold energy. Amos and William fought with all they had, using every ounce of energy and strength in their bodies to finish the other. There was no need to hide the killing intent in their hearts since things had escted beyond the point they could achieve a peaceful oue. Although the battle between Amos and William was the mightiest, the ones around them were just as spectacr, especially one of two young men fighting with golden and red fire. Levi used all his power to face Josef, the second-strongest student from Hellzer University. Neither could ovee the other, and just like Amos and William, their battle reached an impasse. The problem for the soldiers was that while they did not fall behind in terms of average individual power, the scions had the numerical advantage. The wounds on the soldiers keep growing, and it will only be a matter of time before they would crumble. "Ahhh!" William''s eyes narrowed when he heard that scream and saw that one of the soldiers was losing a hand and pulling back to not lose his life as well. "Bastard! You will pay dearly for this crime once we leave the dimension!" "What are you talking about? All of you perished under the hands of the Sword Monsters. That is what we saw and what everybody in the empire will believe." Amos mocked William as he wielded his sword with more and more strength, unleashing powerful sts of mes with each impact. The young man from the Hellzer Family knew very well what would happen if the Imperial Lightning Fort learned about his ambush of soldiers, which is why he would not leave anyone alive. "You should have handed over that boy. Maybe then you could have kept your life." @@novelbin@@ "Hmph, if I were to hand over myrades just because some piece of shit says so, then I will be no better than the pigs of the Hellzer Family." William''s eyes glowed with silver light for a second as he uttered those words. He was the kind of man that would follow his heart and would rather die with his head high than live on his knees. Amos'' face twisted with fury when he heard how William dared to refer to members of the Hellzer Family as pigs. "You lowly soldier. How dare you speak of the great Hellzer Family like that. I will burn your filthy tongue!" Amos'' reaction might seem a little over the top for someone so calm as him, but he faced a powerful indoctrination since birth, making the Hellzer Family''s honor something no one could challenge. William''s sword pierced forward, but Amos pushed forward instead of moving back, allowing the de to prate his shoulder and granting him the chance to strike his enemy in the chest. William clenched his teeth as he redirected as much of his Astral Wave as he could into his chest before Amos'' sword shed with it, leaving a deep cut and triggering an explosion that sent him flying away. "?BOOM!" The rest of the soldiers noticed that, but they could barely keep the students at bay, much less render someone else assistance, so there was nothing they could do to help William. Amos showed a fierce smile as he saw William sh against arge tree with a deep wound on the chest. Thatst attack was risky but allowed him tond a decisive blow, and now it was time to end the battle. Although he could no longer use his right arm due to the hole in his shoulder and the ice energy freezing his muscles, his mastery over the sword was high enough to wield it with his left arm. "Die." Amos shed forward, ready to give William the final blow, taking advantage of this one being too weak to fight back. "?Boom!" However, just as he was midway, a shock wave echoed across the forest, and Amos'' eyes widened as his instincts began to scream danger. The scion of the Hellzer Family''s instincts and battle awareness was much better than those of Jortar, and he was able to twist his body and put his sword in the path of the machete aiming at his neck. "?BOOM!" A massive st of fire and lightning was triggered by the sh of the machete and sword, and it was Amos'' time to be sent flying away since the power behind the machete was too much for him to handle with that feeble defense. Cain''s figure became visible the next second, and the red force field overflowed the battlefield the next second, pressuring all the students'' minds. His eyes grew sharp as he analyzed the battlefield and the state of the soldiers and students. "Orin, go guard William. Antony, help the Lumir and the others." Antony and Orin reached the battlefield the next second, and the duo nodded toward Cain before shing to their respective targets. Cain was enough to make things hard for the students, but now that Antony and Orin were also present, their numerical advantage was almost gone. Amos was able to rise from the ground very fast, and rage appeared in his heart as he saw Cain and the other two reaching the battlefield just as he was ready to exterminate all the soldiers. That feeling grew stronger when he noticed how Cain signaled for Orin and Antony to help the other as if he was not a threat. However, Amos did not allow that emotion to get the best of him, and he took a deep breath and calmed his heart. Cain noticed the change in Amos, and the sense of danger he felt from the scion grew. Those who lost themselves in their rage were easy to ovee, and those who managed to remain calm in a precarious situation were the truly dangerous ones. "What happened with Jortar and Carl?" Amos had sent the duo after Orin after wounding the girl, and they should have been more than powerful enough to handle her. Yet, Orin appeared with Cain, so the oue of those two could not have been good. "The same thing that will happen to you." Cain''s voice was cold as the Blood Lightning burst with power, and he calmly walked forward. "Hmph, you are underestimating me!" Powerful mes covered Amos'' body, burning the cold energy that froze the muscles on his right shoulder, allowing him to hold his sword with both hands. "I estimate you just fine." Cain''s voice had not faded when he shed toward Amos and began hacking with his machete. Amos was able to follow those attacks with his eyes as he had regained a lot of his previous strength, but Cain''s swordy beastly surpassed him. That, plus the wounds on his body, pushed him into a defensive stance he could not escape. The situation around the battlefield took arge turn since Antony''s power helped the soldiers surpass the students by a slight margin. Levi rxed now that the rest of the soldiers were fine and could focus on Josef, slowly pushing back this one with his golden mes. Amos saw that, but there was nothing he could do. He could barely move as Cain kept him pinned into a specific part of the battlefield. After a few minutes, wounds started to appear on the students as Antony''s attacks were too fast and unpredictable for them, and even Josef was beginning to lose ground against Levi. "Pull back!" Amos issued that order, wanting to leave this battlefield before they suffered wounds that could diminish their battle power. He was ready to use all his power to push Cain away since he believed this one would cling to him, but things did not go that way. As soon as Amos attempted to escape, Cain pulled back, leaving him alone. Confusion briefly filled the scion''s mind, but then he understood Cain''s goal. "Look out!" Josef heard Amos'' voice, but he could not lose focus as Levi attacked with a nearly suicidal might once he attempted to move away, not allowing his mind to concentrate on anything else. That was a grave mistake since Josef only perceived the machete cutting his neck when it was toote. Redsunworld Suy ngh? c?a ng??i t?o Chapter 230 Merciless (I) Chapter 230 Merciless (I) Josef''s eyes were full of disbelief as his mind failed to process when the machete separated his head from the rest of his body. Cain grabbed the head mid-air and used his machete to pierce the corpse, using the Blood Refinement Art to devour the blood inside as he stared at Amos and the other students. "None of you will be leaving." A red force field full of killing intent rushed toward the students and covered them. Since the other party attacked them and attempted to take their life, there was no reason why he would let them escape. Although Cain''s brutality and ughter intent surprised the soldiers, since things escted to this point, with Joseft already dead, it was better to go all the way. Amos'' clenched his teeth when he saw that, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes when he saw how the rest of the students behaved. If they were ready to fight with their life on the line, they would have a chance, but Josef''s horrific death already broke their fighting spirit. There was no way Amos would fight to the death, and he was ready to escape, leaving the rest of the students that saw him as a leader to their luck. However, before Amos or Cain could make a move, a voice emerged from the trees. "Such merciless and killing intent. You really do honor your military code name, Saint of Killers. However, I can not let you kill so many promising stars from the empire." A man emerged from the trees and was not alone since a young woman was beside him. Cain''s face did not change because he had already perceived that man''s presence thanks to his [Basic Scan Force Field]. The one who spoke was no other than Dominic, and he was not alone since Cinthy was by his side. The power dynamic changed once again. Cinthy''s power was so little no one bothered with her, but Dominic''s aura was powerful and sharp, not to mention that the young man''s mastery over the sword should be the greatest of everybody present. @@novelbin@@ Cain focused on the sword in Dominic''s right hand, and it was a bastard sword, very simr to the one the scion used in the real world. His mastery over the machete was good, but he was not so arrogant as to think he could surpass the swordy of someone that dedicated his life to it. Only after thoroughly analyzing Dominic did Cain''s eyes turn toward the young woman, and he could see fear in her eyes. The fact she was here was already strange since she was a Level 3 Wave Warrior and not a very talented one. Dominic showed a small smile as he saw Cain focus on Cinthy, and then he put his hand over the woman''s shoulder, making her tremble. "I learned there that you were fond of this little girl, and it seems I was not wrong." Dominic walked to the ground of students with Cinthy by his side, and on the way, he nced at Amos before positioning himself at the lead. A sh of rage appeared in Amos'' eyes when he saw Dominic''s behavior. There was no doubt in his heart that the man saw the battle but only chose to intervene now that his position as leader was no longer stable. Although the Hellzer''s scion would have wanted to push Dominic in the face, he knew how to control his emotions, and no matter how much he hated it, they needed this one to face the catastrophic threat that was Cain. Dominic knew there was nothing Amos could do right now and no longer focused on this one since there was much greater prey in front of him. He did not underestimate Cain, and that was why he returned to the encampment for Cinthy instead of immediately shing toward the portal. The scion took a deep breath, and the focus on his eyes reached its limit as he prepared for a crucial sh of schemes. "The goal of this dimension is not to kill each other but those monsters, so I don''t see why we should keep fighting like this." Dominic spoke calmly, but that did not stop him from tightening his grip around Cinthy''s shoulder, making an expression of pain appear on her face. Cain''s eyes grew colder as the red light burst with even greater power. His face was emotionless, but the red force field covering the battlefield began to express a monstrous killing intent. "Now that you are no longer hiding, the risk-reward ratio of killing all of you is no longer worth it. You can leave, but she must remain with me." Aplicated expression appeared on Cinthy''s face when she heard Cain''s words. There was a mixture of happiness and remorse. Antony, William, Orin, and other soldiers turned toward Cain when they heard that. It was clear by Dominic''s words and Cain''s behavior that the young woman was not just a simple acquaintance. Dominic''s smile grew wider as he heard that. His grip on Cinthy''s shoulder grew stronger. "Crack." Students and soldiers could hear bone-cracking sounds emerging from Cinthy''s shoulders due to the pressure of Dominic''s grip. "You really care about her? Did she not make a fool out of you and spent thest year you two were together bullying you and fooling around with other men?" The soldiers and students were surprised to hear that, but Cain''s face did not change and continued showing no emotion. Dominic''s eyes narrowed as he could not see Cain''s mind or predict anything of this one, so he went even further with his words. "You know, we originally had ns to trick you. This girl was more than ready to y with you, following mymands, but after seeing you in battle, I understood that such a cliche like that would never work on someone like you. She begged me to give her a chance to prove herself, saying that you would fall so madly in love that there would be nothing she could not make you do. Of course, I did not believe it and threw her away with the other cultivation furnaces." A sense of utter shock affected the mind of everybody hearing Domonic''s words, along with a numbing confusion. If he wanted to use Cinthy as a hostage, there was no sense in revealing the young woman''s nefarious and shameless behavior. However, Cain''s reaction shook them even more. "I figure that you had something like that nned the moment I saw her for the first time among the students. Nevertheless, my nature is that of a hero, and I will not save those I can, even if they are not worth it." Cinthy''s eyes began tearing as their guilt, shame, and remorse grew stronger after hearing those words. The reaction of the student was different, with many of them sneering. Some even began to whisper, wondering how they were so afraid of a man with such a weak mentality. The soldiers did not dare to show such contempt, but it was clear they were not fond of that sort of behavior in a leader. Still, since it did not cost them anything, none would interfere with Cain''s saving Cinthy. However, things would never be so easy with Dominic taking the lead. "I don''t intend to fight since that would not be counterproductive, but just handing her over because you say so doesn''t seem fine. You took the life of a valuable member of our group, so you must pay for it. Hand over all your red orbs and return Josef''s space ring." Cain''s eyes grew colder, and its red light shone with a ferocious might, indicating just how much rage was in his heart right now. Still, he deposited his red orbs in Josef''s space ring and walked forward. "Don''t move!" Dominic did not allow Cain to take more than a single step before shouting, raising his sword. He would not let such a powerful Astral Cultivator get in striking distance. Cain''s eyes narrowed, but he did not challenge Dominic''s words. "What you propose?" "There is a distance of two hundred meters between us. Leave your sword fifty meters ahead, and then I will release Cinthy. You will throw the space ring to me when she reaches the sword. If you don''t do it, I will send a barrage of wind des forward, killing her." Cain stared at Dominic for a moment and did not ept immediately, but once the scion began to tighten the grip on Cinthy''s shoulder, he sighed before nodding. Antony and the rest of the soldiers frowned when they saw that. Letting go of his sword would leave Cain vulnerable, jeopardizing all their lives. Unfortunately for the soldiers, it did not seem that Cain could see the dangers, and he lunged his machete, making itnd fifty meters ahead. Immediately, his face grew pale, and it seemed there was little to no strength left in his body. Dominic focused on Cain for a few seconds before finally letting go of Cinthy. The moment she was free, the young woman immediately walked forward, and the only reason she did not run seemed to be her fear of Dominic. Once Cinthy reached the machete buried in the ground, Cain used what little strength was in his body to throw the space ring toward Dominic. Cinthy began to walk faster and faster past that point, and in thest ten meters, she almost jumped toward Cain,nding on the chest of this one. The instant Cinthy reached Cain''s embrace a poisonous greed reced the fear in her eyes and a small sword in the form of a dagger emerged from her sleeve. Blood painted the ground the next second. Chapter 231 : Merciless (II) Cain''s blood tainted the ground beneath his feet, and a sense of utter shock filled the hearts of all the soldiers and students as the Ego Wave vanished from the battlefield. Even in his weakened state, Cain could use his Free Ego, but the wound appeared so dire that he could not even think. That scene paralyzed everybody except for the one that orchestrated the entire thing. Dominic showed a vicious smile as he saw the blood falling into the ground. For thest few months, he had been training Cinthy in the art of deception and even went to the extreme of obtaining a robe that could hide things from Ego Wave. Everything the scion did was calcted considering every possible factor. He even tricked the students by his side, all to allow Cinthy close enough tond a lethal blow to Cain. The fact that losing your sword in this dimension left you in an extremely weakened state was just what Dominic needed. Dominic was ready to carry on with the next phase of his n, taking advantage of the soldiers'' shock to kill everybody and take control of the student force, when a voice echoed. "Is this the best you have?" That voice was so cold that it made Dominic, the scions, and even the soldiers tremble. It had no rage or anger, the opposite. There was ack of emotion in it, so disturbing that the willpower of those youths present could not tolerate it. "So disappointing." If the others were shocked, one could not even imagine the terror flooding Cinthy''s heart as she saw two red eyes focusing on her.@@novelbin@@ Cinthy''s body began to tremble, and her instincts screamed for her to run away, but she could not move due to the hand holding her short sword. The blood on the ground was indeed Cain''s, but it was not due to the sword piercing his chest but him holding the de with his right hand. "Please, forgive..." Cinthy was not able to finish her sentence as Cain pushed her sword away, leaving her so weak she could do nothing to stop the young man from grabbing her by the neck and raising her into the air. The turn of events made it hard for students and soldiers to react, not knowing what to do, but Dominic regained focus very fast. Dominic did not understand how Cain saw behind his scheme or why this one could retain that much power despite losing the machete, but none of that mattered right now. He needed to act fast and attack before Cain retrieved the weapon. The scion''s Essence Wave charged the bastard sword, and he was ready to send a mighty de wind when Cain held Cinthy''s body between them. "If you attack, she will die first." Dominic couldn''t care less about Cinthy now that the woman was no longer of use, but Cain had yet to finish speaking. "Of course, if you don''t value the life of the people following yourmands, go ahead and kill her." The bastard sword had already risen into the air when Dominic heard that and noticed the change in the students behind him. Even if he did not care about Cinthy, how the rest of the scions looked at him was very important for his future. Those seconds of hesitation were enough for Antony and Levi to sh forward, positioning themselves right next to Cain. Now even if Dominic did attack, the duo would manage to block it. Dominic''s eyes burned with rage, but there was no point in carrying on with his attack now, so he lowered his sword before looking at Cain. "How did you know? He had worked on that scheme for over half a year, spending countless hours training Cinthy and learning about Cain''s psychological profile, but all that effort went to waste. He can''t understand how Cain''s realized Cinthy''s true intentions. Soldiers and students turned toward Cain as both sides were full of curiosity. Cain moved Cinthy to the side, just enough to look Dominic in the eyes. "People can change, evolve, be better versions of themselves. We can rise above our nature, and our past does not define our future. However, this woman does not change. She keeps falling into deprivation and can not hide the desire in her heart. I must admit that you trained her very well, but while there was fear in her eyes, she could not hide her greed whenever she saw me." Dominic frowned when he heard that. He did not doubt that Cain''s perception picked up Cinthy''s greed, but that was too little to figure out everything. "That greed could have been due to her learning about your current background and wanting it for herself by bing your partner." Cain showed a small smile before shaking his head. "She did not see me as a partner but as a sheep ready for the ughterhouse. She is a good actress, but humans are too weak regarding greed." Dominic could only sight as he heard that. Nothing that he said right now could change the fact his n failed. "I assume you want your precious pawn back. If that is the case, hand over Josef''s space ring along with all the red orbs you have." The tables had turned, and now the one demanding a ransom for Cinthy was Cain. Cinthy could not breathe, much less talk due to the strength of Cain''s grip around her neck, so she could only send a pleading gaze in Dominic''s direction so this one would save her. Dominic clenched his fists as he saw how things were developing. He would have let the woman die if there were no one else, but that was not the case. "I can return Josef''s space ring, but I will not hand over my red orbs. I value the life of all the people following mymands, but everything depends on how useful they are to me. She is now nothing more than a hindrance, but I am willing to pay for her return due to her past service." Those words were hard for Cinthy but were what the rest of the students wanted to hear. For scions from powerful Noble Families, friendship might have value, but the true core of a rtionship was usefulness. Cain tightened his grip over Cinthy''s neck after hearing Dominic''s refusal, but seeing that this one did not seem inclined to reconsider, he epted the deal. "Throw the ring to me. Once I have it, I will let her go." "How do I know you will do it?" "You don''t care about her, and neither do I. And unlike you, I am someone that keeps his word." Dominic frowned as he did not like to depend on the good faith of other people during a deal, but Cain''s words were true. He did not care about Cinthy; if this one were to kill her after getting the ring, it would not affect him. After some consideration, the scion threw Josef''s ring toward Cain, and this one caught it with his free hand. "Since I have the space ring, I will keep my word and send her to you." She was about to be free, but for a reason that escaped herprehension, Cinthy began to tremble, and her instincts could not stop screaming. Under everybody''s gaze, Cain tossed Cinthy in the air before channeling every iota of Astral Wave and Blood Energy into his right fist. "Here you have her!" Cain shouted as he punched Cinthy in her sternum, shattering all the bones in her ribcage and sending her flying toward Dominic. That level of cruelty and mercilessness in that attack was something students and soldiers had never seen before. Cain did it in a way that she would suffer but would not end her life. "?AHHHH!" A scream of utter agony emerged from Cinthy''s mouth, along with a mouthful of blood and pieces of her internal organs. Dominic was taken aback by that brutality, so he only reacted once Cinthy''s body was less than ten meters away. The woman''s body blocked his view, but he felt a powerful force rushing at him. He waved his bastard sword, generating a gale that forcefully sent Cinthy flying to the left, and then he saw how Cain was about to reach him. Cain had used Cinthy''s body to cover his movements. The machete was already on his hands, and a massive amount of Astral Wave and Blood Lightning covered it. Dominic buried his bastard sword on the ground, generating a wall of sharp wind des in front of him. Those wind des could cut steel, but Cain''s eyes showed no hesitation, and he drove forward, making dozens of deep cuts appear all over his body, but also allowing him to hack with monstrous strength toward Dominic. Dominic raised his bastard sword from the ground and used it as a shield, but Cain''s strength surpassed his by arge margin. The machete pushed the bastard sword down, burying itself on the scion''s shoulder and destroying the sternum. The pain was immense, but Dominic knew he could not let it ovee him. He clenched his teeth and focused his Essence Wave on his left palm before touching Cain''s chest. Cain''s eyes widened as a powerful air cannon burst directly into his chest, pushing him away. Dominic felt how the machete seared his muscles and bones on the way out, but he ignored the pain before turning around and shing away. Cain was not just going to let the scion flee, and the instant his feet touched the ground, his Astral Wave burst at full power before chasing after this one. He left two simple words for the rest of the soldiers. "Kill everybody!" Chapter 232 : Advance to Level 8 "Kill everybody!" Those words carried a sense of brutality and decisiveness that affected all those who heard them, although in different ways. The students felt an overwhelming fear while a ughter intent flooded the soldiers'' hearts and minds. Not even a second went by before Levi and Orin shed toward the students, full of killing intent, and it did not take long for the others to follow along. Now that Cain was gone, chasing after Dominic, the student force''s overall power was not inferior to that of the soldiers, but their fighting spirit was gone, and the only thing on their minds was to escape. It was not hard to figure out how a battle between a group full of killing intent and courage against one that saw no chance of victory would go. The fight did notst more than ten minutes; in that window of time, four students perished, and the rest managed to escape with grave wounds. Antony and the rest were taking care of the students'' Wave Artifacts and space ring when they saw Cain returning. There was no need to ask how the battle went since they saw him holding Dominic''s severed right arm. The scion must have managed to run away, but not without suffering severe wounds and losing one of his limbs. Although regenerating an arm would not be that difficult for someone with Dominic''s resources, they were in a secret dimension with no connection to the outside world, so they doubted he would manage to fix it. All the soldiers adopted respectful stances the moment they saw Cain and allowed him to take whatever he might want from the spoils of the battle against the students. It was their power and help that saved their life, but even more important, his scheming and ruthless mind drew awe and terror into their souls. Cain was not humble and took a good portion of the red orbs and some wave crystals. He had no interest in the Wave Artifacts, drugs, or anything else that the students left since he had better things. After that, the soldiers saw how Cain buried his machete in the soldiers'' corpses, draining the blood out of these ones in order to restore his Blood Energy and vitality. Although Dominic was wounded during the chase, the scion was still very powerful and skillful with the sword, so Cain did receive some injuries and depleted most of his energy pool. The dimension might be weakening all those youths'' bodies, but it did not truly diminish their vitality, so Cain felt a rush of blood essence through his body that equaled that of Wave Champion Beast. The soldiers saw all that but did not say a word and waited silently. Instinctively they saw Cain as their leader and were waiting for his instructions on how to advance. Cain did not take long to recover most of his energy, and his body was at full vitality after devouring all the blood in those corpses. He noticed how the soldiers were looking at him. Just as he was about to give them instructions, his eyes narrowed, and he saw one student alive on the battlefield. Antony almost trembled when Cain''s red eyes focused on him. He immediately understood the reason for that gaze. A dying young woman covered in blood was not far away from them. Cinthy''s condition was critical, and it was only a matter of time before she perished. Most of the bones on her body were shattered, puncturing her internal organs, making thesest few moments of life torture. Antony and the other soldiers did not end her life, not so they could see her suffer, but because they did not know what Cain wanted to do with it and did not dare to assume in his name. "I did not know how to proceed." Cain only shook his head before walking toward the woman and then bending his knees so he could watch her closely. "Help... me." It took all of Cinthy''s body to utter those two words as she drowned in her own blood. Cain looked at her, but there was nothing in his eyes. He felt no rage, pity, or anything else for Cinthy. Actually, after the awakening of his Alter-Ego, all those previous grievances faded from his mind. The only reason his attack on Cinthy was so cruel was to inspire fear in the student and make things easier for his side. The red light in Cain''s eyes faded since there was no need to use his willpower to improve his mental state for what he was about to do next. Cain''s palm tapped on the center of Cinthy''s skull, and her eyes trembled before the light in them faded. There was no external damage, but that simple tap generated a massive brain trauma that ended the woman''s life. "I am not cruel for the sake of cruelty. I told you to kill everybody, not to let them agonize in pain during thest few minutes of their life." The soldiers adopted incredibly solemn expressions when they heard those words. Blind cruelty and savagery were not strengths but a sign of someone that could not control his emotions. "Bury the corpses." Cain gave thatmand to Antony before signaling the rest to way for him as he vanished into the forest. Antony did not master the Law of Earth, but for someone with his training and cultivation, it was very easy to use his Essence Wave and control the ground to make amon pit. Cain returned in half an hour and then used his Ego Wave to send an image into the mind of everybody present. The soldiers saw a map of the forest, with them at the center and several red points around them. "Remaining in arge group is counterproductive since the Sword Monsters do not form packs, and the students are no longer a real threat. We should divide into teams of two and spread out, hitting different targets but still being close enough so we can ask for help in case something unexpected were to happen." All the soldiers that managed to reach this deep into the forest were very talented and skilled, so the idea of dividing into teams of two so they could face the Swords Monsters on their own was not something that scared them. Cain let them pair up ording to their affinity before giving everybody a direction they should follow. "Are there any questions?" Levi considered things for a moment before raising his hands. "I have one, but it is unrted to battle formation and strategy." Cain nced at Levi and could figure out what this one wanted to ask. It was something all soldiers wanted to know but were too afraid to ask in case they offended him. Antony, William, Lurin, Levi, Orin, and the others could not prevent their minds from wondering how he overcame the dimension''s weakening force after losing his machete. Cain stared at the soldiers for a moment before nodding and making his red force field manifest around his body. "This dimension weakens us by affecting the vibrational frequency of our bodies and Waves." That piece of information alone was impressive, and they guessed that Cain was able toe to that conclusion thanks to his Ego Wave. Still, that did not exin how he was able to counter it. Cain then raised his index finger, and this one transformed into a blood gem and unleashed a small vibrational force.@@novelbin@@ "Thanks to my training, I have knowledge of vibrational powers. Although somewhat shallow, it was high enough to allow me to learn the vibrational frequency that my machete uses to counter that of this dimension. Then my Ego Wave forced my cell to replicate my machete''s vibrational frequency, allowing me to use part of my power after losing the weapon." There was awe in the soldiers'' eyes as they understood a little of just how amazing the Ego Wave of someone at Mind Over Body was, but they were also disappointed since none of them could do something like that. After that, there were no more questions, and everybody moved out. Cain remained with Antony as their battle style covered the weak points of the other and had already developed excellent teamwork. Around a week after the sh with Dominic and Amos'' group, Cain felt a change in his body. The weakening force made it hard to discern the advance of his cultivation, but the [A.I. Chip Module] took care of that. The duo had finished taking care of a powerful Sword Monster and moved to a safe location before Cain adopted a meditative position on a branch and unleashed his Ego Wave. "My Ego Wave will cover an arena of two hundred meters around us. Stay one hundred meters in front of me, so you can stop anyone froming near." Antony heard that and then saw the red force field soon be invisible. He understood that Cain was about to advance to Level 8. Chapter 233 : To the second stage Antony understood that Cain wanted him to be one hundred meters away to act as a shield against any intruder and keep a safe distance between them. The Essence Cultivator did not feel anything wrong about that. After all, they have known each other for less than a year. Cain saw Antony adopting a solemn attitude before shing forward, remaining precisely one hundred meters away from him. He then put his back against the tree''s trunk and waved his hands, taking out a pile of red orbs and a medium-quality wave crystal. A sense ofplete focus appeared in Cain''s mind, and he emptied his mind of everything as he carried on with his advancement.@@novelbin@@ The Astral Wave inside his body burst with power as his meridians grew, finishing their new circtory system that connected the outside world directly to the Rebirth Heart. From now on, his skin would act as a natural filter, taking the Life Wave from the surroundings and sending it straight into his Sacred Organ for transformation. A system like that meant a massive increase in his stamina and cultivation speed. At this point, Cain felt a weird sensation and knew he could induce a qualitative change in his Astral Wave if he wanted, which would provoke an evolution of his body''s constitution. Since he reached the peak of Level 7, Cain could evolve into a Wave Champion if he so desired, but there was no way he would take that path. Not only would that path be worthless in this dimension, but it would waste a lot of his potential and practically sever his journey to Wave King. Level 8 and Level 9 were special cultivation levels. Their goal was to improve the cultivation foundation, fix any ws that could have remained during their journey through Levels 1 to 7, and increase their mental capabilities. In detail, Level 8 made the cultivator generate an entirely new set of meridians that would rise from the Rebirth Heart and reach the only organ that had yet to be altered by the Astral Wave, the brain. It was an extremely delicate process since the brain was the home of the soul dimension that contained the essence of your soul and your Ego Eternal Matrix that embodied your personality. If the cultivator had done everything right, the meridians would nurture the brain cell with a refined Astral Wave, tranting into a higher speed of thought and reflexes, along with improvedputational skills and cognitive abilities. Cain''s focus reached its limit as he divided his mind into two essential tasks. He used the Astral Wave burst to induce a potent marrow washing and carefully spread his meridians across his brain. Filth emerged from Cain''s pores as the meridians reached the outeryer of the brain known as the cerebral cortex. As soon as the meridian prated into the cortex, Cain felt a boost in his cognitive abilities. His perception, memory, attention,nguage, and decision-making all suffered a massive improvement. After around half an hour, the burst of Astral Wave finally calmed down, and the expansion of the meridians across the cerebral cortex stopped its growth. Cain opened his eyes, and a sense of awe filled his heart when he saw the way in which his brain could now handle the sensory information. That was not all since the initiation of voluntary motor movements also improved, meaning the dy between tough and actions diminished significantly. Cain''s mental abilities were already impressive due to the power of his Ego Wave, but now they have reached the level where they could keep up with those of a Peak Wave Champion. Of course, that did not mean that Cain could fight against a Peak Wave Champion. No matter how fast his brain could process the information, if his body could not keep up with it. ''I am at the early stage of Level 8. Nextes the expansion of my meridians to the corpus callosum, thmus, and hypothmus for the end.'' Cain smiled as he felt the power of his body and mind, but the next second he almost puked due to the disgusting smell that his improved sense of smell picked up. He immediately waved his hand, burning all the filth covering his body. Only then did he rx and send a familiarmand to the Absolute Life Form System. ''System, scan me.'' The system''s voice appeared the next second as this one carried on with themand faithfully. [Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 8 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: High Tier 6 (High Tier 6) --- Stats: Strength: 7.9-->9.6 Agility: 6.0-->7.7 Vitality: 9.9-->12.4 Wave: 5.9-->7.7 Blood Energy: 9.4-->11.4 --- Marrow washing: 92%pletion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 17.2%] Cain was ecstatic by the burst of strength that carried his advance to Level 8 and even more when he saw the marrow washing percentage. Every time it was harder to extract the filth and pollution from his marrow since there was less of it and it was harder to reach, so obtaining a 4%, just like he did during his breakthrough to Level 7, was actually a great aplishment. Cain also noticed the qualitative improvement of his Astral Wave, which was definitely due to the red orbs he kept consuming day and night, refining and cleansing his energy pool. The improvement of the Wave Virus'' effect was simply due to Cain''s growth as a Grand Gic Coder. Their Wave Talent stayed the same because it would take much more than that to rise to Tier 7. Of all the stats, the one that mattered to Cain the most after his marrow-washing percentage was his vitality. It had already ovee the boundaries of Wave Warrior and reached the realm of Wave Champion, which was very important for the evolution of his Asura Form. Cain stood up with a smile, but he immediately frowned. While he could feel there was more strength in his body, the dimension''s weakening force did not allow him to use any of that. The only way he could deploy the full power of his current cultivation would be if his machetepletely nullified the force affecting his vibrational frequency. However, that would take simply too much time. Antony noticed that Cain had finished his breakthrough and walked toward him as they discussed what to do next. They were close enough to the center of the forest to catch a glimpse of the pir of light in it. "My Astral Wave is nearly fully tempered, and I can no longer improve my swordy with the Sword Monsters. There is no point in remaining longer in this forest. What about you?" For obvious reasons, Cain''s energy pool was smaller than Antony''s, so it took less time for him to refine his Wave entirely. "The red orbs have tempered around ny percent of my Essence Wave. As for my swordy, there is also little room for improvement fighting against the monsters in this forest." Cain considered everything, and after a few moments, he devised a path for the two of them. "Let''s keep moving to the pir of light. If you have yet to fully temper your Wave by the time we reach there, I will guard you for five days." There was still a lot of time before the wall of light reached them, and Cain was sure this was not a test of speed, but still, he did not want to remain in the forest when there was no reason for it. Antony showed a smile and nodded. Cain''s path was very good, and he was more than happy to take it. With that over, Cain and Antony began to move forward. The Essence Wave Cultivator spent every moment with the red orbs, and since the energy of this one was so calm, he could even use it while running. They met several Swords Monsters in their path, some of them really strong, but that was only due to their cultivation, not the swordy. The duo did not waste too much time with them, killing them as fast as possible before continuing. After a week, the duo finally reached the majestic pir of light. It had a radius of over two hundred meters and rose so far into the sky that it seemed capable of reaching the peak of this dimension. Antony had yet to fully temper his Essence Wave and did not want to advance to the next stage without doing it. Cain kept his word and guarded this one for five days. Cain and Antony were not the only ones that reached the pir of light, but everybody stood at a safe distance from the others as they did the final refinement of their Wave. Luckily for the Essence Cultivator, he only needed three days to refine his energy pool, giving him the confidence to handle any threat on the other side of the pir of light. Cain nodded toward Antony once this one finished training and walked forward, putting a hand over the pir of light. Chapter 234 : Severing Domain The instant Cain touched the pir of light, his body fused into this one, and he rose into the sky before vanishing from the forest. Many people saw that and feeling more confident, they also advanced to the pir. Cain''s mind went nk after touching the pir, and the only thing he felt was moving from one ce to another at a simply overwhelming speed. When his sight returned, and he saw his surroundings, a sense of overwhelming danger assaulted him. The reason for that was the hundreds of Sword Monsters surrounding him from all directions. His first thought was to unleash every iota of Astral Wave and Blood Energy from his body to face those monsters, but to his shock, he could not do it.@@novelbin@@ There were hundreds of monsters around him the second he reached the second stage, and he could not use his energy pool. How was he supposed to fight all of them? Luckily, while the Sword Monsters'' eyes were full of ughter intent and it was clear they wanted nothing more than to lunge toward Cain and reap him to pieces, it seemed that they could not move. Learning that the dimension paralyzed the Sword Monster calmed Cain, and he was able to analyze things with a cold mind. He first realized that he had a small crystal in the center of his forehead, but he had no idea what its use was. Then he focused on the monsters'' power, and they were all at Level 6. It seemed that this dimension generated enemies ording to his cultivation. The higher his level, the stronger the enemies would have been. Also, while he could not use his Astral Wave or Blood Energy right now, a weakening force was no longer diminishing his cultivation. He was sure that once the trial began, he would be able to use the full power of his cultivation to face the Sword Monsters. Just like when he entered the Forest Dimension and felt an intent in his mind telling him to reach the pir of light, there was also a new intent here trying tomunicate the essence of this trial. Although it took a little time for Cain to fully understand it, it was clear in the end. The intent wanted to seal some of his senses. As for how many, that was up to Cain to decide. The more senses he lost before the battle started, the greater the reward would be in the end. The number of Sword Monsters was near endless, and Cain just had to keep killing until no more energy was left in his body. Then he would need to touch the crystal in his forehead to advance to the third stage. Having understood the essence of the trial, Cain had to decide which of his senses he would have to give up. Although someone like him could use his Ego Wave to rece all of them, he was sure that the dimension already thought of that and would not let him use his red force field. Luckily, he had a power that not even the dimension seemed capable of suppressing or even detecting, the Absolute Life Form System. Right now, Cain could not use his Free Ego, but nothing was hindering the power of his [Basic Scan Force Field]. ''System, generate a three-dimensional hologram of the battlefield in my mind.'' [Task assigned. ... Taskpleted.] Cain closed his eyes, and he could see a picture of the battlefield with every monster around him. It was not as good as relying on his sight, but it would not hinder his battle power and allow him to sever his senses without a problem. Once he handled that, Cain focused on the other aspect of this trial, stamina. He needed to kill as many of the Sword Monsters before rising to the next stage, and for that, he needed to find a way to kill them using the least amount of energy possible. The machete was still in his hand, and he knew he could not let go of it even if the weakening force of the Forest Dimension was no longer active. Luckily, nothing urged him to start this fight, so he had time. Now it was time to use [Basic Virtual Simtion], so he could develop battle ns to handle the Sword Monsters more efficiently. After twenty minutes, he came up with an answer in the form of a technique by the name of Severing Domain. It was simple yet effective and would allow him to face the neverending horde of Sword Monsters. Now that everything was in ce, Cain allowed the power of this dimension to sever all his senses except his sense of touch. That one was the only thing that the {Basic Scan Force Field] could not replicate, and without it, he could not be able to attack or defend properly. The next second, Cain found himself in a world of darkness, unable to see, hear, smell, or taste anything. It was a truly devastating sensation that could break the mind of normal people in a matter of seconds, but it was not enough to challenge the Wave King''s willpower. Despite the overwhelming darkness, Cain did not lose focus since the [Basic Scan Force Field] showed him how five Sword Monsters lunged toward him. Cain did not move from his position but adopted a battle stance, and just as the Sword Monsters'' entered the rage of his machete, he hacked with such ferocity and speed that neither of them managed to touch his body before splitting apart. As soon as the Sword Monsters perished, they exploded into a burst of dark mist, but this time it was not the machete that devoured it, but the crystal in Cain''s forehead. It waspletely white, but the dark mist from those Sword Monsters made small ck dots emerge in it. Cain had no time to care about the change in the crystal since not even a second after killing those five Sword Monsters, more came at him, full of killing intent and ferocity. The speed at which his machete moved was just the right one to sever those Sword Monsters before they could get near him. Cain could have easily unleashed attacks that would have killed dozens of these Level 6 Sword Monsters if he wanted, but this was a test of skill and endurance. That was why he limited Wave Burst to 500% and refrained from using Blood Hand or Asura Form. Just those two skills would have made Cain unstoppable in this ce for the first few minutes, and hundreds of Level 6 Sword Monsters would have perished, but then he would have drained his energy and been forced to leave this ce. The machete carried on with its arcs, splitting all the Sword Monsters into pieces. A radius of two and a half meters around Cain was empty of everything despite hundreds of monsters doing all in their power to reach the young man. Severing Domain was a sword skill thatbined small body movements and long arcs with the machete, using the weapon''s slicing power to split everything that entered it. It was an awe-inspiring domain skill, especially since it only took the system a few minutes toe up with it, but it would only work with unintelligent monsters. A well-trained army would find a way to exploit its weaknesses, sacrificing some people if needed to stop the machete and then overwhelm Cain. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he hacked in all directions. He had to use the full power of his Ego Wave to enhance his speed of thought, or else he would make a mistake or read the [Basic Scan Force Field]''s hologram wrong. If that were to happen, he might not even have the time to touch the crystal and die at the hands of the Sword Monsters. Sword Monsters attacked from all directions, and some even jumped toward Cain so they could attack from above, but the machete split all of them. All of the monsters burst into dark mist upon death, so there was no pile of corpses amassing around Cain and forcing him to move, which was good. Ten minutes had passed since the start of the fight, and the numbers perished under the might of Cain''s machete reached over three hundred, but there was no end to them. Cain did not feel tired, and his breathing was calm, but he frowned as he felt the numbness in his arms. The machete''s edge was extremely sharp and could easily cut the Sword Monsters'', but the speed at which he had to move his arms was too much, and his muscles were starting to realize it. Unfortunately, Cain could not slow down. If he did it, his machete mightck the momentum to cut the several Sword Monsters at once, and that would force him to fight on the run, depleting his stamina even faster. This trial would not be easy and would push Cain''s mind and body to their absolute limit. Chapter 235 : Star ''How much time has passed? I am so tired I can barely discern the passage of time.'' Cain''s eyes burned with such a potent red light that it seemed capable of shining over the dimension, but that was like thest sh of heat from a candle about to turn off. He had split apart so many Sword Monsters that he could not keep up with the number, but no number was high enough. The more he killed, the better it would be, so he just carried on non-stop. The numbness in Cain''s arms extended to his legs at first bore spreading to every part of his body. That did notst forever since soon, a wave of pain reced it, and he could feel how the muscle fibers broke due to the immense effort, but he just clenched his teeth and carried on. Every second that passed was a chance to kill another Sword Monster and absorb their dark mist. Still, it also carried a tortuous pain since his relentless movements with the machete already overexerted his body to the point it began to destroy itself from within. The crystal in Cain''s forehead had already turned cker than night, but he felt there was more to it. Cain felt something was missing and was very close to reaching it. That feeling pushed him to continue hacking despite every fiber of his body urging him to rest. The domain around his figure diminished to one meter due to the physical exhaustion, and it would not be long before those Sword Monsters got close enough to really do some damage. Right now, it only took a minor wound for him to lose his tempo, which would mean the end of this trial. By that point, he either touched the crystal in his forehead and ended the fight or perished under the monsters'' ws. Cain clenched his teeth and hands with so much strength that they were bleeding as he pushed his body forward despite this one already starting to shut down. There was, but a stream of his Astral Wave and Blood Energy left inside him, and he was stretching them out so they couldst just one more second. Finally, although Cain did not know it, he killed 3.300 Sword Monsters, and it was at that moment the crystal in his forehead began to change. The crystal shivered briefly before a shining dot appeared in its center, like a lone star in a dark sky. Just like Cain felt something was missing even after the crystal turned dark, the emergence of the star told him he hadpleted his mission in this ce. He was so tired that turning his attention to the crystal, even for an instant, allowed one of the Sword Monsters to cross his domain and leave a long wound on his right shoulder. That wound threw his body to the ground and allowed the dozens of Sword Monsters around to lunge toward him with their weapon first. As the swords were about to impale his body from every direction, Cain touched the crystal on his forehead with his left hand. "?BOOM!" A massive shock wave emerged from the crystal, pushing all those Sword Monsters away and saving Cain''s life. Cain''s senses returned shortly after that st, but he remained on the ground with no strength in his body. The exhaustion was so much he felt his consciousness slipping away. As Cain wondered what was supposed to happen next, a burst of vitality emerged from the crystal on his forehead and began to nurture his body, Astral Wave, and even he felt the energy reaching his brain and the mysterious dimension inside it. There was shock and awe in Cain''s eyes when he realized that the power of the crystal managed to reach his soul dimension. Anything that could nurture his spirit was extremely valuable, and he was sure he would not have obtained such a gift without the star. The force healed all the damage to his body, helped him recover his stamina, made the mental fatigue disappear, and slightly improved his constitution and soul. It took around a day for the crystal to stop making that force flow across Cain''s body, and right the next second, he vanished from that dimension. Cain''s eyes widened when he saw himself appearing in the sky, and he had no idea how high since there was a deep fog covering the ground beneath him. He was not alone since there were over a dozen figures that appeared in the sky at the same time as him. The fact that all of them appeared right as Cain finished in that dimension could not be a coincidence. Cain did not know it, but he was thest to finish the second dimension, and everybody was unknowingly waiting for him. Cain and the other floated in the sky for less than a second before falling to the ground at a shocking speed. They fall so fast that none of the cultivators should have the time to discern anything from the others, but he was different. Cain''s mind was extremely sharp, and he was able to discern the identity and location of one of the people in the sky right before falling into the fog. A burst of killing intent and red light emerged from his eyes as he bent his knees and back, adopting a jumping position. The muscles on his legs bulged as he tensed them and began to focus his Astral Wave and Blood Energy on them. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the fog acting like some sort of cushion, diminishing his speed and severely hindering his perception. That would have made it harder to find anyone, but there was no reason to fear getting lost since the crystal in your forehead drove you on the right path. The direction that the crystalpelled Cain to take was north, but his target was the northwest, and he would not give that person a chance to run away. As soon as Cain''s feet touched the ground, he jumped forward with so much strength that he generated a small st. "?Boom!" The terrain waspletely barren, with nothing but the fog, so nothing stopped Cain''s movements. That jump propelled his body forward with immense power, allowing him to cross hundreds of meters in a few seconds. Cain''s Astral Wave and Blood Energy grew more and more powerful mid-air, and once he finally touched the ground again, he shed forward at a phenomenal speed, covering more than one hundred meters every second. The fog severely hindered Cain''s senses, and it did the same with his Ego Wave, but he could still unleash it forward, allowing him to locate his enemy before this one appeared in his line of sight.@@novelbin@@ After two minutes of running at full speed, Cain''s pupils dted as his Ego Wave showed him his prey. Blood Lightning and Astral Wave coursed through the machete as he tightened its grip. A powerful gale emerged ahead, sting in all directions. It was clear that the person who unleashed that attack felt that someone wasing but could not figure out the location of the enemy. Cain showed a cold smile as he saw that gale, and he once again jumped forward with all his power, breaking apart the wall of wind and appearing right in front of the enemy he wanted to kill so much. The machete collided with a bastard sword used as a shield. However, the first was coated in Astral Wave, and the immense strength of an Astral Cultivator was behind it, while Essence Wave enhanced the second, so the sh did not end in a draw. "YOU!" Dominic shouted that word before Cain''s machete sent him flying away. He could not understand how the young soldier managed to find him so fast, and it was even more shocking that the machete sent him flying away. Although his left arm was still missing, Dominic was a powerful Early Wave Champion, and the second dimension healed almost all of the wounds that Cain left in his body. The fact that Cain could so easily ovee him in a battle of strength made him understand how dangerous the young soldier was and that he could not let this one live. Cain noticed the killing intent in Dominic''s eyes, but that only made his smile grow wider and his heartbeat stronger as he activated Asura Form. He immediately chased after Dominic, and the Blood Energy in his right palm increased. Dominic knew he could not let this be a melee battle, but he could do nothing to stop the next sh due to their proximity, so the best path forward was to diminish Cain''s momentum. He was confident in handling the machete as he got an estimate of Cain''s physical strength during thatst collision. The scion buried the sword in the ground, regaining control over his body before opening his mouth and unleashing a mighty gale. Cain pushed forward despite facing winds that could send small vehicles flying away. Still, that diminished his momentum, affecting the strength of his next attack. Dominic raised his bastard sword, confident that he could handle the machete, but when Cain''s weapon touched his, he felt an unstoppable power that nearly broke the bones on his arm. Chapter 236 : Betrayal "Ahhh!" Dominic could not help but release a small scream of pain as the power of the machete was simply too much and sent him flying away without control. He managed to block it, but its force traveled from the bastard sword to his arm, all the way to his body and inner organs. It was like getting rammed by a giant truck. Even if a shield were in front of you, the impact force would still reach you and do severe damage. Despite the pain and injuries, Dominic did not have time to rest since Cain jumped toward him, and the machete descended right at his head. His bastard sword unleashed a small st of air that pushed his body to the left, saving his head from being divided in two. "?BOOM!" Dominic''s eyes widened when he saw an explosion ur right next to his head due to the machete overwhelming force. Unlike most scions who only participated in battles where there was no danger for their lives, Dominic had experienced all kinds of fights throughout his life, and more than once, he had found himself in life-and-death battles. That granted him a powerful battle awareness, allowing him to quickly discover the key behind Cain''s monstrous strength. It was not the machete or the energy covering the weapon but Cain''s hand which allowed those strikes to carry so much power. All five fingers had turned into blood gems, and the transformation showed signs of extending to the rest of the hand. As someone that mastered swordy, Dominic knew the importance of the strength of your arm and hand. A firm grip could grant stability and control, ensuring greater precision and uracy, but that was not all. A powerful grip granted a greater power transfer. When the grip is firm, the force generated by the body''s movement can be efficiently transferred to the sword, resulting in a more powerful strike. The energy from the wielder''s muscles is effectively channeled into the de, maximizing its impact. Dominic could not be certain about the nature of Cain''s technique, but it was clear it enhanced this one''s hands, allowing every strike of that machete to carry so much power that nothing could stop it. That analysis took a long time to describe, but less than a second had passed since the machete shed with the ground instead of on Dominic''s head. Cain''s eyes followed Dominic''s head, and he waved his machete to the left, breaking the ground beneath him. Dominic could not avoid the attack, so the only thing he could do was to use the bastard sword as a shield despite knowing that the impact would still harm him. "?BOOM!"@@novelbin@@ A new explosion of kic force urred when the machete touched the bastard sword, sending Dominic flying into the air while puking blood. Dominic did not have a moment to rest before being forced to block again, as Cain appeared in the air in front of him and hacked down with both hands. "?BOOOOM!" The strength behind the machete grew even migther, and Dominic crashed into the ground with so much power that he nearly fell unconscious. However, Dominic bit the tip of his tongue, using the sharp pain to wake him before unleashing a cannon of air from his bastard sword that pushed him out of the crater. "?BOOM!" Dominic did it just in time to avoid Cain''s dive, which would have taken his life. Still, that just bought him a few more seconds since there was no way he could escape from the monsters in front of him. The bones on his right arm were full of small cracks, and he had suffered severe internal damage. He no longer had the strength to fight Cain and did not think escaping could be possible. Dominic would have used his background if the enemy was anyone else, but he knew that would not work against the machete-wielding maniac in front of him. Cain''s red eyes focused on Dominic, and the power of the machete grew even mightier as he was ready to sh forward, but then his eyes widened, and he looked to the left. Dominic noticed the look in Cain''s eyes and turned to the left, hoping to see a friendly face, but he saw the opposite. The ones that appeared were two Vice-Captains, both Wave Champions. "LOOK OUT!" The one that shouted was Cain, and those words had a sense of urgency. Dominic was confused, but everything became clear when he saw how one of the Vice-Captains stabbed the other in the back with a golden sword! The ones that appeared were William and Uriel, and as soon as thest one saw the fight between Cain and Dominic, a frenzied light emerged in his eyes. Uriel''s attack was too fast, and William could not stop the sword from piercing his chest. William''s eyes showed the disbelief in his heart. He knew that Uriel had problems with Cain but never thought he would act this way despite them forming a temporary alliance after randomly bumping into each other inside the fog. The sword pierced the right lung but failed to sever the heart, so William could still act, generating a st of ice that froze the wound, stopping the bleeding and also sealing the golden sword. Cain overcame the shock and was ready to sh toward William and Uriel, but he felt a burst of Essence Waveing from Dominic. The scion knew this might be his only chance to rise from this situation alive, so he did not hesitate before unleashing all his energy into the next attack. A tornado sted in Cain''s direction, forcing him to block it, which pushed him farther from the battlefield. Right after that, Dominic fired a barrage of wind des toward William. Uriel made sure to immobilize William, allowing those wind des tond directly. "?AHHH!" William roared as he made his Astral Wave burst at full power and defended from the wind des, but the golden sword had done too much damage. It took around five seconds for thebined damage from the golden sword and wind des to kill William! Dominic''s face was pale as he was forced to use a secret technique that overdrew his energy pool and left him in a state of exhaustion, but that did not stop a small smile from appearing on his face. The scion knew about Uriel as he had done his research on all Vice-Captains. He was confused about all that had just happened, but it was clear that the golden swordsman was not on Cain''s side, and the enemy of my enemy was a friend. Uriel took his sword from William''s chest and did not bother to look at Dominic, focusing solely on Cain with nothing but a crazy killing intent in his eyes. In the past few months, Uriel''s words had turned upside down. He could no longer trust in the allies that once followed his everymand, and his position in the military kept falling. Everything he had worked so hard for was crumbling, and the one he med for that was right in front of him. Even if it meant sacrificing his sense of duty and brotherhood, Uriel did not care as long as he could end the nightmare that was Cain Laurifer. Cain broke the tornado apart, and he could see Uriel''s craziness and Dominic''s killing intent. The tables had turned, and he would now be facing two Wave Champions that focused on speed and who could cover each other''s weak spots. Defeating Uriel and William in a direct fight would be nearly impossible for Cain, but he was not focusing on that. Right now, Cain''s eyes could only see William''s corpse lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. They had fought together for the good part of a year, and although William was not someone of many words, Cain knew he could trust that man to follow hismand without fear or hesitation. In every sense of the word, William was an exemry soldier and would have be a great military leader in the future, but that glorious path was severed. Cain knew that the reason Uriel killed William was because of him. Of course, one could easily put the me on Uriel''s despicable behavior or William''sck of awareness, but Cain was not like that. He was smart enough to understand that he should not feel guilty about it, but emotions were not logical. ''I should have killed Uriel. I grew overconfident in my ability to handle him, resulting in William''s death. I made a mistake.'' Cain''s eyes grew colder as the red light on them burst with monstrous rage. There were no emotions on his face, but that only made it even more terrifying. Dominic and Uriel trembled when those red eyes turned toward them, and for an instant, they felt in the presence of an ancient monster capable of erasing entire civilizations. "I WILL KILL YOU!" Chapter 239 : Second Gear Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the Sword Avatar generate sonic booms with its feet, moving across the room''s ceiling at supersonic speed. Although Astral Wave Champion could move through the air using Air Walk, none of them could do it with such dexterity and speed, not to mention that the Sword Avatar was doing it using the same strength and energy pool that Cain''s. Cain followed the movements of the Sword Avatar with his eyes, but while his mind could follow the enemy, his body was toote to react, and a sharp pain appeared on his back. "Ahhhh!" A scream of pain echoed across the room as the Sword Avatar punched Cain''s back with so much power that it almost fractured his spine. That attack sent the human flying away and would have been much worse if not for this one redirecting all his Astral Wave to his back at thest second. Cain clenched his teeth and spat the blood on his mouth as he regained control of his body and sent a kick to the Sword Avatar that had lunged toward him. That kicknded on the Sword Avatar''s chest, but once again, the vibrating mantle of Astral Wave drained most of its kic force. It did little damage to the Sword Avatar but pushed it back, giving Cain a few moments to regain his breathing and figure out what to do next. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he figured out that the only way to break the Sword Avatar''s defensiveyer would be by using Blood Hand, but the technique drained his energy very fast, so he had to be sure when to use it. He shed forward, ready to exert so much pressure on the Sword Avatar that this one could not move freely, and then unleash a barrage of devastating attacks using Blood Hand. However, just as he was about to reach the Sword Avatar, the body of this one began to generate a humming sound before splitting into three identical figures. Such techniques could trick the eyes, but should not be a problem for someone like Cain with a powerful Ego Wave.@@novelbin@@ Yet, Cain could not help but clench his fists since the humming sound also acted as a barrier against the red force field, forcing him to rely only on his sight. "The one on the left!" Luckily, Cain had an even more powerful tool to scan the enemy. The [Basic Scan Force Field] detected the real one, and Apex shouted the information into his mind. The three Sword Avatars shed toward Cain but were slower than before. That technique seemed to put a lot of pressure on it, weakening its physical might. Cain hid that it knew the real one until they were right in front of each other. Then, the fingers on his right and left hands turned into blood gems, and he punched the real Sword Avatar with both fists! "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Each punch generated a small st due to the immense power behind them and sent the Sword Avatar flying away while puking blood. The strength of Cain''s fists managed to break through the vibrating Astral Wave. The Sword Avatar regained control of its body quickly, and there was confusion on its face as it did not understand how Cain managed to find the real one. This dimension could analyze everything about Cain except for the Absolute Life Form System, and it was the one thing that could drive him to victory. It was not just the [Basic Scan Force Field] since, after enough time and learning about the Sword Avatar''s skills, the [A.I. Chip Module] could deploy a Virtual Sight potent enough to predict the movements of this one with 75% uracy. ''I can win!'' Cain''s eyes burned with red light as he shed toward the Sword Avatar, ready to reignite the fight and crush this one. The enemy could have better techniques and the same martial skills as him, but he had a supeputer in his mind that could help him predict its next movements. The Sword Avatar did not shy away from the fight and once again divided its body into three identical figures before shing forward. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Just like before, Cain was able tond two powerful punches on the real Sword Avatar. After that, the entity no longer used that technique because it was clear it was not luck that made Cain figure out the real one. Cain was getting more and more useful to the attacks of the Sword Avatar, and the light at the end of the tunnel finally showed up. ''I CAN WIN!'' Just as that thought became even stronger in Cain''s mind and the sh between the two reached a bnce, the Sword Avatar put some distance between the two. Cain frowned as he saw a solemn expression on the Sword Avatar''s face. "Boom." A sonic boom emerged from inside the Sword Avatar''s body, making the muscles of this one bulge, and the Astral Wave''s output improved tremendously. "Boom." "Boom." As this one became stronger, more sonic booms emerged from inside the Sword Avatar. Cain''s instinct warned him of danger, but by then, the Sword Avatar had already appeared before him and sent him flying away while pucking blood afternding a kick on his chest. He bounced against the room''s walls, and before he could even touch the ground, the Sword Avatar connected another kick, pushing him from one direction to the other. The Sword Avatar''s battle power rose an entire level when it used that technique, and while it was clear it would not be able to use it for a long time by the tears urring around its flesh, Cain would notst long if things carried on that way. After being sent flying away for the seventh time, Cain felt he was losing consciousness, so he clenched his teeth and generated a field of Blood Lightning around his body. The Sword Avatar did not jump into the red lightning since Cain could not keep it for long, and there was no need to take unnecessary injuries now that the victory was clear. Cain puked a mouthful of blood as he attempted to regte his breathing. A small smile appeared on his face as he saw his current state and knew there was only one way forward. "So be it." The red light in Cain''s eyes reached its zenith as the speed and strength of his heartbeat skyrocketed. "THUMP!" Cain''s entire body began to tremble and be redder, affecting even the sclera of his eyes. It was a truly fiendish appearance, no different from the depictions of devils in the Old World. He felt his blood surging with so much force that it immediately ruptured many of his vessels. Every second of this left severe internal damage, but it granted an overwhelming speed and strength in exchange. "Second Gear!" The Sword Avatar heard those two words, only to be sent flying away the next second, crashing against the room''s wall. Shock appeared in its eyes as the speed of Cain overcame it! Second Gear granted Cain an instant eleration that neared Mach 2, meaning two times the speed of sound! The Sword Avatar did not have time to analyze how Cain could do something like that, as the human was already in front of it, ready to unleash a new attack. It was too fast, so it only managed to raise its arms and focus its Astral Wave on them. Cain''s hand fingers turned into blood gems as he fired punch after punch toward the Sword Avatar, ready to break this one defensive and then its skull. The Sword Avatar did not just take the onught quietly, as its Astral Wave began to vibrate with even more strength before unleashing an immensely powerful sound wave. Cain was surprised by that attack, and the sound wave made his eardrums bleed, disorienting him enough for the Sword Avatar could connect a straight blow to his chest, sending him flying away. Speed and strength were massively improved during Second Gear, but it did nothing to enhance defense. Actually, the intense internal damage endured by the second did any new damage Cain received much more severe. Cain regained control over his body very fast, but not before puking a mouthful of blood. His legs trembled but stood straight by sheer willpower. Time was of the essence, so Cain was ready to dash back into the fray immediately, but then he noticed how the Sword Avatar inhaled more and more air into its lungs. If just the Astral Wave could unleash such a powerful sonic wave, then one could only imagine what the Sword Avatar could do with a scream. Cain immediately transmuted the Astral Wave around his ears, making it a filter for sound waves, and used his Ego Wave to shut down his sense of hearing to prevent neural damage. After that, Cain shed forward at full speed, but just as he was halfway to the Sword Avatar, this one stopped inhaling, and then he felt a sharp pain in his shoulder. Chapter 241 : Flawless Marrow Cain fell to the ground and began to bleed from every hole on his face as his body could not stop shivering. The internal damage was so massive that there was severe organ failure. Still, even after all that, there was a smile on his face since he had won! Just as Cain was about to slip into unconsciousness, a force in the room grabbed his body, bringing him into the center of the room and raising him into the air. In the next second, the corpse of the Sword Avatar shattered into countless dots of red light that shed toward Cain''s chest, piercing his skin and traveling across his body all the way to the Rebirth Heart. Cain could do nothing and fell unconscious. The red dots of light inside his heart began to fuse into what seemed to be a small machete the size of a grain of rice. At that point, Cain woke up due to the sudden stream of information that flooded his mind. It was an incredibly profound cultivation technique, the mighties he had seen in his entire life. Not only did it have a path to train his Astral Wave, but there were also several techniques in it, including every single one that the Sword Avatar used during their fight. However, Cain did not have time to focus on it since the machete inside his heart began to spin, drawing a massive amount of extremely pure Wave and vitality into his body. Golden streams emerged from every corner of the room and flooded Cain''s body. An expression of utterfort appeared on Cain''s face as the energy healed his wounds and was potent enough to regrow his lost right hand. That was not all it did since the energy also tempered his flesh and blood while purifying his energy pool. Second Gear had done severe internal damage, one so dire that Cain could have perished in his sleep even with a vitality equal to a Wave Champion, but the energy mended everything. Once all his wounds were gone and his energy pool was full again, Cain felt his body growing stronger, and then it came. At the start, it began as an itch, but then it grew to a horrible sensation as every pore of his body opened up, adjusting. Then it came time for the bones, all trembling as if they were being squeezed, leading to cracks. All the internal damage healed instantly as the invisible force kept exerting a monstrous pressure on the bones, and it was not long before Cain began to sweat blood. The feeling was horrible, but Cain could not hide the thrill and excitement in his heart as the force was purging the filth in his body, making him go through the most vigorous marrow washing of his entire life. After five hours, the machete inside Cain''s heart stopped spinning, and the dimension no longer sent any more energy into his body. Cain''s body slowly descended to the ground, and the expression on his face was one of absolute serenity. He had never felt more immacte than at this moment. It was as if ayer of filth that hindered his mind and body went away. "System, scan me." The Absolute Life Form System followed the order, and an urate measure of Cain''s constitution reached his mind in a few moments. [Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 8 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Lightning Lupus Wave Talent: Low Tier 7 (Low Tier 7) --- Stats: Strength: 9.6--> 10.0 Agility: 7.7--> 7.9 Vitality: 12.4--> 13.1 Wave: 7.7--> 8.1 Blood Energy: 11.4--> 11.8 --- Marrow washing: 96%pletion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 17.2%] Cain had advanced to Level 8 less than three weeks ago, so there was no significant change in his physical stats, but he did not care about any of that since the only number in his mind was 96. Due to the dimension''s energy, he achieved wless Marrow! Cultivators like Amos and William, who achieved wless Marrow before bing Wave Champions, usually did it by tapping into the final marrow washing during their ascension to Wave Champion. However, Cain was only a Level 8 Wave Warrior. He had a lot of time and opportunities to improve his marrow washing, meaning there was a chance he could achieve the mythical 100% Marrow Washing! There was a name for someone that reached 100% Marrow Washing: Void Marrow. For someone with Void Marrow, Wave King was nothing special and granted a foundation strong enough to rise into the fourth cultivation rank. It was so unique that there was no record of it in the military academy or in the information Apex had gathered. Cain learned about Void Marrow from the information the machete inside the Rebirth Heart imnted in his mind. He took a deep breath, calming the excitement in his heart, and then focused on the Saint Technique. It was extremely broad and exined in detail how to advance through Wave Warrior, Wave Champion, Wave King, and even how to tackle the realm that came next. All the Sword Avatar''s techniques were now open for his training, with many more that could be acquired once he rose to Wave Champion. "Sonic de Fusion." That was the name of the Saint Cultivation Technique, and to Cain''s surprise, it was not just for Astral Rebirth Cultivation since there was a version for Essence Evolution Cultivators that was just as strong. Although it was a little surprising, it made sense since there was no way the dimension would have known who would im the inheritance. It would have been very weird if an Essence Evolution Cultivator had surpassed all others but could not train the Saint Cultivation Technique. Some might think that Cain could now attempt to train the Essence Evolution Path of Power, bing an Astral-Essence Dual Cultivator, but things were not so simple. It wasmon knowledge that simultaneously training both Paths of Power would only lead to failure. First of all would be theck of time and resources, especially for young people. There was also the fact that there was no point in training both paths if they were not at the same level. The assistance a Level 9 Essence Warrior cultivation could give a Middle Astral Wave Champion was practically nothing. Techniques and spells require a specific type of Wave, so it would not help your energy pool have two types of Wave inside your body. However, neither of those problems was impossible to resolve. Someone talented and wealthy enough could travel the path of dual cultivation. Although it would take a little more time to advance through the ranks, they would be extremely powerful. ording to Sonic de Fusion, dual cultivation was taboo because bing a Titan in both paths would be impossible. You must pick one. As for a reason cultivators could not be a Titan in both paths, Sonic de Fusion did not give too many details other than the fact that you have only one soul. Imagine going through all the effort to raise both paths to the absolute peak, one step away from bing a Titan in each of them, but having to pick one and forget about the other.@@novelbin@@ Would it not have been better to focus all your effort on a single path, making it even stronger? Cain allowed his mind to lose itself in the information, as the feeling of improving his knowledge of cultivation was genuinely fantastic. He was not bothered by the warning about dual cultivation inside the technique since he had never considered that path. Cain did not sell himself short and knew he was a divine genius in the Ego Eternal Path of Power and very talented in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, but it took everything he had just to get a chance to Void Marrow. Trying to achieve that while also focusing his mind on the Laws without diminishing his cultivation speed would be nearly impossible. Instead of being average in two things, it was better to be great in a single one. After going through all the information, Cain extended his right hand, and a machete materialized in his grasp. It was simr to the one he used during the first two trials but much better. He could load as much of his Astral Wave as he wanted into the weapon, and this one would improve its quantity and quality, allowing the hacking power to rise exponentially. Cain needed to use the machete as a catalyst to train Sonic de Fusion. All the Life Wave that reached his Rebirth Heart would be refined first by the machete, improving his cultivation speed, and it was also needed to practice several techniques. "They say that all good weapons deserve a name. Since we reach this point by killing everything in our path, I think I should call you ughter." "You suck at names!" Cain''s heart Apex''s rebuke but did not care. He knew he was not good with names, but it was not like he would go around saying it. Chapter 244 : True power Sebastian stared at Olivion and could see the determination in the eyes of the Copsing Lightning Pir. Although killing Cain would solve many future problems for the Martel Family, he was not willing to bet his life on it. "Hmph." The old man only sneered toward Olivion before turning toward Cain. "Brat, let go of Dominic, now!" He did not use his willpower to force Cain since that would be useless, so he just shouted those orders. The killing intent in his eyes made it clear what would happen if Cain refused. Cain stared at Sebastian with rage before turning toward Zarak. "He killed one of my friends inside the dimension." Zarak''s eyes grew cold, and killing intent appeared in them, but as he stared at Sabastian, Alexander, and the rest of the powerhouses that came from Noble Families, he could not help but sight. "There are a unique set of rules implemented by the empire when ites to inheritances, so we can not use his actions to charge him with a crime. I understand the desire in your heart, but it is impossible to bring him with us without triggering a battle in which we could not keep you safe." Cain''s heart was full of killing intent, and the red light in his eyes grew stronger, but he understood the harsh truth. He was too weak to fulfill the desire in his heart and had to let Dominic go. In the end, it was all about power. It did not matter whether Dominic broke or not the rules of the empire. What mattered was that Caincked the strength to face the powerhouses of the Martel Family. "Ahhh." Cain sighed, and the red light weakened as he was about to let go of Dominic''s neck when he his eyes widened. Shock appeared on his face as he looked from one direction to the other. Sebastian, Olivion, Alexander, and Zarak were confused by Cain''s behavior. It seemed he was looking for someone, but no one was around him. The shock and confusion on Cain''s face did notst for long, and soon a cold smile appeared as he turned toward Dominic. "Goodbye." Absolute terror appeared on Dominic''s face as he saw Cain''s hand turned into a blood gem before falling on his head with monstrous power. "?Boom!" Dominic''s head could not resist Cain''s punch and exploded like a balloon full of blood. Silence reigned as people found it hard to believe what they just saw. Cain killed Dominic by blowing this one head under the gaze of two powerhouses of the Martel Family! "?Bastard!" The silence did notst for long as Alexander roared in rage when he saw the death of his son. His Essence Wave exploded as the wings on his back fragmented into thousands of small des that shed toward Zarak while he dived with all his power.@@novelbin@@ Zarak was able to react, making his Astral Wave burst with power while he shed forward in order to stop Alexander''s dive. He was able to shatter the desing his way with ease, but they slowed him down, which would prove deadly for Cain. Olivion frowned as he could not understand why Cain would do something so foolish, but exnations couldeter. He needed to stop Alexander. However, Sebastian shed forward, positioning himself between Alexander and the Pir. Even if Olivion were stronger, he would not be fast enough to save Cain. Alexander''s eyes were bloodshot, full of grief and rage, as he used his des to stop Zarak''s march. Most of his Essence Wave focused on that, leaving only a little for him to carry an attack with his swords, but they would be enough to end Cain''s life. None of the other powerhouses made a move and stared in silence as Alexander approached Cain. They eitherck the power or the will to protect the young man, and some even silently mock him for his rash behavior. Alexander showed a vicious grin as he hacked with both swords toward Cain''s neck, fusing them into a single sharp energy de that could sever a three-hundred-meter-tall building in half. Cain saw the hatred in Alexander''s eyes and felt the sharp edge of the energy de on his neck, but that did not fade his smile. Just as the swords were about to reach Cain''s neck, and everybody thought that the life of the monstrous genius was over, a red hand appeared and grabbed the energy de. That attack''s momentum vanished when that naked red hand grabbed the swords. It did more than just block or stop the attack since it was able to nullify all kic energy in it. Alexander puked a mouthful of blood as he felt he had just shed against a mountain at full speed, and his internal organs trembled. There was shock and dread in his eyes as he raised his gaze and looked at the man that stopped his attack. The man was nearly three meters tall, with golden eyes, long ck hair, and a long beard. There was arge scar in the form of an X on the center of his face, and he wore a red robe that reached down to his arms. Sebastian, Olivion, and Zarak stared at the man with absolute shock since, despite the strength of their minds and perception, neither had noticed this one before. The Second Pir of the Copsing Lightning Sector and the High Elder of the Martel Family had cultivation much higher than a Wave King, so it could only mean one thing for the man to be able to hide from them. They were in the presence of a Titan! Alexander also understood that which is why there was so much fear in his heart. Any idea of fighting back vanished from his heart since there was no way he could face a Titan. "Since when do people dare to attack children from my Blood Sea in my presence?" The man''s voice was cold as a golden light emerged from his eyes. "Alexander, run!" Sebastian could not help but shout as he felt the monstrous killing intent emerge from the Titan, but it was toote. Alexander could do nothing as the Titan''s index finger touched his forehead. That was thest thing he saw before the back of his head exploded, throwing pieces of his brain in all directions. Silence reigned after the powerhouses in the sky saw Alexander''s horrific death, but the man was not over. After killing Alexander, he vanished from Cain''s side, only to appear right in front of Sebastian the next instant. Sebastian''s eyes widened as he saw the man''s entire arm transform into a red gem, driving toward him with the power to pulverize mountains. His instincts kicked in, allowing him to cover his body with his wings before channeling all his Astral Wave in them. "?BOOOOOOM!" A shock wave that made the sky tremble urred when the Titan''s fists shed with Sebastian''s wings, sending this one flying away for over twenty thousand kilometers before crashing against the ground, forming a massive crater. The destructive power in that fist did not fall behind a small atomic bomb of the Old World, which is why it was so surprising to see Sebastian rising from the crater and shing away at a speed that surpassed Mach 10. A sh of surprise appeared in Titan''s eyes when he saw Sebastian flying away. "Impressive. I intended to end his life with that attack. The Dark Roc Lineage is stronger than I thought." The Titan could have chosen after Sebastian and would have caught this one after a few minutes, but he just shook his head. It was not worth the trouble. He then looked around at the rest of the powerhouses, and they all lowered their heads when they saw his eyes. The only ones that dared to look back were Olivion and Zarak. "Not bad. At least you dare to face the apex, unlike others that only look up to it." The meaning of those words was clear to everybody, making the expression of the powerhouses that looked away turn sour, but the Titan was just talking out loud and did not care about them. The only one that really mattered to the Titan was the young man on the ground, looking at him with eyes full of willpower and determination. "Brat, remember our talk. Someone wille to pick you up in a month. Make sure all your affairs are in order by that time." That was all the Titan said before taking a step forward and vanishing. Cain clenched his fists as he could not stop his heart from beating with more and more strength due to the excitement. That was the power to force your will on the world, ignore the consequences, and just do what you desire. That man did not care about the rules and codes of the empire or the retribution of the Martel Family; he just went ahead and killed Alexander before trying to do the same with Sebastian. ''That power. I want it!'' The red light in Cain''s eyes grew more and more powerful as the desire for strength in his heart evolved to a whole new level. Chapter 247 : Empyrean Sun A young man was floating in the sky, looking at a massive river that extended as far as the eye could see. Despite being described as a river, it wasrger than most oceans of the Old World, but that was not the most amazing part. What truly drew awe in the hearts of everybody that saw it was that it was fuelled entirely by pure blood. The young man was nearly two meters tall despite only being seventeen. He had a handsome face with sharp brows and wore a red robe covered in golden runes. His eyes were closed, so he was not admiring the view of that massive river of blood but using it as an energy source. His body generated a devouring force that brought streams from the river into his Rebirth Heart. Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared behind the young man, and when he saw how this one brought those streams of blood into his body, pure awe appeared in his eyes. The middle-aged man knew how toxic and chaotic the energy inside that blood was and that even Wave Kings were careful when using it, but the young man showed nothing but calmness. "Is there something you need to share with me, Ezra? The young man''s voice was soft and calm, yet it carried such a powerful intent that made the middle-aged man feel nervous despite his Early Wave King cultivation. "Young Lord, I have learned the reason why the Blood Duke left for de Mountain. It all has to do with a person named Cain Laurifer. To protect this one, Blood Duke killed a powerhouse of the Martel Family and severely injured their High Elder." The peace and calm in the young man faded once he heard the name Blood Duke, and he adopted a solemn attitude as they carried on. "Tell me more. I assume you have investigated that person already?" "Yes, Young Lord Zima. Cain Laurifer, sixteen years old, a Vice-Captain from the Imperial Lightning Fort, Level 8 Wave Warrior with wless Marrow, reached the third level of Blood Hand, secured the natural inheritance of de Mountain, and has in his possession a Natural Holy Weapon. ording to my assessment, his current battle power will allow him to defeat Middle Wave Champions and fight those at the Late Stage. His current talent would grant him a free pass to the peak of Wave Champion and a high chance of bing a Wave King. His talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power is even more remarkable, with the idea he reached the Middle Wave Champion already circting among powerhouses. By all measurements, he is a Tier 1 Genius." Ezra did not discourage Cain or look down on this one just because they were on opposite sides. Disparaging your opponent while exalting your own achievements was something only those without trust in themselves would do. Zima knew he could trust Ezra for this type of task, which was why he had trusted that the information was correct. "I see. Cain Laurifer is indeed a genius, and his mastery over Blood Hand is better than most of the so-called Blood Children. Still, he is not part of us, and his inclusion would only lead to future weakness. Diversity might be a source of strength in most of the empire, but it would only lead to weakness in Blood Sea. That is something the Blood Lord refuses to ept." Zima softly shook his head but focus returned to his mind the next second. "Ezra, establish amunication channel with the Martel Family and see how angry they are about the actions of the Blood Duke." The middle-aged man''s eyes narrowed as he heard that, and he did not need more words to understand what Zima meant. After a short bow, he shed away, ready to fulfill the task. Zima was left alone, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing blood pupils, and what was even more impressive was the golden light in them that was the physical manifestation of his willpower. Despite being just seventeen years old, the young man had already entered Mind Over Body. By the intensity of that golden light, it was clear his willpower had already surpassed the Wave Champion Rank limit!@@novelbin@@ --- Cain was oblivious to the multitude of geniuses making moves due to his action, but it could not bother him even if he knew. He had reached the Imperial Lightning Fort two days after gaining the natural inheritance by tagging along with Olivion and Zarak, which used a ship that moved much faster than a Star Cruiser. ording to what the duo told him, his achievements during The Hunt were nothing short of extraordinary, and the Copsing Lightning Duke needed to talk with him. Cain was told to wait in his room until the Sector Duke summoned him, and he had no problem with that since the orb of red light inside his soul dimension kept trembling. Once Cain was alone, he shut down allmunications and told the system to only pass through those rted to the Copsing Lightning Duke. Then he closed his eyes, and he could see his Alter-Ego in that darkness. The golden humanoid that hid in the deepest part of Cain''s soul and guarded the massive gates opened his eyes and focused into the distance as he saw the orb of red light unleash its energy. "Brat, you are ready to start cultivating your Visualization Technique?" Apex could not help but feel nervous as he saw that since he knew very well the uniqueness of Cain''s Alter Ego and how the Red King''s Ego Wave influenced it. Cain could not help but frown when he heard that. "Apex, are you not supposed to be able to read my thoughts?" Cain never needed to share his ns with Apex out loud since this one could read his mind, which was why he found that question so odd. "Hmph, brat, I read your thoughts by interpreting the waves of your souls, but that requires focus, something I can not give when I am in the midst of hacking or helping the system to carry on with battle formation and the likes. Not to mention that the more powerful your soul bes, the harder it will be for people to read your thoughts." "Oh, I see." Although learning about Apex''s limitations would have excited Cain and filled his mind with all sorts of ns for using it, now it was interesting and nothing more. The rtionship between him and Apex had grown a lot from the moment they met, and Cain would not hesitate to put his life in the hands of the System Spirit. A smile appeared in the golden humanoid as he focused on Cain''s soul and perceived the feeling and thoughts of this one. Knowing the level of trust that Cain put in him calmed some of the worries of the System Spirit. "I felt my Alter-Ego had grownrge enough during the sh with that old man''s Ego Wave. I just need to let go of my mind, and the name wille on its own." The first step to channeling the power of your Alter Ego was to obtain its name, and Cain was finally ready to do it. He closed his eyes, letting go of everything that was not the red orb, and saw how this one began to change. The energy in the red orb was a duality, with one side full of life and the power of growth, while the other had nothing but destruction and the force of oblivion. Slowly the red sphere grew from a grain of rice to the size of an apple, and that was far from all since the duality of its forces was no longer in a chaotic fusion state. Instead, the power of life and destruction split, generating what seemed to be a yin-yang symbol. And just like in one, there was a spot containing the energy of the other on each side. It was at that point that the Alter-Ego unleashed waves of radiation that began to flood Cain''s soul dimension. The growth of the Alter-Ego was the growth of willpower that tranted into the growth of the soul. Cain showed utter bliss as the Alter-Ego radiation made his soul grow stronger, and slowly a name came to his mind. It was the name of his Visualization Technique, which embodied the path of his Ego Eternal Path of Power. "Empyrean Sun." Cain uttered those two words, and the next second, a golden me full of vitality flooded the inside of his body. It filled him with incredible energy and stamina, making him feel it could heal any damage as long as a single cell of his body was left. Of course, that feeling was an exaggeration brought by the sudden burst in vitality, but Cain was sure that if he had this power during his fight with the Sword Avatar, he would not have ended in such a pathetic state at the end of the battle. Chapter 250 : Sky Rising Pill Cain looked straight into the eyes of the Copsing Lightning Duke before bending a knee and adopting a knight stance. "Your Highness, Vice-Captain Laurifer is reporting for duty." The Copsing Lightning Duke showed a small smile as he saw the solemnity of Cain''s military etiquette. He nodded before waving his hand. "Rise, Major Laurifer." Cain''s eyes widened as he heard that. He knew that all his achievements and merits would improve his rank in the military, but he found it hard to believe he jumped past Captain and immediately became a Major. However, while he was very happy about that honor, he also felt conflicted. A rank in the military was not just a title but a statement that you have made a difference and your hard work secured the safety of the people of the Godyer Humankind. Cain became an actual soldier around a year ago, so attaining the same rank as some veterans that put their lives on the line countless times for the safety ofmoners did not feel that great. Luther noticed the look on Cain''s face, and his smile grew wider. The more he learned about the young man, the more he liked this one. It was clear to Luther that Cain was someone that really loved and appreciated the military, unlike Uriel and his kind, who only wanted to rise higher in the ranks to improve their status in their families. "Young man, I can see you have reservations but believe me, you have earned that rank. The amount of military merits you have gathered is more than some Majors obtained in their entire career. Of course, just the amount of military merits is not enough. Yet, you have already done an excellent service by taking care of traitorous garbage and teaching a bloody lesson to those that thought they could look down on the military just due to the power of their families." Luther''s calm voice removed all of Cain''s reservations about his current rank. The young man rose from the ground and bowed to the bald man before focusing on the Copsing Lightning Duke with a smile full of determination. The Copsing Lightning Duke stared at Cain for a moment before speaking. "What sort of deal did you make with the Blood Duke?" Cain was slightly surprised by that question, and the name Blood Duke waspletely unknown to him. Only now did he learn that the man with whom he made a deal called himself Blood Duke. Although he did not like to reveal his business to other people, he was currently a soldier of the Imperial Lightning Fort, and a superior officer was asking a question, so he had to answer it. Besides, there was nothing wrong with it, and it did not affect the military in any way. "In exchange for his assistance against the Martel Family, I promised the Blood Duke that I would travel to the Blood Sea and participate in an event called the Ascendance of the Blood Moon." The Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther were shocked to hear about Cain''s deal with the Blood Duke. "Are you sure that is what the Blood Duke asked you to do in exchange for killing Alexander Martel and making Sebastian Martel run with severe injuries?" Cain noticed the strange behavior of the duo, but he was not in a position to ask questions at the moment, so he just answered the question. "Yes. I am unaware of the Ascendance of the Blood Moon, but I must participate in it by order of the Blood Duke. Someone wille in a few weeks to bring me to Blood Sea. Once I am there, I will receive more instructions." The Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther look at each other, and there is a severe expression on their faces as if what Cain just told them would have severe repercussions for the Copsing Lightning Sector. Luther stared at the Copsing Lightning Duke, and only after this one noded did he speak with Cain to solve some of the doubts in the young soldier. "The Rise of the Blood Moon is a sacred ceremony that happens once every ten years when the energy of the Blood Sea reaches its peak. Geniuses from the Blood Sea participate in all sorts of trials to prove their might. As for the Ascendance of the Blood Moon, that is even more special since it happens every one hundred years. At that point, the power of the Blood Sea reached a unique state, and only core members were allowed to participate. The fact that you, an outsider, will take part in it will anger some very powerful people, especially since there have been conflicts in Blood Seately regarding terms like bloodline purity." Cain frowned when he heard that since it was clear the Blood Duke nned to throw him in the middle of a sh of factions, and the danger was evident for anyone. Still, Cain gave his words, and the Blood Duke did his part, so despite the dangers, he would not back down and travel to the Blood Sea. The Copsing Lightning Duke saw the red light in Cain''s eyes, and he nodded. "Whether you are brave or just foolish, it doesn''t matter. The fact that you did not consider breaking your word despite the dangers is good enough for me." The Copsing Lightning Duke made a golden box with a dragon figure appear on it and sent it toward Cain. Cain could not feel anything from inside the box, and it was clear that the seal was extremely powerful. He stared at the Copsing Lightning Duke, and once this one nodded, he sent his Ego Wave into the box. In it, there was a golden pill with strange red runes all over its surface. Cain''s Ego Wave could rely on the same information that his senses, allowing him to perceive the intense energy and vitality inside the pill. The energy and vitality were off the charts, but the most impressive thing was the purity in them. "That is your reward for taking the position of N¡ã1 Killer in The Hunt across the entire empire. Although it was the portal to that unique dimension, the one that killed most of the powerful Wave Champion Beasts, you were the one that gained the natural inheritance, so I made sure they were counted as yours."@@novelbin@@ Cain gave a small bow to the Copsing Lightning Duke since he was sure many others would have wanted to give the credit for those kills to their sons and daughter. Luther did not waste time and began to exin the might of that small pill. "The name of that pill is Sky Rising Pill. It is a Peak Saint Pill, and even among powerhouses, it is considered a great treasure. A young genius can use it during their evolution to the Wave Champion Rank. It will drive forward their marrow washing, strengthen their meridians, and improve their energy pool." Cain was amazed by what he just heard. Any of those effects would be of immense help, but the three together would help him rise to the Wave Champion with a very powerful foundation. "The Sky Rising Pill is meant to be used during the evolution to Wave Champion, and using it on any other asion would waste a lot of its potential, but you should employ it during your rise to Level 9." Cain was surprised when he heard the advice of the Copsing Lightning Duke. He did not blindly ept the advice or reject it, instead asking for more information. "Could you borate, Your Highness?" The Copsing Lightning Duke did not feel offended by Cain''s words since, in his mind, only a fool would follow the cultivation advice of someone they had never met before just because they were stronger than you. "In normal circumstances, there would be no reason to use it during Level 9 and waste nearly half of the pill''s power, but you are in a unique position right now. During the Ascendance of the Blood Moon, there is a special event in which you will have ess to even better assistance to your evolution to Wave Champion. Of course, whether or not you can use it will be up to you. If you use the Sky Rising Pill during Level 9 and attain that lucky chance during Ascendance of the Blood Moon, you could evolve to Wave Champion with Void Marrow." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that. He was not surprised that the Copsing Lightning Duke would know about his intention to attain Void Marrow since it was something any genius like him would pursue. What truly mattered to Cain was the special events in the Ascendance of the Blood Moon that could help him push his marrow washing through the final hurdle. He was not arrogant to think that he had already secured Void Marrow just because he attained wless Marrow at Level 8 and had been looking for a lucky chance, but it seemed that the lucky chance found him this time. Chapter 251 : Gluttony Module "I thank you for your advice, Your Highness." Cain sped his hand and bowed toward the Copsing Lightning Duke for his words. The Copsing Lightning Duke nodded before staring into Cain''s eyes for a while and finally raising his index finger, generating a drop of blood. He began to charge a massive amount of ck lightning into it, and once it reached its zenith, he sent it toward Cain. Cain''s eyes widened when he saw that drop of blood sh toward him, and it was so fast that before he could do anything, itnded on his shoulder, generating a strange rune in the form of a lightning arc before vanishing beneath his skin. He could not help but frown since even if he detected no danger from the drop of blood, he did not like people doing things to his body without asking. "Blood Sea had never been a simple ce, and right now, the dangers for an outsider like you could not be more serious. When the timees, the rune will act on its own. If you are lucky, you might not need it." The Copsing Lightning Duke''s face was pale, making it clear that generating that drop of blood came at a great price. He saw the inquisitive gaze in Cain''s eyes but was not in the mood to answer questions and signaled for Luther to take the young man out. Luther bowed to the Copsing Lightning Duke and brought Cain to the teleportation matrix. Once they were back on the first floor, he began to speak as they walked toward the exit. "Major Laurifer, there is a reason why the Copsing Lightning Duke did not give you an exnation about the rune on your shoulder. You should forget it exists and depend only on your power for the trial that woulde in the future." Cain''s eyes narrowed when he heard that. He understood the meaning behind the words of the bald man, and while he nodded, he was not the type that would let things slide. Once Cain was out of the Titan Tower and dashing back to his residence, he spoke to the system in his mind. "System, what is the current state of the [A.I. Chip Module]." Unlike the other modules, the [A.I. Chip Module] would evolve alongside his soul force and would not need his direct intervention. [A.I. Chip Module has evolved after the breakthrough of Vessel''s soul force to the Wave Champion Rank. .... A.I. Chip Module: - Cellr Analysis - Data Gathering and Analysis - Virtual Simtion - Scan Force Field - Hacking] Cain saw that, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes. Although the only difference in the description was theck of the word basic, he knew that the power of all the tools had evolved immensely. "System, analyze the foreign energy left inside me by the Copsing Lightning Duke." Cain did not think that the Copsing Lightning Duke had done something to harm him, but leaving things without an answer was not his style. [Analysing. ... ... ...@@novelbin@@ The A.I. Chip Module can detect the energy left inside Vessel, but itsplexity is at a level beyond the module''s current capabilities.] Aplicated smile appeared on Cain''s face as he heard that. The [A.I. Chip Module] should be able to analyze anything at the level of Apotheosis. Still, the phenomena that the Copsing Lightning Duke could give birth to was at a level much greater. Since there was no way to learn its true purpose, Cain followed Luther''s advice and forgot about it. He would not expect anything from the rune and would rely on his own power to face anything that woulde in the future. Using Sonic Dash, Cain was able to reach his residence very fast, and once he was inside, a somber expression appeared on his face. The trip to Blood Sea would be one full of danger, and he would be dragged into the machinations of a Titan. Although the Blood Duke saved his life, he was not so naive as to think the two had a special rtionship. He would not expect this one to be of help, and the only thing he could trust in Blood Sea would be his personal power. Cain adopted a meditative stance in the center of his room and closed his eyes beforemanding the system. "System, activate the next module!" The instant he shouted thatmand, Cain felt a sharp pain in his mind that was soon reced by a heaviness so massive that it made it hard for him to even think. If Cain''s soul force were still that of a Wave Warrior, the pressure of unlocking the third module would have been so much that he could not even think. Luckily he was at the level of Wave Champion, and after a few minutes, the unbearable pressure on his mind vanished, and he regained his cognitive abilities. The first thing Cain heard after that was the system telling him the name of the new module. [Gluttony Module activated.] Unlike the case with the [A.I. Chip Module] and the [Gic Coder Module] that existed in a ce he could not find and had no visualization of them, the instant he obtained the [Gluttony Module], he saw a strange dimension inside his soul. It manifested like a dot of light notrger than a grain of rice, but the space inside it was immense, enough to hold a three-hundred-meter tall building, and in its center, there was a multicolored me. Luckily for Cain, he did not have to wait for long for an exnation about the me and dimension since the system soon gave him a thorough description. [Gluttony Module: Module meant to grant the Vessel the ability to transform all things into power for his growth. Tools: -Earth Fiend me: Capable of devouring matter and energy. It can send 5% of all it consumed into the Vessel. - 10 points of Destiny Force can be used to increase the Earth Fiend me''s devouring speed by 10% for 24 hours. It can be stacked up to 100 times. - 100 points of Destiny Force can be used so the Earth Fiend me drives the energy and vitality it generated directly into the Vessel''s body and energy pool. Training speed is 75% slower than if the Vessel takes active control over the energy and vitality. -Devourer Dimension: Dimension meant to hold food for the Earth Fiend me. It can hold anything with an energy level beneath the Apotheosis Rank. To send living entities into it, they must be paralyzed and unable to resist.] The description of the [Gluttony Module] was tricky at times, like the fact he would only get 5% of everything the [Earth Fiend me] consumed. From a certain point of view, it did not make sense. There was always a loss in the energy of the things we consume, like, for example, when Cain used wave crystals. Cain could focus and try to send every single iota of energy into his Rebirth Heart to transform into Astral Wave, but it was impossible to consume 100%. There was always a loss, but it was small, around 7%. Still, that meant that Cain would get 93% of the energy from the things he consumed, something much higher than the 5% the [Earth Fiend me] would give him. However, unlike him, which could only consume certain things, the [Earth Fiend me]''s description had the words energy and matter, making a wild idea appear in Cain''s mind. "System, could I use the [Gluttony Module] to devour an entire mountain?" The idea of consuming a mountain was crazy, but there was a reason why its name was Absolute Life Form System. [As long as Vessel can send it into the Devourer Dimension and its energy level is beneath the Apotheosis Rank, nothing stops you from consuming an entire mountain.] Cain showed arge smile as he could not contain his excitement. Regardless of their strength, all cultivators were constantly searching for resources, and he just got a tool thatpletely solved the problem. Cain began to fantasize about the future. There might be a time when his strength reached such a divine level that he could use the [Gluttony Module] to consume stars and maybe even suns! Those wild dreams did not distract him for long, and after a few moments, he was able to concentrate again and immediately tested the efficacy of the [Gluttony Module]. He took several Wave Artifacts from his space ring meant for Wave Warriors. None of them had any use for him, and most people in his ce would either sell them back or give them as rewards, but now there was another path. A red force field covered all of the artifacts, and the next second, they were teleported into the [Devourer Dimension]. The [Earth Fiend me] expanded the instant they appeared, covering them with fire. Cain closed his eyes and saw how the artifacts melted, generating a stream of energy that he could use to improve his cultivation. Chapter 252 : New Lineage (I) The amount of energy he got from those Wave Artifacts was not much, but the speed with which the [Earth Fiend me] managed to consume all of them was shockingly fast. It made sense since the [Gluttony Module] should be at a level ording to his soul force, meaning for a Wave Champion. Since that was the case, it should be easy to devour Bronze Wave Artifacts meant for Wave Warriors. The [Earth Fiend me] left nothing of the more than a dozen Bronze Wave Artifacts in less than three minutes. Although they did not give much energy individually, all of them added up to arge amount. There were many things Cain wanted to try with the [Gluttony Module], but there was something he needed to do first. Now that he had unlocked the new module, it was time to evolve the old one. "System, evolve the [Gic Coder Module]." As soon as Cain gave thatmand, he heard the robotic voice of the system in his mind. [The evolution of the Gic Coder Module requires 1000 Destiny Force. Does the Vessel desire to carry on with themand?" "?Yes!" [Evolving the Gic Coder Module] Cain once again felt a sharp pain in his mind that was soon reced by a feeling of heaviness. Luckily, it did notst long, and he was good as new in a few seconds. [Gic Coder Module has evolved. ... Proceeding to disy new tools. ... -Gic Stimtion -Gic Suppression -Gic Enhancement] Just like with the case of the [A.I. Chip Module]''s tools, the only difference in the name of the new ones was theck of the word basic, but Cain knew that their power must have reached a whole new level. Cain analyzed [Gic Stimtion] and saw he could now evolve his Lightning Lupus Lineage to the Pseudo Wave King Level, the maximum theoretical purity, but what truly drew his attention was the [Gic Enhancement] tool. The previous version generated serious drawbacks that he was unwilling to ept, and he hoped the new one would be better. "System, disy the capabilities of [Gic enhancement]." [Disying avable gic enhancements: ... ... Due to the Gic Coder Module''s current capabilities, there are no adverse effects on gic enhancement, but Vessels'' current gic map can only endure one. For a new enhancement, there needs to be an evolution of the gic sequence. The projected oues are specific to the Lightning Lupus Bloodline. Different bloodlines will generate different oues as the effect on the genome will vary. ... -Enhanced Gic Strength: Enhance genes focused on physical strength. Projected oue: Increase strength by 9%. -Enhanced Gic Speed: Enhance genes focused on physical speed. Projected oue: Increase speed by 5%. -Enhanced Gic Vitality: Enhance genes focused on vitality. Projected oue: Increase vitality by 10%.] A wide smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw what he could do with [Gic Enhancement]. He found it hard to believe there could be an improvement in his strength, vitality, or speed of nearly 10% without any drawbacks. The only bad news was that Cain could only endure one as a Wave Warrior and would need to be a Wave Champion to do another since his gic sequence would evolve during those cultivation breakthroughs. Part of Cain wanted to immediately take advantage of the tool''s power and get an improvement of 10% in his vitality, but he was able to see things with a clear head. The current gic enhancements were rted to the Lightning Lupus Lineage, so there should be even better ones if he got an even stronger bloodline. Cain''s abilities had already reached the 3-Star Grand Gic Coder level in de Mountain, and he felt that the evolution of the [Gic Coder Module] improved his abilities even more. That should be enough for him to fulfill a dream he had for a very long time, the creation of a new Lineage for himself. As for what Lineage Cain dreamed of, it was exactly the one that allowed Iris to escape from Saharo City and overwhelm an enemy that was much stronger than her less than two months ago. Cain had studied Morgana''s notes and the information gathered by Apex from the experiment done in the scions. Thanks to the [A.I. Chip Module], he already knew the Gic Chain of the Lineage and could now create it. There were still three weeks until someone woulde to bring him to Blood Sea, and Cain nned to have his new Lineage before that. Using the military interface, Cain brought all the material required to generate the Wave Virus. As he waited for the material to arrive at his residence, he closed his eyes and rested his mind. Creating this Lineage would require extreme effort, so Cain needed to be in peak condition. He opened his eyes four hourster and saw that the materials were already in his room. Not wanting to waste any more time, Cain began to work. The first thing he needed to do was the generation of a Grand Vector, and it could not be any type. Cain needed to create a Grand Golden Vector with 0% ws for a Wave Virus that would engrave a bloodline in his genome. That was easier said than done since there were some 4-Star Grand Gic Coders who had already taken a step into the Saint Gic Coder realm and had never made one. Cain cleansed his mind of all distractions before starting to work. He failed again and again, but his skills improved a little with each try. The hours went by, and after an entire day of working non-stop, he finally did it. There was nothing but exhaustion on Cain''s mind, but that did not erase his smile as he saw the Grand Golden Vector that had 0% ws. Now came the creation of the Gic Chain, and if the Vector were hard, this part would be near impossible. Cain did not push through and instead chose to rest, as he needed to be at his peak if he wanted any chance of creating the Lineage''s Gic Chain. Right before going to sleep, Cain sought to test the abilities of the [Gluttony Module]. He sent dozens of death Wave Champion Beast into the [Devourer Dimension], where the [Earth Fiend me] set all of them aze, generating streams of energy and vitality. The speed at which the [Earth Fiend me] consumed them was fast, but not so fast as with the Bronze Wave Artifacts. Clearly, the higher the level of the resources, the more it would take to consume. Cain spent 100 Destiny Force to improve the devouring speed by 100% and another 100 points so the [Earth Fiend me] would drive the energy and vitality into his Rebirth Heart and body. That way, he could train even if he was sleeping. With everything in order, Cain went to sleep, and there was a rxed expression on his face as he felt his Astral Wave and body growing stronger. Cain slept for seven hours, a lot considering that his vitality diminished the amount of sleep his body needed. He immediately began to work on the creation of the Gic Chain. The Gic Chain of that Lineage was soplicated that Cain had to buy another batch of materials. He worked entire days and only went to sleep once he felt the exhaustion was diminishing his abilities. That carried on for one and a half weeks and more than a dozen new batches of materials. Cain was wealthy even by the standards of Wave Champions, but he burned over half of his money for this. Nevertheless, all the effort and resources spent were worth it for Cain once he saw the perfect Gic Chain. He managed to create it, and afterbining it with the wless Grand Golden Vector, he obtained a Wave Virus capable of engraving a new bloodline into his genome. "I did it!" Cain could not help but shout as he saw the capsule with golden liquid before him. After taking a moment to calm his heart, he focused. "System, analyze the Grand Wave Virus." Although the Grand Wave Virus in his possession seemed to be at a level above the Wave Champion realm, he hoped that the system would be able to analyze it. [Analyzing Grand Wave Virus. ... ... ... ...] The analysis was taking longer than Cain expected, and just as he thought it could not be done, he heard the robotic voice in his mind. [Analysis of Grand Wave Viruspleted. Lineage corresponds to an entity that reaches the Apotheosis Realm upon maturation.@@novelbin@@ There is a focus on strength and a disposition to the element of shadows and the force of darkness. Expected growth in all areas upon imntation. Name of the Lineage unknown.] Cain showed arge smile, and the trill in his heart was hard to describe. His Lineage hadgged behindtely, but now he could imnt a new one whose power would enhance his power and talent. Chapter 254 : Bloodless #1 [Vessel''s strength: 14.5] Cain clenched his fist as he saw that number since it was simply overwhelming strength for a Wave Warrior. It was a strength that matched that of some Wave Champion that evolved after wless Marrow. With his current strength, Cain was sure he could take Late Wave Champion head-on without the need to use assassination skills. ''I have grown much more powerful over thesest few weeks. Now that I have [Gluttony Module] and the improvement of my body done by Sun Seed and then Avernus Lineage, I am much more confident in handling anything that could happen in Blood Sea. It is time to look at Silver Wave Artifacts.'' Cain''s current energy pool was high enough for him to drive Wave Artifacts meant for Wave Champions, so he used the military interface to lose for one. It did not take long before a ck set of armor caught his attention. "Berserker Armor." That was the name of the armor set that caught Cain''s attention and consisted of a chest te, gauntlets, and boots. It did not have special abilities, and it only focused on protection.@@novelbin@@ Cain had no problem with the artifacts not providing skills since he no longer had any need for them since his repertory of spells and techniques covered all of his necessities. The entire set was worth 300.000 military credits, expensive even for Wave Champions, but Cain did not hesitate to buy it as it would be of great help and would not need new armor until his Astral Wave could drive Gold Wave Artifacts. After all his training and experiments, there was only one week left for his journey to the Blood Sea, and Cain was trying to figure out the best way to use that time. Standard cultivation would not do much, but then an idea came to his mind. There was something in his space ring that had a massive amount of vitality and energy and could devour with the help of his [Gluttony Module]. Cain waved his hand, and the corpse of Alexander Martel appeared in front of him. He had devoured all the blood in the body, but there was still a lot of energy left in his skeleton, tissues, and Sacred Organ that he could drain through the use of the [Earth Fiend me]. The ethical and moral dilemma of using the bodies of his own kind as a source of nutrients was something Cain overcame a long time ago. He would never do it with a friend but had no reservations about devouring an old bastard that attempted to kill him. Cain covered the body of Alexander Martel with his Ego Wave, and once the red force fieldpletely epassed this one, he was able to send it into the [Devourer Dimension]. Once Alexander Martel''s corpse reached the [Devourer Dimension], the [Earth Fiend me] immediately set it aze. Still, unlike Wave Artifacts and the corpses of Wave Champion Beast, it did not immediately start generating streams of energy and vitality. Cain was not surprised, as he still remembers how hard it was for him to pierce Alexander Martel''s chest to extract his blood. Despite being an Essence Wave Cultivator, the middle-aged man''s body was harder than most Silver Wave Artifacts. Although Essence Wave Cultivators can notpare with Astral Wave Cultivators at the same rank regarding body refinement, thinking they had a weak physique would be naive. Those with powerful Lineages and trained powerful auxiliary techniques could deploy impressive physical strength. ''At this rate, it will take two months for the [Earth Fiend me] to consume this Wave King''s corpsepletely.'' Two months was too much for Cain since he only had seven days left, so he had no other choice but to spend 5000 Destiny Force to improve the speed at which the [Earth Fiend me] consumed the corpse by 500% for the next five days. As soon as Cain did that, his eyes widened due to the sudden burst of vitality and energy that flooded his body. It was extremely dense and immensely pure and could almost effortlessly transfer into his flesh, blood, and energy pool. The quality of the energy and vitality Cain could attain from a Wave King''s corpse was easily ten times better than the ones from Wave Champion Beasts'' corpses. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he pushed his mind to its peak and made sure to suppress all exhaustion so that he could train for the next seven days without stopping. He used his Astral Wave as a mantle beneath his skin, ensuring no energy or vitality could escape his body as he activated the Blood Refinement Art and Sonic de Fusion Cultivation Technique. The vitality soon fused into his flesh and blood, making his body stronger and more resilient, improving his stamina and vitality. As for the energy, it made its way into the Rebirth Heart, where it was transformed into more Astral Wave that helped the growth of the meridians, making this one move deeper into the brain. Cain could feel how the meridians expanded through the corpus callosum and the thmus, immediately enhancing his cognitive abilities. Still, the most significant improvements were in his spatial awareness, along with the ability to receive sensory information and react to it. After the third day, Cain managed to jump from the middle stage of Level 8 into thete stage, initiating the improvement of his hypothmus. That impressive cultivation speed was partly thanks to the incredibly pure energy and vitality Cain got from Alexander but was also the result of his new Wave Talent. The cultivation speed of someone with a High Tier 7 was almost three times faster than someone with a Low Tier 7. Cain began to feel exhausted after the fourth day of cultivation, but he did not need to rest since a unique weapon in his arsenal could handle that. ''Sun Seed.'' Cain only had to think of his Alter-Ego, and this one acted on its own, flooding the inside of his veins with golden mes that washed away all the body and mental fatigue. A smile appeared on his face since Sun Seed was able to recover from all the exhaustion and could keep cultivating. Of course, using Sun Seed''s power only dyed that need for sleep and did not erase it. Cain did not lose focus and carried on with his cultivation, driving his meridians deeper into his brain. They were now improving his hypothmus, and he immediately felt the changes in his body. There was a massive improvement in his hemostasis and the regtion of his various bodily functions, along with enhanced control over his hunger, thirst, sleep, sexual behavior, and emotions. Finally, the end of the fifth day arrived, and the energy and vitality that emerged from the [Devourer Dimension] into Cain''s body diminished considerably. The 500% increase in the power of the [Earth Fiend me] was over, and Cain would not spend more Destiny Force in it since there was very little left, and he wanted to save it for an emergency. The [Earth Fiend me] continued consuming Alexander''s corpse, and with its current speed, it would do it for the next one and a half weeks, when nothing would be left. Cain could feel that his meridians had already wrapped around 90% of his brain, and he was close to evolving into Level 9. ''I doubt that the Ascendance of the Blood Moon will immediately start after I appear, so there is still time. I must be at the peak of Level 9 by then to use the lucky chance in that event if I want to achieve Void Marrow.'' Being so tired that he could barely open his eyes by the time the envoy of Blood Sea arrived, it would not be good, so Cain went to sleep. Cain woke up the next day and spent this time creating new Wave Viruses that could help him improve his Wave Talent and survival skill. On the seventh day, as he was still working, he heard a knock on his door before this one opened on its own. Two people crossed the door, and one of them was someone Cain already knew. "Good day, Major Laurifer. I see you really do work non-stop." Luther smiled at Cain as he guided a three-meter-tall bald man with white skin covered with ck armor into the room. Cain nodded to Luther, but his eyes could not leave the pale giant next to this one. It was not the man''s imposing body that disturbed him but the feeling of immense danger this one generated in him. He felt no different than a mortal in front of a raging bear, knowing there was no way to survive if this one decided to attack. Luther saw the severity in Cain''s eyes and nodded since that was the perfect response in front of the man by his side. Even he had a hard time keeping calm. "The gentleman by my side is Bloodless #1. He will bring you to Blood Sea." Chapter 255 : To Blood Sea Cain stared at the man named Bloodless #1 for a moment before sping his hand and performing a small bow. He did not know anything about the man, but it was clear this one was a powerhouse and strength deserved respect in the Godyer Humankind Empire. Bloodless nodded toward Cain, and he began to look at the young man in detail. He noticed an impressive physical constitution and a sharp light appeared in his eyes when he noticed the soul force of this one. Just like the Copsing Lightning Duke, Boodless #1 was surprised to see that someone so young as Cain had evolved his soul force to the realm of Wave Champion at level 8. "So you are the one His Highness sent me to bring to Blood Sea. Your current abilities are remarkable for someone so young. Let''s go." Bloodless #1 said nothing else before turning around and walking out of the residence. Cain was a little surprised by the overbearing attitude of the man, but he was not bothered too much since all powerhouses had extravagant personalities. He had already packed all his belongings in his space ring, so there was no need to dy things. As for Luther, he just smiled and did not really care about Bloodless #1''s attitude. He just followed Bloodless #1 and Cain, and then the three got in a military vehicle. The military vehicle moved at an impressive speed, nearly supersonic, but that was too slow for someone like Bloodless #1. He could have easily risen into the sky and reached the exit of the Imperial Lightning Fort in a few seconds. However, no matter how overbearing Bloodless #1 was, he was not crazy enough to ignore the rules of the Copsing Lightning Duke.@@novelbin@@ Soldiers saw the vehicle moving across the fort''s streets at supersonic speed, and some could recognize Cain inside it. Seeing the greatest geniuses of the Imperial Lightning Fort in a vehicle alongside someone so striking as Bloodless #1 generated wild ideas in those young soldiers, which would surely evolve into even wilder gossip. Cain couldn''t care less about the rumors that could spread about him since only those with too much free time on their hands would pay any attention. His mind was not on the bald, pale giant before him. The only thing Cain perceived from Bloodless #1 was an immeasurable physical strength and nothing more. There was no aura or density of Astral Wave that could suggest a certain cultivation level. For all Cain knew, this man was a Titan. "How long will it take us to reach Blood Sea?" Cain did not feel the need to remain quiet the entire journey, so he asked a question that had been bugging him for the past few days. He had a map of the entire Copsing Lightning Sector in his [A.I. Chip Module], but special locations like Blood Sea were not in it. Even with the military clearance of a Major, he had no ess to that information. Of course, he attempted to use the [Hacking] tool to learn about it, but he only got a broad estimate. Bloodless #1 had closed his eyes once he got into the vehicle and did not open them even after hearing Cain speak, but he did answer. "How long we take to reach the Blood Sea will depend on you." That was not a very useful answer, but there was nothing Cain could do about it other than nod. The rest of the trip was silent, with neither of the three speaking to the other until they finally reached a massive gate that led to the outside. Just as Bloodless #1 and Cain exited the military vehicle, Luther spoke toward thest. "Major Laurifer, before you go, I must convey a message from the Copsing Lightning Duke." Cain stared at Luther for a moment. There was no reason for a military order from the highestmander of the Imperial Lightning Fort not to be delivered directly through the [A.I. Chip] unless you want other people to hear it. Bloodless #1 also understood the meaning behind Luther''s actions, and there was no expression on his face, but he did focus on the bald man. "The Copsing Lightning Duke orders you to return to the Imperial Lightning Fort within a year. If you do notply, the First Pir will go after you. I advise you toe back since the Leader of the Copsing Lightning Pirs is a madman who makes havoc wherever he goes." Luther spoke to Cain, but he nced at Bloodless #1 when he mentioned the First Pir, and there was a clear intent in his eyes. The Imperial Lightning Fort will respect the right of the Blood Duke to summon Cain toward Blood Sea, but they should know that if their scheme resulted in the young man''s death, there would be consequences. Bloodless #1''s eyes narrowed when he heard the name First Pir. If there were two people he would really not want to fight, those would be the Copsing Lightning Duke and the First Pir. He did not say a word and just walked toward the fort''s exit. "I will make sure to remember the words of the Copsing Lightning Duke." Cain sped his hand and performed a small bow toward Luther before going after Bloodless #1. Luther saw the duo leave andmanded the vehicle to take him back into the Titan Tower. There was nothing he could do other than wish Cain good luck and hope to see the young man again in the future. Cain exited the fort and searched for Bloodless #1''s ship, but there was nothing, and before he could even ask what kind of vehicle they would take, the man pointed to the northwest. "Blood Sea is 44.210 kilometers in that direction." Bloodless #1 calmly began to walk in that direction. Cain stared at Bloodless #1, and then a light of realization appeared in his eyes as he understood what was happening. "We are going to walk all the way!?" The distance that Bloodless #1 just described wasrger than the circumference of the Old World, so walking all the way was crazy. "Not walk, run." Chapter 257 : Bloodflow Fury Just like when Cain sent his Ego Wave into the starry gem that held Blood Hand, an illusion appeared in his mind, and he saw a man standing on top of an ocean full of blood. What surprised Cain was the fact that the man was Bloodless #1. It seemed that the powerhouse was the one that engraved the technique into the starry gem. For a moment, Cain wondered if he engraved his understanding of a Saint Technique in the future, whether people would see a picture of him going over the technique. Those thoughts did notst for long as soon his focus returned to Bloodless #1 as this one went over the Blood Refinement Art. Bloodless #1 started from the beginning, devouring the blood beneath his feet and using it to nurture his flesh. Then came the formation of Blood Energy. Those were the first and second levels of the Blood Refinement Art, something Cain knew very well, but the next part waspletely new for him. Once the Blood Energy in the body reached its peak and you could not hold any more of it inside, it was time to create Blood Runes. A Blood Rune was the crystallization of Blood Energy, each very small but capable of holding massive amounts of energy. Creating a single rune meant the evolution to the third level of the Blood Refinement Art. The process of creating each Blood Rune was extremelyplicated, but Cain could gain a basic understanding and tap into the experiences that Bloodless #1 engraved in the starry gem. As you advance to the third level, the amount of Blood Runes inside your body will increase. The final number was determined by your constitution, with those with a strong physique able to hold much more than others. In the end, the number of Blood Runes inside your body will reach its apex, and at that point wille the fourth level, the creation of the Blood Core. If generating a Blood Rune wasplicated, the birth of a Blood Core was nearly impossible to decipher. Cain''s cognitive abilities were superb thanks to his soul force and Ego Wave, but even he had difficulty figuring out how to evolve from the third level to the fourth. Seeing the wonders that the body could achieve was beyond amazing for Cain. The Essence Evolution Path of Power deciphered the mysteries of the world and nature, tapping into the power of the Laws. Yet, the way the Astral Rebirth Path of Power analyzed and modified the body was not any less wonderful and intricate. Cain''s eyes regained focus shortly after the illusion showed every part of the third and fourth levels of the Blood Refinement Art in detail. He stared at Bloodless #1 before bowing, expressing his appreciation. After that, Cain did not lose time and used the Blood Orb to increase the amount of Blood Energy inside his body. His constitution had already reached the Wave Champion level a long time ago, allowing him to attain the peak of the second level of the Blood Refinement Art. It was still a little too soon to evolve into the third level since Cain''s body could still hold more Blood Energy, but he could practice the creation of Blood Runes. That way, as soon as his current capacity for Blood Energy reached its limit, he could instantly advance to the third level. Bloodless #1 focused on Cain, and his eyes grew sharp. He wanted to see with his own eyes the body domain of the young man, and he was immediately satisfied when he saw the superb blood control of this one. Cain was able to divide his mind into two tasks. One was improving his cultivation, and the other was his mastery over the Blood Refinement Art. After four hours, Cain halted his cultivation as he saw Bloodless #1 turning to the northwest, and he understood that they needed to continue their journey. The duo returned to continue their run, moving at supersonic speed. Bloodless #1 was in the lead, shattering everything in his path, while Cain followed him silently. Four and a half hours of runningter, Bloodless #1 stopped since the young man behind him could no longer carry on. Cain''s breathing was rough, but he kept aposed expression on his face as he adopted a meditative stance on the ground and renewed his cultivation. After another four hours, Cain stood up since he noticed that Bloodless #1 was doing the same, but to his surprise, instead of immediately shing forward, this one adopted a battle stance. Bloodless #1 raised his arms, protecting his face, while tucking his elbows in and putting one foot in front of the other while slightly bending the knee. Cain recognized that stance as one prevalent among the fighters of the Old World''s Muay Thai, a martial art known for its brutality as it focused on breaking bones and doing lethal damage to the opponent. "This is the battle style most of the Bloodless Force practice and goes by the name of Bloodflow Fury. As you can deduce, it draws inspiration from Muay Thai, but the true key behind its power is a profound understanding of the body''s blood flow. Through manipting blood cirction, we can enhance our skills to an impressive level and unleash devastating strikes. During ventricr ejection, meaning the moment your heart ejects the blood inside it to the rest of your body, you extend your extremity to carry on with the attack. And during ventricr filling, the moment your heart fills with blood, you retract your extremity and prepare for a new attack. This style allows you not only to express an immense power with each attack but also to save your energy, diminishing the speed at which your stamina depletes."@@novelbin@@ Bloodless #1 spoke with a profound voice, and there was a sharp light in his eyes, making it clear how important this technique was and how much effort he put into perfecting it. Cain noticed the importance of the lesson, and he made sure to erase everything else from his mind other than Bloodless #1. "There are two fundamentalponents of Bloodflow Fury, and the first one is Blood Activation. Its essence is the stimtion of blood cirction, increasing your heart rate and improving your strength and speed. However, you must go even further to unlock the full power of the technique. You must control your blood flow to the point your ventricr ejection and ventricr filling are no longer automatic processes and are under yourmand. From what I have learned from my brother''s reports, you already have a skill that allows you to increase your blood flow. And since you are at Body Over Mind, the only thing you need to control your ventricr filling and ejection is practice." Bloodless #1 stopped speaking, and his eyes grew sharp as he began to unleash a barrage of attacks thatbined punches, kicks, along with elbow and knee strikes. Cain''s pupils dted as he focused on Bloodless #1. Every attack was followed by another with even greater strength, leaving no openings. Bloodless #1 heart rate increased along with the speed of his and strength of his strikes. The attacks were growing so profound and fast that Cain could only see a blur and was not able to decipher the power behind them. The way Bloodless #1 deployed those kicks and punches was amazing and soplex that not even supeputers of the Old World could analyze them. After demonstrating just howplex Bloodflow Fury could be, Bloodless #1 slowed the speed of his attacks until they stopped. "The second fundamentalponent of Bloodflow Fury is Vital Pressure Point. It refers to our ability tond precise strikes to the vital pressure point along with the body''s meridians, exploiting the interconnectedness of blood flow and energy pathways. By targeting these points, we disrupt our enemies'' blood flow, temporarily weakening them or inducing temporary paralysis. It allows for efficient and precise strikes that maximize the effectiveness of our attacks. There are four basic strikes on Bloodflwo Fury: Flowing Fist, Crimson Knee and Elbows, Tempest Kick, and Vessel Strike." Bloodless #1 extended his arm forward and rxed his shoulders before unleashing punches that moved like lighting and shadows, fast and unpredictable, in patterns that left no opening and could break any defense. "Flowing First. You must channel your blood flow into your fists, enhancing the impact and speed of their punches." After that, Bloodless #1 retracted his arms and moved his right leg forward and his left leg back. Right after adopting that position, he unleashed a barrage of kicks with overwhelming strength that could extend way further than the fists. "Tempest Kick. You channel your blood flow into their legs to deliver powerful kicks capable of devastating impact. They have a lesser speed than Flowing Fist but greater strength and range." Cain''s made sure to engrave every moment and word that came from Bloodless #1 since what he was learning was superb. Chapter 258 : Blood Rebirth After Tempest Kick, Blooless #1 took a deep breath, and his heartbeat grew even more potent as a red glow emerged from his elbows and knees. He then began to unleash strikes with them that carried so much strength that giant gales formed due to their momentum. "Crimons Knees and Elbows. By channeling my blood flow across my knees and elbows, you can deliver bone-crushing blows that can incapacitate opponents and are especially good at breaking defenses and armor." Cain instinctively nodded as he doubted a bone, armor, or shield could endure those strikes. "Finallyes Vessel Strike. It is the essence of the technique and the hardest to master. I form a fist with my hand before making the middle and index fingers protrude." Bloodless #1 adopted that hand position and began to strike with a strength and precision that defying logic. Instead of a hammer like Flowing Fist and Tempest Kick, Vessel Strike was a nail aimed at a small point and doing horrible damage. "Vessel Strikes allow me to obstruct or redirect blood cirction of an enemy momentarily, weakening his defenses and temporarily diminishing their strength, providing an opening for further attacks." After finishing thatst barrage of strikes, Bloodless #1 lowered his arms and broke his fighting stance before turning at Cain. "Show me what you have learned." Cain''s eyes were sharp as he nodded at Bloodless #1 and closed his eyes. He was going through every move the man did, trying to remember their essence and how to replicate them. Bloodless #1 did not get upset because Cain made him wait. On the contrary, that was precisely the behavior he expected from someone like the young soldier. Instead of rushing things, taking a moment and preparing yourself was better. Cain kept his eyes closed for an entire hour, but when he finally opened them, there was a bursting red light as he adopted the Bloodflow Fury''s battle stance. His heartbeat increased as he activated First Gear, driving his blood flow fast enough to carry on with the most basic form of the technique. Bloodless #1 saw Cain''s skin turn red just before this one unleashed a barrage of strikes thatbined the Flowing Fist and Tempest Kick. He nodded and expected Cain only to unleash that level since the other two techniques required a much stronger blood flow, and he did not expect the young man to have that type of technique. "THUMP!" Bloodless #1 was wrong and saw with shock how Cain''s body turned even redder, his veins bulging and his heartbeat hammering with so much strength that it resembled a bell. Cain activated Second Gear along with the power of the Sun Seed, bncing the destructive powers of the first with the regeneration of the second. That increase in his blow flow and agility allowed him to unleash Crimson Elbows and Knees and Vessel Strike. A small smile appeared on Bloodless #1 as he saw Cain''s skill and talent. There was nothing better for someone that wanted to teach than a gifted and hardworking student. "Raise your shoulders, lower your center of gravity, straighten your back." Bloodless #1 began to guide Cain, correcting the mistakes and slowly improving the young man''s technique. There were times simple words would not be enough, and he would demonstrate before asking Cain to do it again. Theplexity of Bloodflow Fury was so high that calling it a Saint Technique would not be wrong since it was impossible to learn it by relying on mere words. After two hours, Bloodless #1 raised his hand, indicating that the training was over and telling Cain to rest. Half an hourter, the duo shed to the northwest at supersonic speed. For the next couple of days, Cain only did three things. He ran at supersonic speed for several hours before improving his cultivation and mastery over Blood Refinement Art, and finally, he honed his skill over Bloodflow Fury. After five days, Bloodless #1 and Cain manage to reach the peak of a mountain, and what they saw generated a profound sense of awe and wonder in the young man''s heart. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw in the distance a giant body of water resembling an ocean, full of blood, extending to the horizon. He could still feel the overwhelming vitality in those blood waters despite how far it was. Facing that magnificent sea was arge ind, and built on it, there was a massive city. Unlike most designs in the empire, which had a futuristic aura, the building in that city resembled those of an ancient culture of the Old World. Right in the center of that ind, there was a majestic pagoda whose might did not fall behind that of the Imperial Lightning Fort''s Titan Tower. As soon as Cain put his eyes on that pagoda, he felt two sets of eyes focusing on him. One was familiar, and he deduced they belonged to the Blood Duke, but the other was new. The second set of eyes were dark and had a viciousness in them, which only grew once they focused on Cain. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as his Ego Wave instinctively burst with power, protecting his mind from the dark intent emanating from the pagoda. The dark eyes, full of viciousness, did not focus too long on Cain and soon vanished along with the ones from the Blood Duke. A severe expression appeared on Cain''s face since it became clear to him that the enemy of the Blood Duke was inside that pagoda. "ording to my knowledge, you have a Saint Cultivation Technique and should be aware of Blood Rebirth." Cain was taken aback by the words of Bloodless #1 and stared at the man for a moment before nodding. "Yes, it is described in my Sonic de Fusion Technique. It is the key to building my foundation through the Wave Champion Rank, which is simr to marrow washing for Wave Warriors. It is the process in which the blood inside my body evolves beyond the realm of mortality, granting me incredible speed, strength, and vitality, along with a supernatural resistance to toxins and diseases. Blood Rebirth has four stages: Red Blood Stage, Blue Blood Stage, Golden Blood Stage, and Mercury Blood Stage. Each stage is countless times harder to achieve than the previous one, and upon reaching the Golden Blood Stage, my vitality and energy would be high enough to evolve into a Wave King." Cain did not hide anything since there was no way a powerhouse like Bloodless #1 would have less cultivation knowledge than him. Bloodless #1 stared at the city surrounded by that sea of blood as he talked to Cain. "You are correct; there are four stages, and you can evolve beyond Peak Wave Champion upon attaining Golden Blood Stage. However, although you could be a Wave King at that point, it would be nearly impossible to advance beyond the early level, and that would most likely be the end of your road." Cain nodded since that was a piece of information that the Sonic de Fusion had already shared with him, but he did not lose focus. "That is what theory says, but there is no such thing as absolutes in cultivation; take me, for example. I evolved to Wave Champion with borderline wless Marrow, so I should not have been able to achieve Mercury Blood. Yet, through great effort and the help of my seniors, I managed to fix that w and do what the theory says could not happen." Bloodless #1 raised a finger to his mouth and bit it, making a small wound, before allowing a drop of golden blood with a silver glow to fall to the ground.@@novelbin@@ "?Boom!" Shock appeared in Cain''s eyes when he saw how a single drop of blood fell to the ground with the might of a cannonball. It was so dense that despite measuring less than a centimeter in range, its weight had to surpass ten kilograms. Cain stared at Bloodless #1 with pure awe as he wondered what kind of strength the man''s circtory system had. "As you can see, there is no w that can not be mended with enough effort and hard work, but the same goes the other way around. You must never growcent about your current achievements, no matter how high they are, since that is the key to failure." It would be easy for a genius like Cain to fail to understand the meaning of those words since it already became routine for him to stand up above the rest of the people his age, but the solemn light in his eyes made it clear he paid attention. Bloodless #1 nodded as he saw that Cain did not let his current achievement cloud his judgment. "Very good. The Blood Duke is waiting for you in the Blood Pagoda. Do not make him wait." Those were thest words that Bloodless #1 said before vanishing. Cain was a little surprised to see Bloodless #1 disappeared just like that but immediately regained his focus as he stared at the Blood Pagoda again. Chapter 259 : To the Blood Pagoda (I) One way to reach the ind would be by swimming, but Cain was not dumb enough to jump into a sea full of blood. There was no way to know what kind of Wave Beasts where there it or if the blood itself was toxic. Luckily, arge city was built on the shore. Unlike most cities built in the Godyer Humankind Empire, there were no walls around it. That would be deadly in most cases due to Wave Beasts hiding in the forest, but the ce waspletely barren of such vegetal life. Humans focused on keeping a stable bnce with the ecosystem but did not go out of their way to create forests or the like. Usually, norge settlement would form in such barren terrain, but it was clear to Cain that the sea of blood proportionated all the energy and vitality that people and cultivators could need. There were other problems since mortals could not survive without the proteins and vitamins given by vegetables, but those were easily fixed by either pharmacologic technology ormerce. Cain did not bother too much with how such a city could thrive and instead focused on the bridge connecting to the ind, which he could use to reach the Blood Pagoda. Things would probably not go so smoothly, but there was no point in dying things. He descended the mountain and used Sonic Dash until reaching close enough to the city. People were going on with their lives, but just as he was about to get near them to learn a little more about their lives, he noticed a strange expression on their faces. Most people saw Cain with a mixture of curiosity and caution. There was nothing wrong with that, especially if this was a ce that did not receive many outsiders. Yet, there was a small percentage of the poption whose gazes made Cain frown. He could feel their hostility and disdain, which made no sense since he had never seen those people. What was even weirder was that some of them were much lower than Cain in terms of power and status. Still, they dared to look down at him with contempt and did not even bother to hide their emotions. People looking at him as if they were superior was something Cain was used to since he had seen it many times in scions, but the gazes of disdain came frommoners. All that brought great confusion to Cain, as their behavior was irrational, but he soon got an answer. "Racial prejudice." Cain heard Apex''s voice in his mind and could not help but frown as he remembered an ideology of the Old World.@@novelbin@@ ''Racism?'' It was true that the Godyer Humankind Empire indoctrinated people on the idea that humans were superior to Wave Beast and the Dark Races, which is why they were allowed to kill them without remorse, the idea that some humans were better than others just for the colors of their skin was no longer present. There was also the fact that the people living in this ce did not share anymon racial characteristics. "It is not as vain as the color of their skin or the form of their eyes. From what I can see, they formed some sort of racial identity based on their bloodlines." Cain''s eyes narrowed. He used his invisible Ego Wave to analyze the people in the city and detected the same bloodline in every man, woman, and child. There were some minor variations and differences in purity, but the essence of the bloodline in each of them was the same. It was not weird for Noble Families to have the same bloodline, but it was highly unusual for that to happen in a city with a poption in the millions. The idea they were all rted was ridiculous, so the most likely answer would be that something in this ce generated that bloodline in the people. Although all of it was fascinating, that was not why Cain came to Blood Sea, and there was no reason to get into problems, so he avoided everybody and simply made his way to the bridge. Of course, the fact that Cain did not want trouble did not mean people would not make them for him. Some began to walk in his direction, and their expressions made it clear what they wanted. However, before they could even get near him, Cain would look at them with red eyes. None of those people could endure the pressure of a Wave King''s willpower and immediately back down. "Hmph." Cain sneered, and they were lucky that was all he did. Looking down on others just due to the way they were born was beyond stupid for him, especially if that person surpassed him in every conceivable measure. Not wanting to waste time, Cain hurried up to the bridge, and as he reached the shore, he saw hundreds of youngsters and people in their early twenties line up. All of them wore red robes with the words outer disciples on their backs, amon terminology in some martial sects. Seeing that attire made Cain understand a little more about Blood Sea, but what really drew his attention was how all those disciples were in a meditative position in front of the shore and seemed to be drawing the blood into their bodies. Even more interesting was that the disciples were all exactly ten meters away from each other. That was clearly with the intent not to disturb each other during their training, but Cain could not help but feel they were making a defensive formation. ''They use the blood that reaches the shore to cultivate while, at the same time, forming a barrier that protects the city from any form of aquatic life that might try to attack. What a practical mechanism.'' Cain could not help but feel admiration for the person who came up with such a practical method to cultivate their disciples and simultaneously protect the people. Just as Cain focused on the disciples, many opened their eyes and turned toward him. He immediately felt the hostile gazes in around half of the disciples, a much more significant proportion than the one in the city. That told Cain that the ideology of racial superiority based on their bloodlines came from the ind and was stronger in the disciples than inmoners. That was not good news for him since it meant he would find himself in a ce where half of the poption would hate him just because of the blood running through his veins. If there was one thing that Cain was not in the mood to handle was bigotry and ignorance, so he just ignored the gazes of the disciples and continued to the bridge. However, before he could get a foot in it, two disciples got in his way. "We are the Blood Bridge''s guard." "And we do not allow people like you to enter Blood Ind." Cain stared at the duo, whose appearance could not be more typical. Both hadrge bodies with bulging muscles but were just Level 9 Wave Warriors, and neither had a particrly good foundation. There were many ways in which Cain could handle them, with the most straightforward being crushing both of them using brute strength, but there was a reason why Bloodless #1 left him on the mountain and made him walk to the Blood Pagoda alone. Cain needed to prove how he could handle a situation where the answer was not brute strength. It was true he could crush the duo in a second, but that would only give the people he hated an excuse to throw him in jail or maybe even worse. A more subtle way would be to use hypnosis, and he was sure no one of the people present would even notice it, but there were extremely powerful individuals watching every move he made. Using the name of Bloodless #1 or the Blood Duke would also not work since even if they believed him, that meant he needed to rely on them for something so simple as reaching the Blood Pagoda, proving that hecked in terms of wisdom. Luckily, there was another path Cain could take, which relied on no one else but his own status. He waved his hand, taking a small card from his space ring and showing it to the duo. As soon as the two disciples guarding the bridge saw it, the expression on their faces changed, and they were not alone since the rest on the shore were also surprised when they read the words on the crystal card. [Imperial Lightning Fort Division: Major Cain Laurifer]. Even if they were racist garbage, there was no way a few mere Wave Warriors would dare to look down on the Imperial Army. "I am a Major of the Imperial Army. I came from the Imperial Lighting Fort to speak with someone in the Blood Pagoda. Anyone in my path will consider an interrupting military affair, and I have the right to report their crimes to the capital." Chapter 260 : To the Blood Pagoda (II) The two guards looked at each other when they saw Caim''s military identification. Their behavior was typical of bullies, valiant against those they believe themselves superior but afraid of the ones with strength. Never would they dare to disrespect the Imperial Army, the strongest force in the entire empire under themand of the current Emperor of Humankind. Resentment and rage appeared on the duo''s faces, but in the end, they only sneered before moving away from Cain''s path. "We would never dare to obstruct a Major from the Imperial Lightning Fort during a mission, but I must warn you that the bridge is in repairs, and there could be problems with the force field keeping Wave Beasts away." Cain stared at the guard that spoke those words before focusing on the bridge. It was over five thousand meters long, withrge pirs every one hundred meters generating a sky-blue veil that covered the road. Since it was a straight path, with nothing obstructing his view, Cain could see all the way to the other end of the bridge. There were no problems with the pirs or the sky-blue veils, but he noticed someone stopping people on the other edge of the bridge. There could be actual problems with the bridge, but the most likely answer was that someone with enough power sent orders to these disciples, ensuring they generated trouble for Cain. It was likely that the sky-blue veil protecting the bridge would shut down once he was in the middle of it, leaving him exposed to the attack of the Wave Beasts living inside the sea of blood. Cain only shook his head at such a foolish trap and simply walked forward.@@novelbin@@ The two guards smiled as they saw Cain walking to the bridge and were ready to send the signal when this one was in the middle of the road. "?Boom!" However, those smiles froze when they heard a sonic boom and saw Cain vanish, only for this one to appear more than three hundred meters into the road in less than a second! A bridge over five thousand meters was long, but someone moving at supersonic speed could cover it in less than twenty seconds! One of the guards was able to ovee the shock and immediately used his A.I. Chip tomunicate with someone. "He is moving at supersonic speed!" As soon as the guard sent that message, the sky-blue veil covering the bridge turned off, and not even a secondter, the blood around the bridge grew restless. Cain could feel several eyes on him, some belonging to extremely powerful people, but he kept moving forward and did not take his eyes away from the road. He had covered a third of the path when several figures emerged from the sea of blood and lunged toward him. The Wave Beasts in this part of the sea of blood did not get to enjoy human flesh due to the sky-blue veil protecting the bridge and the wall of disciples on the shore, so they reacted like wild and hungry beasts when they saw Cain unprotected. On the ind''s side of the bridge was a tall young man with blonde hair and a red robe covering his body. Unlike that of the guards and the rest on the shore, his robe had the words Inner Disciple engraved on its back. A nasty smile could be seen on his face when he saw the Wave Beasts lunging toward Cain, but the next second all the thrill in his heart was reced by shock. The first beast that reached Cain was a Wave Champion Beast with the form of a giant sharp. Its razor-sharp teeth were about to reach the young man when its body split in half! Confusion appeared in the eyes of the blonde man on the ind as he could not understand how Wave Champion Beast perished like that, andplete stupefaction assaulted him when he saw the rest of the Wave Champion Beasts lunging toward Cain suffer the same fate. Cain''s face showed nothing, and he kept moving forward, with every Wave Beast lunging toward him, splitting in half before touching his body. Once Cain was less than five hundred meters away, the blonde man could see what was really happening. "A sword, no. It is a machete!" The one dividing the horde of Wave Champion Beasts lunging toward Cain from every direction was no other than ughter. He moved the machete so fast that those with weak cultivation could not follow it with their eyes. A sense of fear and awe appeared in the heart of the blonde young man when he saw Cain''s red eyes focusing on him. Before he could even move a muscle, he felt the reaper''s scythe on his neck, paralyzing him with fear. "?Boom!" Cain''s speed and momentum were so fast that he generated a shock wave as he stopped right in front of the blonde youth, pushing the rest of the disciples away. The blonde man was told to do all he could to stop Cain from moving forward into the ind, and he was more than happy with that mission. Yet, when he saw those red eyes, his instincts screamed danger, and he did not dare to move a single muscle other than to get away from Cain''s path. Cain nced at the blonde man before turning his eyes to the rest of the disciples. His eyes were cold and bursting with a red light full of killing intent. Although he made it look easy, taking care of all those Wave Beasts took all of Cain''s strength, and a single wrong step could have ended in his death. There was no way a typical Level 8 Wave Warrior could have survived that, and if they were willing to take his life, there was nothing wrong with him ending theirs. ''s, I must keep a cold mind. The one behind all this must be waiting for an excuse, but I will not give it to him.'' "Hmph." Cain sneered before walking deeper into the ind, making his way toward the Blood Pagoda. He kept his bloody machete in the open, ready to handle anything they could send him. That certainly made him look hostile, but he was not in the mood to be friendly right now. As Cain got deeper into Blood Ind, he began to analyze his surroundings, and the first thing he noticed was the thin red fog covering the ind. Just breathing the red fog made Cain feel energized, and he was sure that a prolonged exposition could affect your constitution and maybe even your genes, especially if you were exposed during your gestation. The mystery about the special Lineage in everybody living near the sea of blood became a little clearer for Cain. Still, he really wanted to know the origin of the racial superiority mentality. Humans indeed had a tendency to arrogant and narcissistic behavior, but the idea of racial superiority was disdained from the beginning of the empire when Adam guided people of all ethnicity and ideologies against the Dark Races. After that, the notion of believing yourself superior for a racial aspect had been considered extremely idiotic. The fact they generated this racial identity behind a Lineage made things easier to understand, but still, for arge part of the poption to hate those they never saw before, you needed indoctrination. Cain nced at the people and saw that almost everybody had a red robe indicating their position as disciples, and that around a third of them looked at him with some degree of contempt. The rest of the disciples either ignored him or threw inquisitive gazes, curious about the presence of an outsider on the ind. Still, none of them got near Cain, nor the other way around. Cain considered it wiser to reach the Blood Pagoda and speak with the Blood Duke, learning about the situation on Blood Sea, before doing anything that could lead to more problems. Luckily, it seemed that the direct shes stopped after the bridge. The person behind it saw what he wanted to know or was afraid of generating a sh within the ind''s boundaries. Blood Ind was not veryrge, so Cain did not take long to reach the Blood Pago. When he stood in front of the massive building, he was surprised by the density of the red fog around it. It was an impressive sight, but he did not waste too much time, instead walking into the Blood Pagoda. As soon as he crossed the gates, a familiar face appeared. Bloodless #1 looked at Cain and nodded before turning around and indicating for the young man to walk with him. Cain walked with Bloodless #1 as he looked at the first level of the Blood Pagoda. Unlike the Titan Tower, where there was nothing but the teleportation matrix, Cain saw nearly a dozen people drinking and talking there. There was one thing inmon with all of the people here: they were Wave Kings and looked at him with hostility! Chapter 263 : Assassination attempt on the first day "YOU DARE!" Cain''s rage exploded as a red force field full of killing intent emerged from his brain, focusing on the young woman he was supposed to protect. Very few things could incite Cain to lose control of his feelings. One of them was insulting the memory of histe father, the man he worshiped more than anyone else in the words. The other was someone using the image of the only woman who showed what true love meant and gave her life to save him. Beelze''s face as he held her in his arms still appeared in Cain''s mind from time to time, and every time it hurt. Time had slowly closed that wound, but it remained and might never fully disappear.@@novelbin@@ The Blood Maiden''s expression when she appeared in the room was one of disinterest since she did not expect much from a Wave Warrior, but it was not her ce to question the Blood Duke''s decisions. However, right now, Cain was like a ruthless monster, and those red eyes would not rest until her head was in a spike. The red force field was about to sh with the Blood Maiden, drowning her, when the Blood Duke acted. "Hmph!" It only took a sneer from the Blood Duke to shatter Cain''s Ego Wave, making his body tremble and puke a mouthful of blood. Cain cleaned the blood from his mouth as he turned toward the Blood Duke. His eyes were cold, but he managed to get his emotions under control. "Ahhhh." The Blood Duke could not help but sigh since he did not want this to happen, but he did not get too angry with Cain. He had an idea of what had just urred and could not me the young man for his enraged behavior. "Shura''s Lineage tends to generate an emotional response in people when they first meet her, making them see in her their deepest desire, the one they longed for more than anyone else in the world. It is an innate ability, and she has no control over it." Focus returned to the Blood Maiden as she recovered from the initial shock of Cain''s killing intent. She frowned as coldness appeared on her face. "Why is there a need to ask for forgiveness? He should be the one imploring my mercy for his unruly behavior!" Shura''s heart was full of rage as she stared at Cain, and it seemed she was ready to fight. Yet, as soon as the Blood Duke looked at her, she immediately calmed down. Cain gave one final nce to the young woman before turning toward the Blood Duke. In those eyes, there was no sense of friendship or anything resembling that, only pure pragmatism. "I will protect her and kill anyone at the Wave Champion Rank that intends to harm her. However, I will prioritize my life if we face Wave Kings." A Blood Champion''s sole purpose was to protect the Blood Maiden, giving their life for her if needed, but Cain just made it clear that he would not go to those extremes for Shura. The Blood Duke would not have allowed anyone else that dared to utter those words, immediately taking away their spot and giving it to someone else. Yet, he only looked at Cain before nodding. "I ept. Bloodless #1 will take you out of the pagoda. All the information about your residence and the trials has already been sent to your A.I. Chip. In case you want to buy or sell, there is also a channel to ess the Blood Sea''swork." Shura was shocked to see how the Blood Dukepromised to a Wave Warrior, and she looked again at Cain, trying to see what made him so unique. Cain did not care about Shura''s shock and just walked with Bloodless #1 toward the teleportation matrix. Right before stepping into it, he turned his head to the Blood Duke. "I understand the weight of my debt with you, and I intend to pay it, but make no mistake. I don''t care how extensive your chessboard is; I am not a pawn." A sharp light appeared in the Blood Duke as he stared at Cain, and his impression of the young man advanced several levels. Shura frowned as she looked between the Blood Duke and Cain, not understanding what type of chessboard they were talking about. Of course, Cain would not exin it to Shura and just stood into the teleportation matrix, returning to the first floor. "Uncle, what was that rude man talking about?" Shura could not contain her curiosity and finally made that question to the Blood Duke. The Blood Duke turned to the girl and could not help but wish she had the same level of wisdom that Cain did, although that would make everything harder for him. "You don''t have to worry about it. You should only focus onpleting all the trials to perfection and showing the might of the Integrationist Path." Shura nodded, erasing the doubts in her mind, leaving only a deep sense of focus. --- Cain frowned as he left the Blood Pagoda and headed to his residence. The details of the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon were all already in his [A.I. Chip Module], and he understood that he still had a month before the trials started. There were festivals and carnivals to celebrate the Ascendance of the Blood Moon over the next few weeks, with the Blood Maiden and Blood Champions taking an important ceremonial role in them, but Cain was not in the mood for it. If there was free time, he preferred to use it to raise his strength. Cain''s residence was near the Blood Pagoda, resembling a small building. His room was on one of the upper floors, and while he noticed many people on the way, he was not in the mood to talk to any of them. He entered the building and headed to the teleportation matrix, vanishing from the first floor and appearing in his room the next second. The room was not veryrge, with a bed on one side and a small table on the other. It was minimalistic but had all Cain could need, so it should be enough. However, Cain had only taken two steps into the room when a message appeared in his mind. [WARNING! ?WARNING! There is an individual in the right corner of the room. He is hiding his presence with a high-level technique, but Vessel''s Ego Wave should be able to detect him if focused on that point. Interference stops the A.I. Chip from doing a correct scan of the target. A jamming signal has been put in ce. There is no way tomunicate with the outside world.] Just before his pupils could erge and his heartbeat increased as the body started the fight or flight response, Cain used his immensely powerful willpower to block it. ''An assassin? So fast? They did not wait a single day before sending someone to take my life. For my senses not to catch him, that person must be very powerful and have mastered the art of assassination to a level even greater than mine.'' Cain''s mind worked at a shocking speed, trying to decipher every path he could take right now. Moving back into the teleportation matrix would not be wise since he would be in extreme danger if the assassin interfered somehow with it. No one woulde to help him, so he had to take care of the assassin alone. The only silver lining was that the assassin did not know Cain had already discovered him. Cain continued walking forward, not losing any momentum, as if nothing had happened. He reached his bed, waving his hand and taking several objects from his space ring. All of the things that Cain took out of his space ring weremon necessities, but just as his hand was out of the hidden figure''s field of view, ughter appeared in it. ''When facing an assassin, you must assume they had extensively researched you. That meant they would know all your moves, but also that the shock and surprise they would feel if you showed them something new would be much greater.'' Cain remembered the words of his Assassination Military Specialization teacher as the grip of ughter tightened, and a red light appeared in his eyes. A red force field flooded the room, showing Cain the assassin''s exact location as his Astral Wave burst, and he activated Second Gear. A figure covered in shadows materialized in the corner of the room, and his eyes were sharp as he saw the macheteing his way. He did not run away and instead used a small dagger to answer the machete. Cian could not hide his surprise when he saw how the figure covered in shadows managed to parry every attack he made with his machete. Those emotions only grew stronger in Cain''s heart when the figure covered in shadows pushed forward, using a super dagger technique to push ughter out of his grasp! Chapter 264 : Saint Void State Technique There was utter shock on Cain''s face as the machete was sent away from his grasp, but as the assassin came closer, a cold smile appeared. His heartbeat grew even stronger as he pushed Second Gear to the limit, ensuring Sun Seed flowed his body with golden mes so it would not crumble under pressure. Cain''s hands and wrists turned into blood gems as dark energy covered his extremities, and then he adopted the battle stance of Bloodflow Fury. "CLANK!" The sound of steel shing against steel echoed inside the room as Cain pushed the dagger out of his path before unleashing Flowing Fist and Tempest Kick against the man covered in shadows. Immense surprise appeared in the assassin''s eyes when Cain hit his dagger with so much strength that it nearly sent it flying away, just like he had done with ughter. ording to his knowledge of the young man, this one did not excel in strength and definitely did not possess a top-tier melee close-range technique. Yet, the assassin could not negate what he was seeing as the barrage of punches and kicks pushed him back toward the corner where he came from. Cain''s eyes were full of killing intent as he pushed himself to the limit, and all his attacks were aimed at vital points. He felt his muscle tearing due to the effort but could not afford to slow down since a single breath would be enough to diminish his momentum, something the assassin could take advantage of. Despite Cain''s speed and technique, the assassin could dodge every single attack, never once having to block, but things changed when he was finally pushed back into the corner. Such narrow space would limit your attack speed, but Cain only changed to Crimson Knees and Elbows, making them glow as he sent a knee strike toward the assassin''s groin. That knee could break steel walls, so the damage it could do to a person''s crotch would be no joke. Cain was sure his attack would generate enough damage and pain to incapacitate the assassin long enough he could use Blood Revolution. That was his killing blow, and the strength he could unleash with it now was enough to kill a Peak Wave Champion. However, just as Cain''s knee was about tond, the assassin melted into a puddle of shadows. Before Cain could ovee the shock, the assassin appeared right behind him. ''?A Wake King!'' That feat was something no Wave Champion could do, so the only exnation would be that the assassin was a Wave King!@@novelbin@@ "Your counter-assassination techniques have improved a lot, young man." Just as Cain''s mind worked at full power, trying to figure out a way out of this problem, he heard the assassin''s voice, and there was a mixture of surprise and relief in his eyes. Shadows slowly dissipated, showing the figure of the assassin, and it was no other than Jonathan, the Assassination Military Specialization''s teacher. Cain turned around and looked at Jonathan with confusion as he deactivated Second Gear, Blood Hand, and Darkness Fusion. There was no rage in his eyes for the pseudo-assassination attempt. If Jonathan had truly wanted to kill him, there was no way he would not havested more than three seconds. "Teacher." Cain sped his hand and nodded toward the man. Jonathan smiled as he saw the rational light andposure in Cain''s eyes, not jumping to conclusions. "Long time no see, young man. You have grown really powerful and have gained a Lineage that enhanced the shadow element and darkness force. Those two will be of great help during your future assassination mission." Cain only nodded toward Jonathan but kept looking at this one with an inquisitive gaze. There must be a reason why the man was here. "I am here due to an assassination contract, but not yours. It is in the name of Shura Bloodriver, the Blood Maiden of the Integrationist Path." Although an assassin should never reveal his target, Jonathan showed no hesitation in sharing that information with Cain. A frown appeared on Cain''s face when he heard that since no matter his personal feelings for Shura, he was her Blood Champion and had to protect her. "Is the Aegon Family taking the contract?" Cain had learned a lot about Beelze''s family and knew they were professional assassins. Although he did not want to antagonize them, neither could he just do nothing as they went after Shura. Jonathan stared at Cain for a moment before shaking his head, rxing the young man. "The contract reached the Aegon Family, but after learning about the Blood Duke saving your life and your trip to Blood Sea, I used my influence to reject it. However, it is an open contract, so anyone can take it, meaning more assassins will being for her. Luckily, those will be mostly Wave Champions since no sane Wave King would take the job." Cain understood the meaning behind Jonathan''s words. No matter how great the reward was, it had no value if you were dead, and the Blood Duke would hunt down anyone that dared to kill the Blood Maiden. Wave Champions could take the contract since they were either old people with very little time left or were secluded from civilization, making it easy to hide. However, there was no Wave King that was not at least a little bit famous in the empire, making tracking them down very easy. The only ones in the entire Copsing Lightning Sector that would not have to hide if they took the contract on Shura would be the Aegon family since they did not fear the Blood Sea or Blood Duke. Luckily, he would not have to worry about them since Jonathan already took care of it. "I wanted to test your skills and initially nned to advise you to stay away from the Blood Maiden, but I can see by your abilities that you at least should be able to survive." Facing Wave Champion Beast and assassins were very different things, and Jonathan wanted to see how well Cain would fare against them. The oue of their sh told him all he needed to know. Cain sped his hand and, this time, bowed to Jonathan since this information would make protecting Shura easier. Now he knew what kind of enemy he would have to be on the lookout for. "I appreciate the information." "Oh, a warning is not all I brought with me." Jonathan smiled as he waved his hand and took a starry gem from his space ring. "Here is theplete Void State Technique, including the fourth and fifth levels that raise its tier to a Saint Technique." A sh of desire appeared in Cain''s eyes as he focused on the starry gem. He had reached the limit of the third level a long time ago, and his assassination skills had stagnated. The fourth and fifth levels of Void State could really help him improve Cain''s assassination skills, and the fact they were categorized as a Saint Technique meant they were truly superb. Cain stared at the starry gem for a while before looking at Jonathan. "Assassinations?" Nothing was free in the world. No matter how good the rtionship between Cain and Jonathan was, the Void State Saint Technique belonged to the Aegon Family, and they would not just hand it over without expecting something in return. Cain learned the art of assassination to take care of his enemies, not to make a job out of it. After all, he had easier ways to make money, like hypnosis or selling Wave Viruses. "We have more than enough assassins in the Aegon Family, many of them much better than you. We were hoping you could use your influence on the Blood Duke to facilitate a deal between the Aegon Family and Blood Sea, so we can purchase some unique cultivation resources that grow in this area. Of course, we are not expecting you to do it right now since your words have little weight in the Blood Duke''s decisions, but things would change if you do well in the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon." Jonathan went straight to the point, exining what the higher-ups of the Aegon Family hoped to get in exchange for the Saint Technique. "A trade deal?" Cain smiled as he heard what the Aegon Family wanted. Although he had never done one, it was all about rtionships and influence, something he would have if everything went well. He did not hesitate before epting the proposition. The best way of handling a group of assassins was to have better technique than theirs, so he needed the Void State Saint Technique. Jonathan smiled and threw the starry gem toward Cain before his body melted into shadows again, only to vanish from the room the next second. Cain could not help but feel awe at the might Jonathan could unleash through the use of the Laws. ''They are truly an unfathomable power.'' Chapter 265 : 99% ''They are truly an unfathomable power.'' Although the Essence Evolution Path of Powercked the force to transform your body at a molecr level, the power someone could attain through the use of the Laws was incredible. Cain felt really tempted by them, but he did not waste time on useless thoughts and focused on the task at hand. Before deciding how to allocate his time over the next month, he sent his Ego Wave into the starry gem to see just how strong Void State was. Like with his other Saint Technique, when Cain sent his willpower into the starry gem, his mind was transformed into an illusion. However, this time there was not just a person but a small city with a road full of people. The setting confused Cain, but he was able to find the man that engraved the technique into the starry gem. He was two and a half meters tall with a muscr body, long white hair, and pale skin that seemed never to have touched sunlight. Despite that striking appearance, the man could walk by the side of the road, not calling the attention of anyone who did not stand directly in front of him. That was a wless disy of Void Breath, but the next part truly drew Cain''s interest. The man''s eyes began to glow with silver light as he unleashed his Ego Wave, covering himself with it before taking a deep breath andpletely shutting down his vital signs. Next, he began to walk among the crowd. Since the road was so full of people and the man''s body was so massive, not bumping into someone was near impossible. He did not even make an effort to avoid it, but that was where the shocking part came. Even after bumping into his massive body, the people could not see him! The man stood before them, but they frantically looked around, trying to find the person they shed with. Cain''s eyes widened, and he understood that the fourth level of Void State required more than just superb body and energy control. You needed a mastery over Free Ego that even he found hard to attain. Void State did not have a requirement over your cultivation base, but the difficulty was greater than any of Cain''s techniques, including Blood Hand. After meddling among the crow, the man walked forward, and even after unleashing his Astral Wave, he was still invisible to everybody around him. Cain could not take his eyes off the man, and he noticed how this one walked to a small group two hundred meters ahead. His eyes widened when he focused on the group since it was a Wave King surrounded by an entourage of Peak Wave Champions!@@novelbin@@ The Astral Wave that the tall man with white hair unleashed made it clear to Cain that this one was a Peak Wave Champion, yet it seemed he was ready to assassinate a Wave King in in daylight while nearly a dozen people surrounded this one. No one would believe that an assassination would be possible under those circumstances. Still, Cain saw clearly how the man''s presence vanished to an even higher degree, and now the people that got in touch with him were also covered by his cloaking aura. Just as he was less than two meters from the Wave King, the man made his Astral Wave explode before concentrating everything on his index finger and attacking. The Wave King''s eyes widened as his instincts reacted, but it was toote since the man''s finger had already pierced the back of its head, right on the soft spot where the skull connected with the spine. After the man finished the job, he took his finger from the Wave King, letting the body fall to the ground while the cloaking aura stilly on it. All that the entourage of Peak Wave Champions saw was that the Wave King suddenly vanished. They even trampled over the body of their leader while looking for this one since they could not see it. Cain could not hide the shock and awe he felt in his heart since that level of assassination technique was divine. It was not just Void State, but the man was able to hide every trace of killing intent and kept a cold mind the entire time. "That is the essence of the Void State. Your presence bes so weak that people''s senses are unable to detect you, tricking their minds into believing you don''t exist." A cold voice appeared behind Cain, and he turned around, seeing that the giant man had also managed to trick his senses. The next second the illusion ended, and he got ess to all the knowledge on how to practice and master Void State. Cain opened his eyes, and there was admiration as he remembered the white-haired man. "He seemed to be in his mid-twenties and had already mastered Void State to its absolute peak. What a monster!" Even if he did not have to protect Shura from a horde of assassins, Cain would have definitely made the mastery of Void State a priority. "Four weeks from now, Shura will leave to undergo her Four Trials of Purity. No one will be dumb enough to go after her inside the Blood Sea, with the Blood Duke looking after her, so I don''t need to worry. I will divide my time between Blood Hand''s Fourth Level, Blood Refinement Art''s Third Level, Void State''s Fourth Level, and my Sonic de Fusion Cultivation Technique." Cain put his body and mind in a state of Embryonic Breathing to enhance his cultivation and reduce his need to sleep. After that, he ignored everything else and made sure the system only interrupted him if it was a message from the Blood Duke. --- While Cain used every second he had to train, a massive festival epassed the entire Blood Sea. From the young to the old, everybody had fun as the Blood Maiden and Blood Champions walked around the city and ind, saluting people and improving their mood. It was a truly joyful time, but everything had toe to an end, and after four weeks, it was time for the Blood Maidens to start the Four Trials of Purity, starting with the Purity of Body. There were two dragon-like Wave Champions Beasts outside of Blood City, each holding several youths on their backs. Thousands of people hade to see the Blood Maidens leave, and dozens of powerhouses were in the sky looking at both groups. Everything was ready for their trip, or at least almost everything. Unlike the Blood Maiden from the Purist Path, Shura only had nine Blood Champions behind her since thest one had yet to arrive, dying her departure. The Blood Maiden from the Purist Path was a young woman with long ck hair, blue eyes, a beautiful face, and a petite body full of vitality and energy. She focused on Shura and the Blood Champions before showing a friendly smile. "Sister Shura, is there any problem with your Blood Champions?" Although the young woman smiled, Shura could see the mockery in her eyes. "Hmph, Ametria, I do not need your help. Since you are ready, then leave." Shura'' felt a great fury against Ametria, but the one she was outraged against was no other than Cain, who had yet to arrive. "I don''t want people to think I am taking advantage of your situation. I will wait with you." Ametria dying her departure made things even more embarrassing for Shura, and she knew it. The argument did not limit only to the Blood Maidens. There were two people high in the sky whose strengths allowed them to stand above everybody else. One of them was the Blood Duke, and the other was an old man with bloody eyes, long white hair, a short body, and wrinkles all over his face. Despite the seemingly weak appearance of the second, his strength was high enough to crush mountains with a movement of his hands. "Your judgment is wed. An outsider can not be trusted." The High Blood Elder spoke toward the Blood Duke, and there was a disapproving light in his eyes. The Blood Duke stared back at the old man, and while he showed nothing on his face, he was furious on the inside. ''This damm brat!'' He had made many concessions to Cain, but that did not mean he would allow a Wave Warrior to act as this one pleased and ignore his words. A message was sent two hours ago, informing Cain about the departure, but this one was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, the Blood Duke and the High Blood Elder looked toward the Blood Ind as they felt a presence approaching their location at supersonic speed. Cain finally appearing did not erase the Blood Duke''s rage since this one was arriving two hourste, but as he focused on the young man''s body, arge smile appeared on his face, and all the anger was gone. On the contrary, the High Blood Elder, who had shown no interest in Cain before, focused on the young man with cold eyes. The reason for the reaction of both supreme powerhouses was that they could feel Cain''s marrow-washing percentage, and it was over 99%! Chapter 267 : Creating a Blood Rune "?BOOM!" Finally, a st urred, but it was not due to a sh between the blonde Blood Champion and Cain. It happened when a young man with short ck hair dived toward the ground between them. The neer had short ck hair, green eyes, and an impressive two-meter and twenty-centimeter stature. He came from the dragon with Shura in it, and his cultivation was the same as the blonde Blood Champion from the Purist Path, but the physical pressure he unleashed was much greater. "Surin!" The blonde man chasing after Cain shouted, and he adopted a solemn expression, raising his guard and moving back. "It is enough, Jeremy. Go back to your group and stop making a fool of yourself. If you want to keep dying things, the one you will have to face is me!" Surin''s blue eyes glowed with a golden light, deploying willpower at the peak of the Wave Champion Rank.@@novelbin@@ Jeremy stared at Surin for a moment but did not dare to fight against this one with so many people watching over them and simply sneered before turning around and returning to the Purist Path''s Wave Beast. Cain saw how Jeremy left and then turned toward Surin before nodding. "Thanks for that." Although he was not in danger, Jeremy was bing a problem since Cain could not solely focus on defense in a situation like that. After all, his opponent''s energy pool was much greater than his. Surin turned around and nced at Cain with cold eyes before speaking in a stern voice. "If you can not fight, your presence will only be a hindrance to Lady Shura." Not wanting to waste any more time, Surin jumped out of the ground,nding softly on the Wave Beast right behind Shura. Cain noticed the animosity in Surin''s eyes. Still, unlike Jeremy and the rest of the people in the Purist Path, the young man''s feelings targeted him, not his ethnicity or bloodline. ''Well, at least he hates me for the content of my character nor for the blood running through my veins.'' That thought nearly made Cain burst intoughter as he trashed such an iconic slogan from his Old World. He did not want to waste time either, so he jumped to the Wave Beast and sat in the back, away from the rest of the Blood Champions. Ametria nced at Cain with disdain and loath for a moment but did not keep trying to make a scene and patted the Wave Beast''s head, making this one rise into the air and fly away at supersonic speed. On the other hand, Shura could not help keeping her eyes on Cain. She remembered clearly how that young man managed to speak back to the Blood Duke and how his willpower seemed capable of shattering everything on his path. Someone like that could not possibly be a coward that was too afraid of fighting a Wave Champion. ''Was his bravery with my uncle all a facade?'' Shura could not help but think as she stared at Cain, trying to decipher just what kind of person the young man was. "My Lady?" Surin''s words brought Shura back to reality, and she shook her head, erasing all those thoughts and focusing on her mission. She tapped the Wave Beast''s head, and this one rose into the sky, leaving Blood Sea. As soon as both dragons vanished from their sight, people on the ground began to disperse, but the same could not be said about the powerhouses in the sky. The Wave Kings from the Purist Path look at the Wave Kings from the Integrationist Path scornfully. The division between the groups had risen so much that hostility was already present in their hearts. Blood Sea was one of the strongest forces in the entire Godyer Humankind Empire, but its internal division weakened them significantly. Both sides knew that, but the sh in their ideologies was not something they could fix with just words, at least not anymore. The members of both paths believed they were in the right and that their way would help the Blood Sea, with the Integrationist Path considering that expansion and exchange were essential for the safety and growth of their people. However, members of the Purist Path had the firm idea that the only way for the Blood Sea to rise was to reject any foreign influence, not allowing outsiders to taint their minds or bloodlines. Istion usually led empires to crumble, regardless of their size, since even the Godyer Humankind had to make alliances to face the dangers of the Dark Race. Yet, the Purist Path considered that they did not have to rely on others for anything since that would only open the door to problems. In all fairness, the fears of the Purist Path were not unfounded since many powers across the empire wanted to take the Blood Sea for themselves. A lesson that was still vivid in their minds after the events that happened one hundred years ago. The Blood Duke stared at the High Blood Elder for a moment before turning around and shing toward the Blood Pagoda. Any diplomatic way to fix their problem vanished when Ivan was assassinated. The High Blood Elder nced at the Blood Duke before turning his eyes toward the Wave Beast bringing Shura out of the Blood Sea. Despite the beast being over a dozen kilometers away, he could see everybody in it as if they were right by his side. He had a contingency for every possible problem, but Cain''s arrival was a wild card. Of course, he was not concerned by a mere Level 9 Wave Warrior, but the people behind Cain were the type he could not simply ignore. There was no way that the Imperial Lightning Fort would simply ignore if one of its most promising stars were to die due to the actions of the Purist Path. ''Everything is already in motion, so I can not stop it even if I wanted.'' A sharp light appeared in the High Blood Elder''s eyes as he shed toward the Blood Pagoda. Regardless of how things turned out, he had to be in peak physical and mental condition for what woulde next. --- Cain stood at the back of the dragon-like Wave Beast as this one coursed through the air, moving at Mach 4, reaching a speed that surpassed one thousand meters per second. The pressure of the wind at that speed was like a hammer, but Cain could ignore it thanks to his strong body and powerful mind. All the Blood Champions were chatting among themselves, but it was clear that the center of their attention was Shura, and they were ignoring Cain. Cain did not care about the rtionship of Shura with those men, but he could not help to stare at them for a moment and felt that something was odd since every one of the Blood Champions was a man. Since a tournament chose them, it made sense that at least a woman managed to gain a position among them, but it was not the case. It was clear that it was not simply coincidence, involving secrets about the Ascendance of the Blood Moon he was unaware of, but he did not really care about it. As for the fact the Blood Champions were ignoring him, that was something that Cain preferred since he had many things to do, with the first being the analysis of his body and cultivation. The Blood Duke''s summoning arrived amid his breakthrough, and as soon as he stabilized his cultivation, he shed to the outside of Blood City. ''System, scan me.'' Cain''s thoughts were all the Absolute Life Form System needed to act, and soon the information appeared in his mind. [Scanning Vessel. ... ... ... Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Level 9 Wave Warrior) Lineage: Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: Middle Tier 7 ( High Tier 7) --- Stats: Strength: 14.5-->16.7 Agility: 8.1-->9.2 Vitality: 14.1-->15.8 Wave: 9.0-->10.4 Blood Energy: 12.5-->12.9 --- Marrow washing: 99.07%pletion --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 20.1%] Cain smiled as he saw his stats. He had felt the surging power in his body after the breakthrough to Level 9, but it was even better than he expected. The one that did not obtain a massive improvement was his Blood Energy, but the reason for that only made Cain''s smile grow wider. His body finally reached saturation, and he could raise his Blood Refinement Art to the next level. Rising to the third level meant the generation of Blood Runes, which was an extremelyplicated process, but Cain had already mastered it during his journey with Bloodless #1. Not wanting to waste time, Cain took a deep breath and adopted a meditative position before closing his eyes. He took control of the Blood Energy in his body, redirecting it into his Rebirth Heart, where it began to condense. Thirty minutester, Cain''s body trembled as a glowing crimson rune was now inside his heart. Chapter 268 : White Heat Breath Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions were talking calmly when their eyes widened, and they looked to the back of the Wave Beast. Shock appeared on their faces when they felt the burst of Blood Energying from inside Cain''s body. Cain did not want to draw attention, but the generation of the Blood Rune generated a qualitative change in the Blood Energy running through his body, and he could not avoid its radiation from being noticed by the others since they were so close to each other. The Blood Champions focused on Cain, as they could not believe what they just saw. All of them trained in the Body Refinement Art and were familiarized with the change in their Blood Energy upon the generation of Blood Runes. Still, reaching the Blood Refinement Art''s Third Level while being a Wave Warrior was someone only one of them managed to achieve. Surin remembered just how hard it was for him to develop the Blood Rune, and unlike Cain, the Lineage running through his veins was tailored to improve the skills based on blood. Despite having that advantage over the other, Cain still managed to equal his feat. Cain noticed the eyes of all the Blood Champions but did not care and carried on with his training, taking the blood orb that Bloodless #1 gave him from his space ring. He had generated the Prima Blood Rune, which contained the totality of his Blood Energy, and now it was time to create Secondary Blood Runes to increase his energy pool. The blood orb contained a massive amount of vitality and blood essence, helping Cain generate Secondary Blood Runes much faster. The first Secondary Blood Rune emerged in just ten minutes, and the second came even quicker. After creating five of them, Cain felt that he reached his limit. ''I need to improve my cultivation and the strength of my body to continue generating more Secondary Blood Runes. System, show me my Blood Energy.'' A second after thatmand, a virtual screen appeared in Cain''s sight. [Blood Energy: 12.9 -->15.1] Such a massive improvement made Cain smile. An energy pool of fifteen points was something usually reserved for Wave Champions. Yet, he managed to get it while being a Level 9 Wave Warrior, meaning it would only growrger upon his breakthrough! Focus returned to Cain''s eyes as he calmed the excitement in his heart. He had indeed grown stronger, but the assassins that woulde for Shura would not be weak, and if he grewcent, they might take his life. ''My cultivation has already stabilized, and I can increase it again.'' Cain sent several corpses of Wave Champion Beasts and Silver Artifacts to the [Devourer Dimension] so the [Earth Fiend me] could generate a stream of energy and vitality to his body while at the same time taking wave crystals from his space ring. He adopted a meditative position and closed his eyes while making the Wave run through his meridians, ignoring everything else. The expansion of his meridians through his brain wasplete, so Cain now had to focus on the next step. Level 9 was quite straightforward. You need to reforge your meridians, increasing their thickness, flexibility, durability, and the number of branches emerging from them. Ultimately, you needed to expand your meridians to the point they could extend into every corner of your body, directly nurturing all the muscle fibers and the entire nervous system and coating all the bones in the skeletal system. While this level was not asplex as the previous ones since the meridians did not need guidance and would extend on their own, it did require an overwhelming amount of energy. If someone with a low Wave Talent were to reach this level, it might take them decades to finish it, but that was undoubtedly not Cain''s case. Shura and the Blood Champions had yet to recover from the shock of Cain''s Blood Runes when they saw the speed at which he devoured the Wave from those wave crystals. None of them could urately measure Cain''s Wave Talent, but it was clear it did not fall behind that of Surin or Shura, two of the greatest young geniuses of Blood Sea. It was not easy for the Blood Champions to ept that the talent of someone they had a bad impression of could be so high. Their previous behavior had been rude to Cain, so approaching him now would be awkward, and they decided to keep things as they were. Shura, on the other hand, only stared at Cain. She had not directly ostracized the young man, but neither did she attempt to establish a rtionship since she remembered very well his words during the meeting with the Blood Duke. Since Cain did not really care about her life or the Ascendance of the Blood Moon and was here just to pay a debt, she would treat him as the mercenary he was. Cain''s impressive talent would not change the way she behaved around him. Cain was happy with how things turned out with Shura and the Blood Champions since he was not in the mood to make friends and wanted to use every second he had to improve his strength. He only opened his eyes when a cold wind crashed into his body, and he knew they had reached their first destination. The first of the Four Trials of Purity was the Purity of Body, which involved Shura''s journey into an extraordinary geyser to help her body attain a pristine state. Many of those special bodies of water could be found across the Gaia Continent, and the one that the Integrationist Path chose was one deep inside a frozen mountain range named Ice Crown. Ice Crown earned its name due to therge mountain peaks that adopted a circr formation, generating a cold force field on top of them that could freeze Wave Kings. The only way to get into the core of the mountain range would be by making their way through the snow in the ground. Shura tapped the Wave Beast''s head, indicating that this one should go down. If it kept flying forward, it would freeze along with all of them. After reaching the ground, everybody jumped out of the Wave Beast, and this one immediately rose into the sky and flew away to a warmer zone. They would call it back after they finished their mission in this ce, and it was time to move to the next destination. Despite all of them having strong constitutions, the cold affected their bodies harshly, especially for Shura since she was an Essence Early Wave Champion. She and the Blood Champions immediately activated their armor. Wave Artifacts had thermoregtory properties, so they could keep them warm even in such dangerous terrains, but there was a downside. The artifacts needed to consume their Wave to work so that it would drain a small portion of their energy pool during their journey. Of course, a slight decrease in their energy pool was much better than having their bodies react slower due to the freezing cold, so they all did it. All except for one. Cain became the center of attention of the group again, and just as they wondered what he was trying to do, he took a golden capsule from his space ring and injected it into his neck. Shura and the Blood Champions saw Cain''s body tremble for a moment before his skin gained a shining glow, and they noticed his sparkling white breath. "Was that a Grand Wave Virus?" Unlike the Blood Champions, who felt awkward interacting with Cain, Shura did not have those problems and asked the man directly. Cain had noticed Shura''s objective attitude and silently nodded since that would make protecting her much easier. "Its name is White Heat Breath. It is a 3-Star Grand Wave Virus that generates a thickyer of brown fat beneath my skin, acting as a natural thermoregtor. That will protect me from the cold. The virus also generates an enzyme that acts at the level of my lungs, improving my ability to separate oxygen from carbon dioxide in the air I take in, keeping the first inside my lungs and exuding the second." Surin and the rest of the Blood Champion were amazed by the effect of the Wave Virus, especially thest part. They understand that high ces with cold air affect your breathing and drain your stamina. Cain considered things momentarily before focusing on Shura and throwing a golden capsule at her. If she could respond better to threats, it would be easier for him to keep her alive. Shura caught the Wave Virust and stared at this one for a moment before frowning. She had used her A.I. Chip to scan it, but there was no information in it. All the goods sold through the empire''swork had a certification since there were people in charge of analyzing the products, making sure they were legit. That was especially true for Wave Virus and drugs. Cain did not get angry at Shura for her words; after all, only an idiot would inject something inside their bodies that aplete stranger gave to them. "I made it."@@novelbin@@ Chapter 269 : Into Ice Crown "I made it." Shock appeared in the eyes of Shura and the Blood Champions when they heard that. Cain had already demonstrated a superb talent in Astral Rebirth Path of Power along with a divine Wave Talent. And now they learned he was also a Gic Coder capable of creating 3-Star Wave Viruses!? "That is impossible!" One of the Blood Champions could not help but shout after hearing Cain''s words. He was a tall young man with short blue hair, green eyes, and a small scar on the side of his neck. The name of the Blood Champion was Radin. He was neen years old and was also a Gic Coder, but unlike Cain''s, his abilities only granted him the title of 1-Star Grand Gic Coder. It was very impressive for someone so young as Radin to be a Grand Gic Coder, and it was an achievement that took all his effort and energy, so he could not believe that someone like Cain was already a 3-Star Grand Gic Coder. Cain nced at Radin but did not offer any exnation to the man and simply focused on Shura. The intent in his eyes was clear; if the woman did not want the capsule, she could return it. Shura stared at Cain for a moment before deactivating her Wave Artifact and injecting the capsule into her neck. "My Lady!" Surin was surprised by Shura''s actions, and he was unable to stop her. He only could wait with worry as her body trembled for a moment before a shining glow emerged on her skin, and her breath became sparkling.@@novelbin@@ Shura felt that the Ice Crown''s freezing air was no longer a problem since her body could endure the cold, and her lungs did a much better job keeping the oxygen in while releasing the carbon dioxide. "My Lady, do you trust that man so much?" Surin asked Shura, trying to understand the motive behind her actions, and that was a question that aroused the interest of all the Blood Champions. Cain was also slightly surprised by her decisiveness, so he wanted to hear what she said. Shura stared at Cain before softly shaking her head. "I do not trust him, but I trust the Blood Duke''s judgment. He would not have put someone in my team that would purposely harm me." The Blood Champion seemed to rx when they heard that as if they were happy that it was not Cain who she was getting closer to. Cain stared at Shura and was indeed impressed by the young woman''s perspicuity. "Do you have more?" Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions regained their focus when they heard Shura asking Cain about more of those Wave Viruses. Although their rtionship with Cain was awkward, the White Heat Breath Wave Virus would greatly help them in this ce, so they really wanted it. Cain waved his hand, revealing nine more of the golden capsules to Shura, which excited the Blood Champion since that meant everyone could get one. "How much?" The moment Shura said that, the smiles in the Blood Champions froze. Cain was not their friend, but they were working together, so they expected this one to think of the team first and profitster, but it seemed that would not be the case. "The market price of White Heat Breath is 45.000 military credits, and when sold in a location, that price increases by a factor of 1.5. Considering our group''s special circumstances, I will sell you the nine for 450.000." Surin and the rest of the Blood Champion could not help but frown when they heard that. They understood that generating Wave Viruses was expensive and did not wish Cain to hand it for free, but they did not expect this one to seek profits from this. It would not have been a great problem for Cain to simply hand over the Wave Viruses since the amount of wealth this deal gave him would not really make a difference, but he wanted to create a distance between him and the Blood Champions. He could not afford Shura to be weak since that would make his job much moreplicated, but if the rest of the people refused the Wave Virus, it would be fine. The reason Cain wanted distance between himself and the Blood Champions had to do with his n to take care of the assassins going after Shura. Shura did not hesitate before taking a wave crystal and red orb from his space ring and sending it to Cain. "Thebined price of those two should be more than enough to pay for the Wave Viruses." Cain caught the wave crystal and red orb and saw they were a mid-quality wave crystal and a Blood Orb simr to the one Bloodless #1 gave him on their journey. He smiled before throwing the capsules to the Blood Champions. None of the Blood Champions said any word of thanks toward Cain as they felt no gratitude toward him due to his attitude. They stop sending Astral Wave into the Wave Artifact, deactivating their armors before injecting the capsules into their necks. Once that was over, the Blood Champions looked at each other and nodded before adopting a battle formation around Shura. The one at the lead was Surin, whose eyes glowed with golden light before he released his Ego Wave. Surin was a Late Wave Champion, and due to his talent, it made sense he had managed to enter Mind over Body already. The golden force field he unleashed was able to extend for over five hundred meters, making it clear his willpower already reached the Peak Wave Champion and was making strides into the Wave King Rank. After Surin, the eyes of four other Late Wave Champions glowed as they unleashed their own Ego Waves. Their names were Sebastian, Roric, and Martin, and while their force field could only cover four hundred meters, they were still impressive. Surin, Sebastian, Roric, and Martin did not simply superimpose their force field one over the other. Instead, they disyed superb teamwork by spreading their Ego Waves in different directions. The force field spread in the four cardinal directions, generating a domain that could detect any threat in a radius of 850 meters around Shura. After Surin, Sebastian, Roric, and Martin finished with the force field, the other five Blood Champions positioned themselves as an outeryer of protection. Anyone that saw the movements of the nine Blood Champions would understand that it was a battle formation they trained for a long time and had mastered with great effort. The only one that was outside of the battle formation was Cain. He had joined them by order of the Blood Duke in thest month and never met before leaving Blood Sea, and they could not simply add him to the formation. Just as Surin was about tomand Cain, he saw the eyes of the young man glow with red light before a force field resembling a blood tsunami emerged from the brain of this one. Cain unleashed his Ego Wave, generating a red force field that extended four thousand meters forward, spreading in all directions. It epassed thebined force fields of Surin and the others, extending for a muchrger area. That massive red force field did not remain for long since the next second, it became invisible, and its aura vanished, making it extremely hard for any Wave Beast to detect it. Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions were shocked by the massive force field that emerged from Cain''s mind, and it was clear that the Ego Wave of the young man was greater than any of them. "Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix." Surin was able to figure out the key behind that Ego Wave immediately since the mightiest genius of the Purist Path was also someone born with it. Enlightenment appeared in the Blood Champions, and they could not help but frown as they saw all Cain''s gifts. It would not be a problem if the young man''s attitude weren''t so aggravating. And if the Blood Champions did not like him already, their feelings grew even worse when they heard him speak. "I will take the scout role, trying to carve out less conflict toward the geysers and warn you about the dangers. However, I will not fight." Some of the Blood Champions grew furious when they heard Cain''s words. They could not believe he was so shameless as to dere he would not participate in the fighting. Yet, before they could say a word, Surin stopped them. Surin stared at Cain and nodded before deactivating his force field and indicating Sebastian, Roric, and Martin to do the same. There was no point in keeping their Free Ego active if Cain''s could cover a much greater terrain than theirs. He then signaled the group to move forward, keeping their defensive formation around Shura. Cain calmly walked behind the group, but a sh of coldness appeared in his eyes for a second as he had detected assassins just as they entered the Ice Crown. Chapter 271 : Reachign the geysers Cain''s eyes were cold as he took the old man''s life. He silently sent the corpse into his space ring before looking into the distance. Norman was not the only assassin since there was a duo of middle-aged men with a cultivation at the Late Wave Champion Rank moving toward Shura. Shadows once again covered his body as he made his way toward the duo.@@novelbin@@ The two assassins working together were very much alike, making it seem they were brothers. The one at the lead took a deep breath as he took a small dagger and began silently channeling his Astral Wave in it. Just as the middle-aged man was about to signal his brother to trigger the cloaking spells, he heard a cracking sound, and as he turned his head, a sense of absolute shock assaulted him. There was a young man on top of his brother whose head was aiming in the wrong direction right now. A life of murder and danger had hardened the middle-aged man''s heart and mind, so he kept control even when he saw how the young man shattered his brother''s neck. Pure hate and killing intent appeared in his eyes as he changed his target, but before he could even take a step forward, the same young man on top of his brother appeared before him, sending a fist to his throat. Cain''s blood fistnded point-bank in the middle-aged man''s throat, and if the brute power behind it was not enough, it also generated a shock wave upon impact, increasing the damage. He had not even finished with that attack before he charged the other, taking a deep breath andpressing the air inside his lung. The middle-aged man''s throat became a bloody pulp when a projectilended on his right eye, destroying it before carrying on into the brain. Unlike Norman, the middle-aged man died with an expression of unwillingness on his face. It took him less than ten seconds to take care of two Late Wave Champions, but there was no smile on Cain''s face. Instead, he clenched his teeth as he took a dagger out of his ribs before focusing his Blood Energy, Astral Wave, and the power of the Sun Seed into the wound. Although it was true that Cain managed to take the middle-aged man by surprise, this one still managed to pierce him with the dagger while hended the blow to the throat. Luckily for Cain, his armor and bones manage to stop the dagger, keeping it as a superficial wound and not receiving any damage to his internal organs. He regted his breathing as the Sonic Clone on top of the Essence Wave assassin faded. Sonic de Fusion was a superb cultivation technique with several techniques that Cain trained diligently. While he had focused on Sonic Dash and Sonic Armor, he had also gained a decent mastery over Sonic Clones, Sonic Bullet, and Sonic Fists. Cain noticed that the battle with the King Beast was reaching its end, and he returned to his previous location, silently recing the Sonic Clone he had left before making his move on Norman. Sonic Clonescked battle power and would fade if an attack were tond on them, but they could remain for a long time, and they could even trick an Ego Wave, much less your eyes. Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions were exhausted as they used all their power to take care of the King Beast. They manage to kill the best in less than a minute, with none of them suffering any severe injury, a testament to the great power of the group. Of course, if the enemy had been a Wave King, things would have been much different since cultivators at that level had gained either incredible insight into the Laws or tempered their bodies to a fantastic degree. As the nine Blood Champions turned toward Cain, they frowned. Even if they agreed this one would not fight, he could at least lend a hand when they faced such a powerful enemy. Some sneered and chose to ignore him. It would have been easy for Cain to take out the corpse of both assassins, but he did not do it. One of the reasons he was able to take Norman and the two middle-aged men by surprise was that the entire group acted oblivious to their presence, making them lower their guards. Cain did not believe that Shura and the Blood Champions'' acting skills would be good enough to deceive the assassins if they knew these were lurking in the shadows, which is why he chose to remain silent. Ultimately, Cain just shrugged his shoulders and sat on the ground, silently recovering from the wound on his rib while analyzing his assassinations and figuring out what he could have done better. Shura headed to the Blood Champions, and the group began to consume the flesh of the King Beast. The amount of energy and vitality in it was overwhelmingly high and extremely nutritious for cultivators. Of course, none considered sharing it with Cain since this one did not participate in the battle. Cain would have really liked to consume the meat of the King Beast since he had never tasted something like it before in his life, but he did not really care about the group not sharing with him since the amount of energy he could obtain from the three assassins was not any less. He made sure no one was watching as he separated the head from the bodies and sent the decapitated corpses into the [Devourer Dimension]. The [Earth Fiend me] immediately began to act, consuming the corpses and sending 5% of the total amount of energy and vitality in them to his body. That was more than just the one held inside the flesh; it also drained the bones, tendons, Sacred Organs, and everything else. Cain could not help but show some surprise when he saw how the Shura and the Blood Champions devoured the flesh of the Wave King. They resemble a pack of wolves, reapingrge pieces of meat and sending them into their mouths, swallowing them, and taking the next bite the next second. Five hours was all it took for the ten members of Blood Sea to consume the Wave King''s flesh, leaving nothing else but the bones. It was a truly impressive sight, making Cain wonder if all people of the Blood Sea disyed that kind of ferocious appetite. Cain could have consumed the bones of the King Beast using his [Gluttony Module], but the group did not leave it behind since they could use it to make powerful artifacts or as ingredients for cultivation resources. After everybody had recovered their energy, the group began to move deeper into Ice Crown. The geysers were at the center of the mountain range, and there was still a long way to go. Packs of Wave Champions Beasts were in their path, but the group was able to dodge most of them and kill the rest. Still, the deeper they go, the stronger the beasts and the moremon their encounters with King Beasts. The constant battle against the gargantuan beasts with the power to level cities was taking a toll on the Blood Champions'' stamina, and wounds were slowly starting to appear on their bodies, but they carried on. On the other hand, Cain kept taking care of the assassins spread all across the mountain range. Some of them were very powerful, and while their battles ended in seconds and did not alert Shura and the Blood Champions, they were very dangerous. There were all sorts of wounds on Cain''s body, and he did not have time to heal them, so he just focused on stabilizing his condition before moving on. Only Shura had not suffered wounds since she was protected from the Wave Beast by the Blood Champions and from the assassins by Cain. Of course, that did not mean she did not participate in the battles since her spells were part of the reason why Surin and the other Blood Champions could take care of the King Beast so fast. Finally, after a week of pain and suffering, the group reached their final destination, t terrain at the center of the freezing mountain range with over a dozen geysers spread around it. Those geysers would be the ones that Shura would use for her Purity of Body. Although it had a name full of grandeur, the trial was actually using the special water from the geyser to clean her body from impurities that could havepiled on her skin and blood. Shura was an Essence Wave Cultivator, so she did not go through marrow washing as a Wave Warrior, and now she would use the power of the water to temper her flesh and blood, granting it a pristine state. The water from the geyser was boiling and could burn the flesh of a Wave Warrior in seconds, but Shura''s eyes were full of determination as she prepared for the trial. Chapter 272 : To the second trial Shura would not be the only one using the geysers since Astral Cultivators could also use them to improve the state of their bodies, and that was not all. Other than a purification force, the water in the Ice Crown had healing powers, which all the Blood Champions could use now after many battles against King Beasts. Of course, Shura would not be washing herself with the other men, and she nned to pick one of the far-away geysers to use, but before that, she nced at Cain. Shura would not lower her guard just because they had finally reached their destination. There was no way to say what kind of beast or danger could be found in this ce, and the young man who guided their path to this ce was the best to find out about them. Cain noticed Shura''s gaze, and his eyes glowed as a red force field emerged from his mind, covering the geysers and everything in a one-thousand-meter radius around them. The red force field managed to pierce beneath the ground and into the sky, showing Cain that there were no more threats. It seemed that neither King Beasts nor assassins were hiding in this ce. "It is safe." Shura nodded and then headed to a geyser before waving her hand, taking out a treasure in the form of a crystal dome that covered the area around her. She could see outside, but no one could see inside. It was best if she was naked when using the water, which was why the Blood Duke had already given her a treasure that she could use to keep her privacy.@@novelbin@@ Surin and the rest of the Bood Champions could not help but nce at the crystal dome, but they did not dare to keep their eyes for long in it. The next second they deactivated their Wave Artifacts and moved toward the geyser. All the Blood Champions were covered in bruises, with some having cracked bones since the battles with the King Beasts had been dangerous. The group noticed Cain moving to one of the geysers, and some sneered since he had not participated in any of the battles and did not need to heal like them. Yet, the moment Cain took out his clothes, the eyes of the Blood Champions widened, and there was a sense of shock and awe on their faces. The bruises on Cain''s body made the ones on the Blood Champions seem like paper cuts, and they were far from the most severe injuries. There were deep cuts on his back and chest, some near the spine and others next to the heart. Shura was about to enter the geyser when she noticed themotion, and she was also shocked by Cain''s wounds, making her wonder what had happened to the young man. She was not the only one asking that since the Blood Champions were also perplexed. They could swear that they never saw Cain fight, yet it was clear to all that those wounds had urred in thest few days. Cain was too tired to care about those stares, and neither did he intend to share the information about the assassins with them. The only reason he did not hide his state was to nt the idea in the group''s mind that there was a hidden danger. Initially, he nned to take care of the assassins on his own and never reveal anything, but if thest battles showed him something was that the enemies were stronger than he expected. Although Cain managed to end the fights with the assassins in seconds and silence, he found himself in extremely dangerous situations more than once. nting the idea that there was something wrong in the mind of Shura and the Blood Champions would help them react better in case of a danger he could not stop in time. At the same time by not revealing the presence of assassins, he prevented they would do something that would alert those people Cain submerged in the geyser, closing his eyes as the boiling water covered his entire body. It was easy for an Astral Cultivator with a powerful constitution like him to endure the heat, allowing him to focus on the healing properties of the water immediately. As the boiling water began to close his wounds, fix the broken bones, and recover the torn muscles, Cain remembered all the fight and frowned. The fact he managed to kill over ten Late and Peak Wave Champions did not matter, as he was unsatisfied with his skills. ''If I had reached the peak of Void State''s Third Level, none of those people would have noticed my presence even after Inded my attack, but it is simply tooplex. I doubt I can reach the peak before bing a Late Wave Champion, much less the fourth level.'' Cain still remembered the wless disy of assassination skills deployed by the man in the illusions and had to admit he was very far from that level. ''Practice makes perfect. There is no point in wasting timeparing my skills with that person. I will be fine as long as I keep improving.'' After calming his mind, Cain focused on his recovery. The water was truly wondrous, and part of him wanted to drink it, but he knew that would not be wise. Although there was no damage from taking it through his skin, the water was unsafe for consumption due to the parasites and bacteria in it. However, unlike the others, Cain had a way to fix that. He encapsted some of the water with his Ego Wave, which allowed him to send it into his [Devourer Dimension]. Just as Cain expected, the [Earth Fiend me] could set all of it aze, transforming even the toxicponent of the boiling water into energy and vitality that flowed through his veins. Arge smile appeared as he sent more and more of the boiling water into the [Devourer Dimension]. It would have been nice to store some on his space ring forter, but the geyser''s water would lose its special properties after separating from the main body of water. Cain''s recovery speed enhanced exponentially after using the [Gluttony Module] to devour the life and vitality of the boiling waters, allowing him to heal from his severe wounds in just two days. Not wanting to waste time, Cain focused on Blood Hand. He could already transform both hands, including the wrists, into blood gems but had yet toplete the third level. Blood Fists, the third level of Blood Hand, focuses on pushing the molecr transformation of your hands to the next level. At that point, your hands would be no weaker than Silver Wave Artifacts, and there would no longer be a need to send Blood Energy to trigger a transformation. Cain managed to train the third level as a Wave Warrior thanks to achieving wless Marrow, but reaching the peak would be very hard. As for the fourth level, he was confident in his abilities, but trying to enter it before bing a Wave Champion would be a dream. Five days passed until the crystal dome finally vanished, and Shura appeared. Her skin was sparkling, making her look even more beautiful than before. Surin and the Blood Champions put on their clothes as they emerged from the geyser, and all stared at Shura with dumbfounded expressions. Cain also left the geyser when he saw Shura, but he could keep hisposure, unlike the others. It was not that he did not find the woman extremely beautiful, because he did, but his willpower allowed him to maintain control of his emotions much better than the rest. Shura frowned as she did not like people keeping their eyes on her for too long, and the Blood Champions were wise enough to look away the next second. She then stared at Cain, and a small smile appeared on her face as she saw the calm in this one. "Let''s move." Cain nced at the Blood Champions after hearing Shura''s words, and seeing that they were all ready, he turned to the exit of the geysers. He sent his Ego Wave into the path they took to this ce before moving at supersonic speed. Shura and the Blood Champions move behind him, keeping the woman in the center, advancing at supersonic speed as well. It took them a week to reach the geysers, but the path they took should be free of threats since no Wave Beasts should have migrated to the domain of the dead ones. That allowed them to move at supersonic speed, something they could not do before since it would have drawn too much attention. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions manage to reach the bottom of the frozen mountain range in less than an hour, marking the end of the first of the Four Trials or Purity. Shura took a small bell from her space ring, and shortly after waving it, the dragon-like Wave Champion Beast appeared in the distance. Chapter 273 : Dodging lightning Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions move through the sky on the back of the dragon-like Wave Beast. They were advancing at supersonic speed, and since the location of the next trial was not far, they were able to reach it in less than two days. "?BOOM!" That thunderous st indicated the group had arrived. Cain and the others could see less than one thousand meters away a massive mountain upon which lightning shed over and over again, covering every portion of it with its destructive power. Unlike regr mountains, the surface of this one was smooth, and the endless barrage of lightning had crystallized some portions. Everybody could see the giant storm cloud above its peak, one that had yet to face even after hundreds of years. Quite fittingly, this mountain had the name Skyfall Mountain. No life forms lived in it, and it was where Shura would take her Purity of Energy. A human settlement could not survive in that environment, and while there were Wave Beasts that thrived in the presence of lightning, they also needed another form of nutrients, and no vegetal life forms could survive in that ce. Although it was a ce of death and destruction, Skyfall Mountain was a ce many powerhouses wanted to visit since there was a special force at its peak that could help even Wave King. However, it was under the domain of the Blood Sea, so no one could get near it without first asking for authorization from either the Blood Duke or High Blood Elder. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he focused on Skyfall Mountain, and a small smile appeared since he did not feel any dangerous presence in this ce. It made sense that the assassins had chosen not to attack here since there was nowhere to hide, and the lightning constantly fell from the sky. Shura tapped the Wave Beast''s head, making this one descend on the foot of Skyfall Mountain since flying directly to the peak would have been suicide. Like thest time, once the youths got down, the Wave Beast rose to the air and flew away, only returning once Shura rang her small bell. Shura nced at Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions, and they immediately adopted a formation. The ten unleashed the Wave Cloaks before slowly fusing them into a single one. Cain was surprised by the Shura and the Blood Champions'' formation, but while it provided great defenses, it was not suitable for battle since they had to stick together and could not move independently. ''The defensive power is not its main attribute. Its focus is making the ten a single massive entity.'' It was not hard for Cain to figure out the reason for that formation. The group knew they could not dodge the lightning, so theybined their Wave Cloak, making the power of the lighting divide into ten, diminishing the impact it would have on their bodies. Shura and Surin turned toward Cain, and both of them frowned. She and the Blood Champions had trained this formation for months, and they could not simply add people since it would bring instability. However, they did not think that Cain could reach the peak of Skyfall Mountain alone. Cain noticed their gazes and showed a small smile before taking a blue capsule from his space ring and, the next second, injecting it into his neck. His body began to tremble the next second, and soon his entire body gained a strong static charge. The Wave Virus was Lightning Force, and while its primary use was to augment lightning spells and skills, the electric charge generated across the body was an excellent conductor. It would allow Cain''s body to redirect any lightning strike that couldnd on him to the ground, diminishing the damage he takes. Shura nodded once she noticed the Wave Virus, no longer looking at Cain and putting all her focus on the mountain''s peak. "?BOOM!" She and the Blood Champions had advance less than twenty meters when a lightning bolt fell on them. However, there were smiles on their faces since once the full power of the lightning spread among the ten, it did little to no damage. Cain did not fall behind, but before putting a single foot in the mountain, he unleashed his Ego Wave into the sky, reaching four thousand meters into the air. While that was not even a third of Skyfall Mountain, it was enough. Shura and the Blood Champions were confused about why Cain would unleash his Ego Wave, especially if he would only send it into the sky where there was nothing. Cain did not offer an exnation and did not even look at the group. He was not trying to antagonize them now as he did in Ice Crown, but his mind was too busy to think about anything else other than the task at hand. All of a sudden, Cain''s eyes narrowed, and he looked into the sky only to hear a thunderous sound as lightning fell directly on him. "?BOOM!" Cain clenched his teeth due to the pain, but just like Shura and the others after facing the bolt of lightning, there was a smile on his face. Thanks to the Lightning Force Wave Virus and his Lightning Lupus Bloodline, his body was highly resilient to lightning, so he was able to endure it. Shura kept moving forward but nced at Cain when this one endured the bolt of lightning. After seeing how well this one managed to take the strike, she kept her eyes forward and started moving faster. Everything was going well, and the lightning strikes were even helping the group since they were tempering their flesh, blood, and even Wave. However, all changed when they reached the middle point of their journey. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" A lightning bolt so massive that it was better to call it a pir fell from the sky,nding directly on Shura and the Blood Champions. The group trembled, and blood leaked from the corner of their mouths since the damage they received was high. That lightning had the power of a weak Wave King''s spell. Shura and the Blod Champions could endire its destructive power since it divided between the ten, but there was one that was not so lucky. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" Another of those lightning pirs fell from the sky, and its target this time was no other than Cain. Shock appeared on the faces of Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions when they saw that there was nothing left in the ce where the pir of lightning had just fallen. Even though the Blood Champions did not have a very good impression of Cain, that did not mean they wanted him dead. "It is too soon to n my funeral." Shura and the Blood Champions heard that and looked ahead, only to see Cain standing there. The shock in their eyes was even greater since Cain had seemingly dodged the lighting pir, but that should be impossible.@@novelbin@@ Lightning, with a natural origin, traveled at a speed simr to light, which not even Titans could match. Luckily for the group, it seemed that the storm did not like the fact that Cain dodged that strike and sent another. Shura''s eyes widened when she saw how Cain looked into the sky and moved at supersonic speed a fraction of a second before the lightning bolt fell from the sky. It was as if the young man could know when and where the lighting would fall. If Cain were an Essence Wave Cultivator training in the Lightning Law, it would have made sense he could predict the patterns of those lightning bolts, but that was certainly not the case. "Your Ego Wave!" A sh of enlightenment appeared in Shura''s eyes as she noticed how the red force field spread into the sky. Cain was surprised that Shura was able to figure it out so fast. There was no reason to hide it, so he nodded. "You are right. I use my Ego Wave to perceive the state of the atmosphere, electrics charges, and several other pieces of meteorological data. I can use that to predict lightning patterns, allowing me to dodge it." The Blood Champions were shocked to hear that. Although it was theoretically possible to do all that, the cognitive abilities needed to predict lightning strikes in such a short time were incredible. However, none of them could deny that Cain was indeed able to dodge the lightning bolts. "Can you help us?" Shura did not have a problem asking Cain for his help, and neither of the Blood Champions dared to say anything about it. While they could resist the lighting pirs, it left wounds on them. Cain stared at them before analyzing things for a moment, showing aplicated expression. "Yes and no. I can give you the information, but by the time I share it, you will all have less than a tenth of a second to react. Since you move as a group, I doubt you would be able to move in time." Chapter 276 : Detecting a Wave King A woman was making her way across the gray fog toward Shura and the nine Blood Champions around her. She was just a Middle Wave Champion, but the fog did not affect her. She knew that alone would not be enough to go over the nine Late Wave Champions around Shura andnd a killing blow on the young woman. However, she led a group with another four Late Wave Champions, and they only needed an opening to reach Shura and kill her. ''If it weren''t for that brat, everything would have been much easier.'' The woman could not help but think with rage as she stared at Cain, the origin of the red force field that led the group across the Howling Forest. She and the rest of her group had to stay away from the Ego Wave since they knew none of them would manage to hide from it. After two days of tracking Shura and the Blood Champions, the woman and her group finally got their chance when a horde of Wave Beasts attacked. "WACK!" Dozens of Wave Champion Beasts that resembledrge ravens lunged toward Shura and the Blood Champions. They were not strong but emitted a screeching sound that should hinder the sight and visions of anyone that heard it. However, to the woman''s shock, Shura and the Blood Champions fought back against the horde, showing no sign of sensory impairment. ''How!?'' Shock appeared on the woman''s face when she saw how Shura and the Blood Champions fought back. Her mental defenses were superb, thanks to her cultivation technique, but even she would have difficulty facing those crows. It took a moment, but her eyes narrowed when she noticed how Shura and the Blood Champions did not look at the Wave Champion Beasts before unleashing their attacks. ''Someone is guiding their moves!'' Awe filled the woman''s heart as she looked to Cain since no one else could be responsible for that. As she stared at the young man, she felt something was wrong. ''Alex, Jeremia, Candice, Lambert. Report your status.'' Radio silence was essential during an assassination since you never knew what kind of device your enemy could have, but the woman contacted her group through the A.I. Chip regardless. No answer appeared, and her instincts screamed danger, telling her to run. Sadly, she only managed to turn around when a blood hand grabbed her neck, shattering her trachea. Absolute terror assaulted the assassin when she saw Cain''s merciless red eyes and noticed how the young man prepared to send an index finger straight into her right eye. There was no way she could ovee Cain''s physical might since she was an Essence Wave Cultivator, but despite the immense pain of having her trachea broken, she clenched her teeth as her eyes glowed. Cain''s eyes were cold, and nothing was on his mind even after the woman disyed her willpower, but something happened as he saw that glow. A force attempted to affect his mind. It was simr to hypnosis, with the other party taking control of your senses, but this one did not focus on a sh of wills. Had that been the case, it would have been futile since his willpower matched that of a Middle Wave King. The assassin''s technique focused on sending her Essence Wave into his brain, allowing her to control what he saw. Unfortunately for the woman, her attack failed since even if she did not have to ovee Cain''s willpower, she still had to break his mental defenses, which were too high for her. Blood leaked from the woman''s eyes due to the bacsh of her technique, but she did not suffer for long as Cain''s index finger pierced into her brain, killing her the next second. Cain''s eyes showed a meaningful light as he took the woman''s space ring before separating her head from the rest of her body and storing both pieces. He silently returned with the group, taking the ce of his Sonic Clone. The woman and her group were not the first assassins that Cain had taken care of, but it was the first time he saw someone use such an interesting technique. ''It is simr to the technique that Rodric used on me when I shed with Uriel during the ceremony for cadets. Both methods had a simr effect to hypnosis, but they used Essence Wave to affect the brain, circumventing the need to ovee the target''s willpower.'' Although hypnosis was much better when it came to helping people, it required much less energy, allowing you to affect hundreds of people at a time and even nt ideas or make them puppets; it required you to put the target in a state of suggestions. Rodric and the assassin''s technique did not have that demand, making it better when it came to fighting truly powerful enemies. Shura, Surin, and the other Blood Champions managed to kill all the Wave Champions Beasts shortly after Cain returned. The group turned toward the young man, and there was a positive light in their eyes. The Purity of Mind was supposed to be the most challenging part of the Four Trials of Purity, but thanks to Cain''s help, they faced no real problem at all. Cain noticed their eyes but only signaled the group to move on. There was a resting point not far from their location, and he wanted to inspect the space ring of thest assassin. Two hours, half a dozen death assassins, and a massacred Wave Champion Beasts hordeter, they finally reached a smallke inside the core of the forest. No gray fog could be found around thiske, allowing Shura and the Blood Champions to rest since they no longer had to suppress the illusion and howling voices affecting their minds. Cain spread his Ego Wave across theke, making sure there were no assassins in a radius of two thousand meters before adopting a meditative position and looking into the assassin''s space ring. A smile appeared on his face when he found a starry gem. It should contain the technique the woman used on him.@@novelbin@@ Since there was no danger, Cain took a deep breath and sent part of his Ego Wave into the starry gem. As expected, he was transported into an illusion. There was no grandeur in this illusion, only two people standing in front of each other. One resembled a lord, while the other was a meremoner. The man with the nobleman''s attire focused on themoner while his eyes released an electromaic force that reached the target''s body, traveling all the way into the brain. "?AHHHHHH!" A scream of horror emerged from themoner as the nobleman made him see all kinds of atrocities, and he felt like his skin was being peeled away. Cain''s eyes regained focus the next second, and he could not help but frown before sighing. ''Illusion Kingdom.'' That was the name of the technique, but not only was it required the use of Essence Wave, but it also demanded the mastery of either the Law of Illusions or at least the Law of Electromaics. Cain really wanted to train the technique, but there was nothing he could do about it. Even if he found a way to use Astral Wave to rece the need for Essence Wave, he had zero mastery over the Laws. Although it would have been helpful, Cain did not waste his time with the starry gem after learning that he could not practice Illusion Kingdom and stored it. He considered selling the technique, but he shook his head since that could carry all sorts of problems. Great powers might turn a blind eye to some of their people dying, but they would never allow anyone to have their Saint Techniques. Ultimately, Cain decided to leave it inside his space ring until he found some use for it. After six hours, the group rested enough and continued their journey across the Howling Forest. Cain kept steering the group through the gray fog using his Ego Wave, warning them about the hordes and guiding their moves. The Wave Champion Beasts were not a problem, but the number of assassins he found was getting bothersome. Some came alone, and some worked in groups. Thetter was more challenging since Cain had to kill the entire group before theirrade would notice that something was wrong. Luckily for him, the gray fog affected their senses, or else there was no way Cain could have taken care of them so fast. Cain had just killed a Peak Wave Champion and focused on closing a wound on his chest when his eyes widened, and his entire body grew tense. The reason for that was that the Absolute Life Form System just sent an rming message to him. [The Scan Force Field has detected a life form at the Wave King Rank] ''?A Wave King!'' Even if Cain did not consider Wave Kings as unsurpassable mountains anymore, they were still life forms capable of leveling entire cities! Chapter 277 : Plan to face the Wave King (I) Cain could not stop his body from growing tense since the idea of facing a Wave Kings was something he really did not like, but he was able to calm himself the next second after the system showed him the old man''s true strength. ''That old man is reaching the end of his life, and his cultivation took a great hit. Right now, his battle strength is equal to a Peak Wave Champion. Still, anyone who became a Wave King should have all sorts of trump cards under his hands, so underestimating this one would be a great mistake.'' The [Scan Force Field] showed Cain how the old man got close to the group but not enough to perform an attack. It appeared that he only was interested in gathering information. ''?A scout?'' Cain came to that conclusion, but it made him frown. Anyone who could use an old Wave King as a scout was extremely dangerous. The level of danger in this mission skyrocketed just now, and Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he considered what to do with the old man. Killing the old man was possible, but it would not be easy and could end in a fight. Cain had shown the ability to take the life of Peak Wave Champion, but that was during assassinations, and things would be much different in a direct battle where he did not have the element of surprise. "When youck the certainty of being able to kill the target, the only path left is escaping."@@novelbin@@ Cain remembered one of the most important lessons imparted to him during his Assassination Military Specialization sses, but he knew that was not a possibility. His goal in this ce was not to kill the enemy but protect Shura, so he could not simply leave this ce. ''The fact he got so close to Shura to gather information means that the gray fog is affecting his senses. I could use that to my advantage.'' The best-case scenario would have been to trap the old man alive and interrogate him, but Cain did not even consider that. If he were to hesitate for even a second, the one dying could be him. Just as Cain prepared to move, the old man ran away, leaving the range of his [Scan Force Field] and vanishing in the fog. Cain frowned, but there was nothing he could do about it other than sigh. If he were to chase after the old man, this one would notice his presence immediately. ''Just what is happening?'' Cain knew the amount of wealth offered by Shura''s head, but he could not help but think there was something behind it. Unfortunately, Cain would not get an answer in this ce. He could only keep leading Shura and the Blood Champions across the Howling Forest, warning them about the Wave Champions Beast and taking care of the assassins. Five dayster, the group finally managed to leave the Howling Forest, and what they saw was a barrennd. The ground was full of cracks from where a potent heat emerged. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champion stood on volcanic ground, and while the heat was annoying, all of them smiled since it was time for the Purity of Blood trial. A few thousand kilometers ahead, a series of caverns led to underground tunnels, and deep beneath the ground, they would find a unique location used for the First Blood Duke as a cultivation abode during his path to power. Shura, Surin, and all the other Blood Champions could use that ce to enhance their bloodline, pushing their purity to their peak. Cain did not have a Blood Sea''s Lineage, but that ce could allow him to temper his body and marrow, pushing him closer to Void Marrow. Knowing all that, it was no wonder all of them were so happy about this ce. Shura did not call the Wave Beast since they should be able to reach the caverns on their own in the same amount of time, not to mention the dragon-like beast was not very fond of environments with a high temperature. The group nodded, and they shed forward at supersonic speed. The aura of the caverns kept Wave Beasts away, so luckily, Cain and the others did not face any of them. Cain kept his invisible Ego Wave spread, but he did not find any assassin, which only made him frown since that meant they should be waiting inside the tunnels. There was the possibility of calling the Blood Sea and informing them of the danger they were facing, but that would lead to all sorts of troubles. First, the Four Trials of Purity were supposed to be done without external help, so if someone came to help Shura, the High Blood Elder would use that as an excuse to disqualify her from the Century Ascension of the Blood Moon. The presence of assassins was a legitimate concern, but all of them had been Wave Champions, and they could be considered another part of the trials. Of course, if the assassin was a Wave King, things would have been much different, but Cain had no proof of that and knew the Blood Duke would not act unless there were evidence. Cain shook his head as he understood that calling for help before the threat presented itself would not work. After almost one and a half hours of running, the group finally reached the caverns that led to the underground tunnels. Shura and the Blood Champions were eager to enter, but they stared at Cain before making a move. Shura, Surin, and the other Blood Champions had seen Cain''s behavior during the trials and how his abilities adapted to every problem they faced during thest month. At first, they had questioned the decision of the Blood Duke to add a Wave Warrior to their group at thest moment. But they were smart enough to understand there was a hidden threat and that the young man had been taking care of it. Cain noticed the group''s inquisitive gazes, but in the end, he only focused on the caverns, sending his Ego Wave into the underground tunnels before signaling to move on. The moment they entered the tunnels, powerful and toxic radiation assaulted the group. It was so potent that it could harm Wave Champion, burning their skill and inducing cellr damage. However, that radiation that could be deadly for normal Wave Champion was not a problem for the group. As a matter of fact, they were happy to receive it since the Blood Energy inside their bodies reacted instinctively to the radiation, devouring it and growing stronger. The ce where the Purity of Blood trial took ce was thousands of meters underground, and while there were no Wave Beasts in this ce, they had to look out for the magma, which would burst from time to time. Luckily for them, Cain''s Ego Wave could enter the magma, ensuring they found a safe path forward. The group advanced very fast, but even so, it took them almost two days to reach their destination. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions found an underground cave under those rivers of magma that glowed with beautiful red light. The light source was the beautiful glowing blood river a few hundred meters ahead at the end of the cave. Its name was Blood Origin Pool. ording to the legends, it was once a pool of fire-water, a unique element born from the sh of two opposing forces. The First Blood Duke bathed in its water when he trained to recover, and after thousands of years, it mutated into its current form. Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions approached the Blood Origin Pool immediately, but before they could get into it, Cain spoke. "There is something I need to speak with all of you before we use the power of the Blood Origin Pool." Cain said that before waving his hand, making arge pot and dishes appear from his space ring. Shura and the Blood Champions could not help but frown at Cain''s odd behavior as he began to make a meal here all of a sudden. Still, they nodded and sat around the pot. Cain handed Shura and the nine Blood Champions a te with food and sat in front of them. Before they could eat, he waded his hand, making a pile of severed human heads appear. Shock and horror appeared in the eyes of Shura and the rest the next instant, with some of them instinctively activating their Wave. "Please calm down. These heads belonged to the assassin that came after Shura''s life. I took care of them, and there is no threat in this ce, but I am afraid we will face an ambush the moment we leave." Shura and the Blood Champions were still astonished, but they were able to calm down and took a deep breath as they focused on Cain. After the group was able to rx, Cain carried on, and his words sent an ominous aura. "If I am not wrong, we will face a powerful Wave King." Chapter 278 : Plan to face the Wave King (II) "If I am not wrong, we will face a powerful Wave King." Shura, Surin, and the Blood Champions adopted solemn expressions as they stared at Cain. All of them were geniuses, but a Wave King was on an entirely new level, and even if they worked together, it would be very hard to face such an immense threat head-on.@@novelbin@@ "Should we call the Blood Duke?" One of the Blood Champions immediately proposed. Although calling the Blood Duke, or anyone else for that matter, would bring a lot of trouble, the most important thing right now was to survival. Everything else came second. No matter how great of a threat, or even if an army awaited them, they would be safe when the Blood Duke arrived. Unfortunately for them, Cain immediately shook his head. "I am a master hacker. If my hypothesis is right, a jamming force field should cover the underground tunnels. It is not blocking the iing messages so as not to arouse suspicion in the people on the outside, but we should not be able tomunicate with anyone." Once again, a wave of shock assaulted the group''s heart, and as they went through their A.I. Chips, it was just like Cain told them. They could notmunicate with the outside world, only receive messages. No one would find it odd that they did not respond to their messages since everybody knew they were on an important mission. "What should we do then?" Shura was able to calm her heart faster than the rest of the Blood Champions. Since Cain was sharing so much information, he must have a way out. Cain did not say anything and just signaled the group to eat. Although none of them were in the mood, they followed his guidance and consumed the food until there was no more on their tes. After that, Cain rose from the ground and went to the Blood Origin Pool before taking a vial and began to collect some of the liquid in it. "What do you think you are doing!?! Radin shouted when he saw Cain''s actions, and he almost jumped toward Cain to stop this one. While his response was a little over the board, the expression on the faces of the other Blood Champions made it clear they had many problems with Cain''s taking the liquid. The Blood Origin Pool was a sacred ce for the people of the Blood Sea. While they could bathe in it and use its power to temper their bodies and enhance their bloodlines, they could never drink it and much less take it out. First, drinking it was akin to suicide for Wave Champions since the radiation and forces it in were too high. Most importantly, there was a finite amount of liquid inside the Blood Origin Pool, which had tost for future generations, so taking it out with them was absolutely forbidden. Cain noticed the rage on Shura and the Blood Champions but kept sending the liquid into the vial. Even though it was small, it could hold a massive amount of liquid, and he only stopped once it was full. "I can use this liquid to generate a toxin capable of harming the Wave King. That person should be unable to hide from my Ego Wave, so we can counter his ambush. You only need to generate an opening, and I will make sure to cripple that person." Shura, Surin, and the rest of the Blood Champions frowned when they heard that. It was a great sin to take the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid out, but they couldpromise if it were what they needed to save their life. "Hmph!" However, before the group could consider Cain''s words, Radin sneered. "Your Gic Coder''s abilities might be higher than mine, but only a Saint Gic Coder could generate a virus capable of harming a Wave King. You are misleading us, and if you lie about this, then what else is false." Shura and the rest of the Blood Champions were surprised to hear that, and they began to look at Cain with suspicious gazes. Cain''s eyes grew cold as he stared at Radin. He stored the vial and began to move to the middle of the underground cave, away from the Blood Origin Pool, before activating his armor. "It seems the only way to fix your attitude is to beat some sense in your head." A frown appeared on the faces of Shura and the others when they heard that since a fight was thest thing they should do with such a dangerous threat looming over their heads, but before any of them could say a word, Radin walked toward Cain. Blue armor covered the Blood Champion''s body as he stood one hundred meters from Cain. "I had wanted to punch your face for a long time, so I guess it is now or never." Cain and Radin look at each other, but while they activate their armors, none of them use Wave Burst. Despite their desire to fight, they were still able to keep the bigger picture in mind. In that state, neither would be able to do severe damage to the other, allowing them to fight with all their power against the Wave King once they leave this ce. Silence reigned inside the underground cave as Cain and Radin exchanged nces, just for a massive shock wave to appear the next second. "?BOOM!" Cain and Radin''s fists shed, generating a powerful st. That sh was just the beginning, and both unleashed a barrage the next second. Their punches were fast and precise, and a sharp light appeared in each of their eyes since they noticed that both used Bloodflow Fury. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain and Radin were around the same level in terms of skill, but the Blood Champion''s speed and strength were superior. Yet, the one with the upper hand was not other than Cain since it was as if he could predict every move Radin made. Chapter 281 : Running Cain, Surin, and the Blood Champions made their Astral Wave explode, putting Shura behind them. The young woman was the assassin''s goal, and she could no longer fight, so they had to attack with all they had, ensuring this one could not get to her. Surin and the other Blood Champions adopted their battle formation, which allowed them tobine their fighting power and cover each other''s weaknesses. They would act as the main fighting force. Cain could remain behind, waiting for an opening, ready tond powerful blows if one were to appear. The ten men were ready to march toward the Wave King assassin immediately, taking advantage of the wounds on this one when they saw a smile appear on his face. An ominous feeling assaulted the ground. The next second the Wave King assassin showed a small bracelet with a small pyramid in it. The pyramid began to glow as six figures emerged from it. Four men and two women appeared in front of the Wave King assassin, and each unleashed a powerful pressure, making clear that their battle power reached the peak of the Wave Champion Rank. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that one of the men that appeared was not other than the old scout that he saw in the Howling Forest. He had wondered where the old man went, but he never imagined this one would have been with the Wave King assassin all this time. Immediately the power dynamic took a sharp turn. Even if Cain and the Blood Champions had numerical superiority, that was far from enough to make up for the difference between their cultivation with the Wave King assassin''s group''s power. No matter how they look at it, their chances of surviving this battle were not good, and they were even lower when it came to keeping Shura alive. The Wave King''s assassin could unleash a spell that could affect the entire underground cave, and Shura would be too weak to resist it. Cain and Surin nced at each other before nodding. "n B?" "n B!" As soon as Cain heard Surin''s confirmation, he sent a red capsule to each of the Blood Champions. Shura grew confused when she heard the exchange between Cain and Surin. She had no idea what those two were referring to with n b. That was not an oversight on Cain''s part. He had not shared that n with Shura since he knew the young woman would not ept it. Surin and the other Blood Champions showed no hesitation as they injected the Wave Virus into their necks. Immediately, their bodies grew red, and heartbeats burst with power as their Astral Wave erupted with overwhelming might, allowing each of them to unleash a Wave Burst of 5000%! That state generated a massive improvement to Surin and the rest of the Blood Champions'' battle power, but it would notst long. The effects would be gone in less than an hour, and they would have suffered a severe bacsh. Such a tactic made no sense since there was no way they could defeat the Wave King assassin and the other six Peak Wave Champions in such a short amount of time. Yet, victory was not the Blood Champions'' goal. Cain shed to the back of the group and threw Shura into his back before running to the exit of the underground cave! "WHAT!" Shura was shocked and clearly unwilling to run away while leaving Surin and the others behind, but she was too weak to break free of Cain''s grip. The young woman was not the only one since the Wave King assassin and his group were also shocked, and soon terror emerged in their hearts. If Cain and Shura were to reach the outside, nothing would stop them from calling the Blood Sea. A Wave King was nothing but an ant in front of the might of the Blood Duke, so they could not allow anyone to escape. Unfortunately for the Wave King assassin''s group, Surin and the Blood Champions were faster, shing forward full of killing intent and determination. "For the Blood Sea. For the Blood Maiden!" --- "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!" Cain had just stepped outside the underground cave when he heard a massive explosion ur inside and knew that an immense battle was going on between the Blood Champions and the Wave King assassin''s group. He clenched his teeth, suppressing his fighting spirit, and began to run to the surface at full speed. "Go back. We need to help them!" Shura shouted, trying to break free of Cain''s grasp as she looked into the underground cave. "Shut up!" Cain shouted at Shura, ncing at the woman with coldness as he shed forward. "They chose to remain behind to give you a chance to survive, and now you want to throw their sacrifice to waste by turning back." Shura clenched her hands with so much strength that they began to bleed as she thought of the Blood Champions'' sacrifice but knew that Cain was right and stopped struggling. Cain no longer looked at Shura after the woman calmed down, keeping his eyes on the road.@@novelbin@@ "They are not dead yet. As long as we reach the surface, we will be outside the Wave King''s jamming signal, allowing us to contact the Blood Sea. If we are fast enough, they might reach before the effect of the Wave Virus turns off." Shura''s eyes glowed when she heard Cain''s words, and she immediately began circting her Essence Wave. She wanted to regain her strength as fast as possible. Cian silently nodded at the young woman''s behavior before activating Second Gear and pushing Sonic Dash to the limit. He moved faster and faster, jumping through the rivers of magma at supersonic speed. His muscles were tearing up, but he managed to reach the surface in just twenty minutes. As soon as he reached the surface, Cain used his A.I. Chip to contact the Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, Zarak, and Luther. The message was simple. "I am running away with the Blood Maiden from a Wave King assassin." Chapter 283 : Fightning a Wave King (II) Landrik showed a malicious grin as he thought of the effect the ck tornado would have on Cain. However, that was reced by shock since Cain bounced off as soon as he touched the ground, dodging the attack. "What!?" Landrik could not hide his surprise. Even if the air cannon was an attack that reced strength with speed, it was still a Wave King''s spell, so he could not understand how Cain managed to move immediately after taking the attack head-on. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" The shock only increased in the Wave King''s eyes when he saw how Cain began to bounce from one three to the other, moving in different angles, constantly vanishing from his field of view. Usually, the fact his eyes could not follow the target was not a problem for Landrik since he could rely on his Ego Wave, but Cain was able to hide from the red force field as well using what he could only describe as Saint-level concealment technique. Landrik pushed his focus to the limit as he remained in the air, trying to follow Cain''s movements, but it was getting more challenging since this one momentum increased with every bounce. Not even two seconds after the first attack, Landrik lost sight of Cain before a red figure appeared on his left side. His instincts screamed danger, and he was able to react just as fast as before. A single move of Landrik''s right hand generated an air cannon that sent Cain crashing into one of the trees. Before the Wave King could send another attack, Cain had already bounced off, reigniting his momentum. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Landrik''s eyes burned with rage as he tried to keep up with Cain''s movements. He could fly to the sky or exit the Howling Forest, but that would erase any chance he had of killing Shura. Cain continued his rampage, gaining a massive momentum before shing toward Landrik, full of killing intent. While the Wave King kept sending him crashing into the ground or the trees, only for him to bounce off the next instant. After thirty seconds, Landrik was able to understand what was happening. It was not that the air cannon did not harm Cain, but the young man healed so fast that by the time he shed against a surface, he was ready to bounce off. If that were all, everything would be fine for the Wave King since it would only be a matter of time before Cain perished, but there were two significant problems. Not only time was of the essence for Landrik, but Cain was moving closer and closer to him. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" A new series of the st urred around Landrik, but this time he was not able to counter Cain''s attack with an air cannon. By the time he had detected the young man, this one was already on top of him. Cain''s hand was like a de, cutting forward. However, while his aim was Landrik''s neck, this one managed to move in thest second, so he could only cut the chest. Landrik clenched his teeth as he felt the deep cut on his chest before raising his hand and making his Essence Wave burst. "Hurricane Strike!" A massive ck tornado emerged from the palm of his hand and began to devastate everything around him. Most of the trees of the Howling Forest were thousands of meters tall with roots that extended even longer, so Landrik''s Hurricane Strike was able to raise only a few from the ground. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" Landrik''s goal was to break Cain''s momentum, but to his shock, the young man could move around the ck tornado and even use the flying trees as tforms from which to jump.. ''What kind of monster is this boy!?'' He could not believe what he saw. In his mind, it was impossible for a Wave Warrior to perform those kinds of feats, yet they were happening in front of his eyes right now. Cain''s eyes were in sharp focus, glowing with red light as he bounced from one tree to the other, and there was only one thought in his head. ''Faster!'' Every time he received one of Landrik''s air cannons, he felt his bones breaking and muscles shattering, only for the overwhelming vitality and energy inside his body to mend the damage immediately. The liquid from the Blood Origin Pool burning a hole in his stomach had more vitality than a Wave Warrior could use in a lifetime. Yet, the stress his inner organs were enduring could not be healed so easily, and it was adding up. Landrik did not know, but it was only a matter of minutes before Cain fell into organ failure. Cain was aware of the state of his body, but his mind was inplete harmony as he instinctively adapted to the patterns of the Wave King, searching for an opening. The pain was excruciating, and his body wanted nothing more than to stop, but Cain kept pushing harder, raising his speed higher and higher. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain''s speed had risen above Mach 10, and every time he bounced from one of the trees, it was like a cannonball. He was bleeding from every orifice in his head, and the light was fading from his eyes, but he finally did it! Landrik had sent one of his air cannons against Cain, but the young man dodged it, and before he could do anything, a hand with the form of a blood gem de reached his chest. Absolute terror appeared on Landrik''s face when the dended right where the w wound was present. That part of his armor was broken, making the blood gem de a deadly attack. Landrik''s fear allowed him to generate an instant spell, triggering an air shield on top of his chest that attempted to repeal the blood gem de. Cain felt a powerful barrier keeping his hand from piercing into Landrik''s chest, and if he failed this attack, it would be the end since his body could not perform another. ''PUSH FORWARD!'' That single intent expressed the desire of his willpower as the red light in his eyes burst with power before fusing with his Astral Wave! "?BOOM!" A shock wave spread across the Howling Forest as Cain''s Astral Wave grew exponentially after being enhanced by his Ego Wave, allowing him to break through the wind membrane protecting Landrik. "?AHHHHHH!" The Wave King''s screamed in pain as the blood gem de pierced his chest, and he and Cain dived into the ground at a speed above MACH 15! "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" The sh made the earth tremble, generating a cloud of dust covering dozens of kilometers. By the time this one finally dissipated, one could see Cain standing on top of the Wave King, pushing his hand even more profoundly as he looked straight into his enemy''s eyes. Shock, terror, and unwillingness appeared on Landrik''s face as Cain''s hand pierced his heart, killing him! A Wave Warrior killing a Wave King. That was the type of feat that only happened in the legends of the First Titan of Humankind. It was a feat worth being remembered for hundreds if not thousands of years. Of course, all that fame mattered very little to Cain right now as he took his hand out of Landrik''s chest and fell next to this one, using what little strength he had left to breathe. The Sun Seed was working at full power, trying to heal the damage to his inner organs, but it was too severe, and he was going into cardiac arrest. As for the liquid of the Blood Origin Pool, it was still inside him but was only causing more damage since his body could not handle it. Cain was doing all he could not lose consciousness, as he knew that help was on the way, but he was out of luck. "Lord Landrik is dead!" "What!?" The ones arriving were not members of the Blood Sea or the Imperial Lightning Fort but two of therades of the death Wave King! Cain clenched his teeth as he raised his head. He saw the old scout and a middle-aged woman in the distance. Both of them were severely wounded, but even a mortal could kill right now. Fear appeared in the eyes of the old man and the middle-aged woman as they looked around, trying to find the culprit, but in the end, there was no one else other than the moribund young man. Shook emerged in their eyes as they could not understand how a young Wave Warrior could have killed Landrik. But soon, it became killing intent. "Brat, die!" The old man jumped toward Cain as he made his Astral Wave explode, but before he could perform his attack, a giant bestial w appeared out of nowhere and pushed him back.@@novelbin@@ Cain''s eyes widened when he saw that w, and Shura appeared in front of him the next second. Chapter 284 : End of danger Cain was confused to see Shura here. The woman should have been far away since even if the fight between him and the Wave King was short, itsted roughly five minutes. The fact Shura could appear out of nowhere right after the battle started meant she never went far away in the first ce. Shura did not look at Cain; her eyes focused solely on the old man and the middle-aged woman. Her Essence Wave burst as she stared at the enemies and strengthened her spell. Although the w was powerful, the old man had not received much damage from it, and there was a sharp light as he stared at Shura and Cain. As for the middle-aged woman, she was nervous since Shura''s reinforcements should arrive at any time, but seeing the resolution in herrade''s eyes helped her calm down. "Leave now, and I promise Blood Sea will not chase after you two. We already killed your leader, and that is enough for us. However, if you dare to remain here, no matter the oue, all of you will die." Shura''s voice was cold, and there was great killing intent in it, but she failed to persuade the two assassins. Cain saw how the two assassins looked at each other before adopting battle formation and knew things were not good. Shura''s wounds had yet to heal fully, and the Wave Virus he had injected in her was not meant for battle but for running, so it would not be helpful during this fight. Shura was aware of her situation and how dire the fight would be, but there was no hesitation in her eyes as she prepared for battle. Her n was simple; she would unleash her most powerful attack against the duo before grabbing Cain and running away. "AHHH....!" "?BOOM!" Just as the young woman roared in order to give herself more courage as the Essene Wave exploded, a st urred. A figure had descended from the sky right on top of the middle-aged woman, sting her like a balloon full of blood! The old man''s eyes were full of terror and shock as he saw a tall bald man with white skin appear right next to him and felt the warmth of hisrade''s blood all over his body. Unlike the assassin, Cain and Shura disyed radiant smiles as they saw Bloodless #1 appear. Now that one of the strongest powerhouses of the Blood Sea had arrived, they would be safe. "I..." Before the old man could say the next word, Bloodless #1 grabbed his head, making him lose consciousness and storing him in a special space ring. Bloodless #1 had just taken care of the assassins when another figure fell from the sky. A blue force field around the man seemed capable of affecting space-time. Cain turned to the side, and when he saw his master arrive, his smile grew wider before he could no longer hold on and lost consciousness.@@novelbin@@ Bloodless #1 and Zarak Valentine exchanged nces before looking around, and when their eyes fell on Cain and the Wave King, a sense of utter shock and amazement filled their hearts. The battle experience of Zarak and Bloodless #1 was enough to figure out how the fight transcurred by just looking at the wounds in the duo. It was clear to them that the Wave King had entered the fight with severe wounds but was still able to disy most of his battle power. The killing wound was the strike on the chest that pierced all the way into the heart, and the only one that could have been responsible for that could have been Cain. Zarak and Bloodless #1 were geniuses and had been able to do all kinds of incredible feats during their youth, but killing a Wave King while being a Wave Warrior was definitely not one of them. Suddenly the eyes of the duo widened when they saw that Cain''s heart stopped beating. Zarak acted immediately, raising Cain''s body into the air with his Ego Wave before encapsting this one into a sky-blue shining river. An immensely powerful life force emerged from the river, and the next second, Cain''s heart started beating again. Shura was shocked to see that. Cultivation granted all kinds of power, and it was not hard to gain the power to level cities, but the ability to heal people was much more challenging to attain, even for those trained in the Laws. The young woman could not understand how Zarak Valentine, someone who followed the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, could gain such an ability. "So you have already grasped the power of Concepts. No wonder you were able to face a member of the Bloodless Force despite only being a Middle Wave King." Bloodless #1 spoke as he approached the shining water sphere containing Cain. Shura was only more confused since she did not understand what Bloodless #1 meant by Concepts. However, all that stopped mattering as she remembered something very important. "Lord, my friends need help!" Although she and Cain were safe, that did not mean the same could be said about the Blood Champions. "I know. Bloodless #4 already went with them." Bloodless #1 had just calmed Shura when his eyes grew sharp, and a monstrous coldness emerged in them for a second as a message arrived through his A.I. Chip. "Martin and Radin are dead. The others are severely wounded and would need medical attention." Shura clenched her hands so hard that they began to bleed when she heard that. There was rage at the enemy but also at herself since she could not do anything but run as the others were fighting. "Go to the Blood Origin Pool and finish the Blood Trial." Shura was surprised to hear thatmand from Bloodless #1. She only cared about her friends right now, but seeing Bloodless #1''s cold eyes, she understood something. If she failed toplete the Four Trials of Purity, the people that sent those assassins would have won. Shura clenched her teeth and nced at Cain onest time before shing toward the Blood Origin Pool. Bloodless #1 nodded as he saw the focus on Shura''s eyes before turning toward Cain again. His eyes glowed as he inspected the condition of the young man. He saw organ damage along with the liquid from the Blood Origin Pool, making havoc inside Cain''s body. "The fact that he was able to survive this long was impressive and had to do with the power of his Alter-Ego." Zarak''s eyes remained on Cain as he used his own Ego Wave to analyze the young man''s condition, and he had to agree with Bloodless #1. The internal damage that Cain suffered was devastating. "Allow me to help." Bloodless #1 put his right hand on the sphere of shining water and began to flood it with Blood Energy. The next second, the life force skyrocketed, but that was not all since he also used his Lineage to resonate with the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid inside Cain''s body. Zarak was surprised to see how the raging Blood Origin Pool''s liquid calmed down, beginning to revolve around Cain''s body, no longer damaging the internal organs and instead healing them. It took three hours for Zarak and Bloodless #1 to take care of the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid inside Cain, helping the young man restore to his peak, but they were surprised to see another stream of energy and vitality flooding his body. The duo was able to detect that the origin of the vitality and energy came from Cain''s soul. While they were curious, none of them examined it since it should be one of the many secrets of the young man. Unlike the one from the Blood Origin Pool, this one was not full of chaos and danger; the only thing that would happen if Cain did not control it would be the energy dispersing. Zarak did not hesitate before using the full power of his Ego Wave, putting Cain in a profound state of Embryonic Breathing, so the young man''s cells could fully use that energy. At the same time, he began to infuse even more of the vitality of his sky-blue river into Cain''s body. Bloodless #1 saw that, and a sharp light appeared in his eyes as he began sending drops of blood into the shining water sphere. The amount of vitality and energy inside each drop was too much for a Wave Warrior to handle on his own, which was why Bloodless #1 guided the process. Fifteen hourster, the vitality and energy stream from Cain''s soul diminished its potency to one-tenth of what it used to be. Zarak and Bloodless #1 looked at each other when they saw that. They could choose to stop now, but they felt that the state of Cain''s body was in prime condition, so they adopted a meditative position and decided to continue helping with the young man''s training. Chapter 285 : Void Marrow Zarak and Bloodless #1 stood in silence as they used their powers to improve Cain''s constitution, providing this one all the vitality he could use. At the same time, the energy emerging from the dimension inside his soul overflowed his veins. Hours became days, and days became weeks. The two powerhouses stood in a meditative position, never breaking focus until the twenty-fifth day arrived. Cain''s eyes opened, but theck of focus on them told the duo he had yet to fully wake up. It was a response from his body to what woulde next. "?Ahhhhh!" Along with that roar, Cain''s Astral Wave and Blood Energy exploded with immense power, generating a dark purple and red st of energy from his body. Zarak and Bloodless #1 saw it and understood it was finally time. Cain was in the process of breaking through to the Wave Champion Rank. There was nothing they could do other than provide energy, and the intensity of the evolution would depend entirely on the foundation the young man had established for thest three years. "?AHHHHH!" Cain''s roar grew stronger as he clenched his fists and teeth while a foul and disgusting substance emerged from his pores. Every drop took immense effort to be expelled, but his body kept pushing harder. Zarak and Bloodless #1 frowned as the smell was truly awful, and they burned the foul substance as soon as it left Cain''s body. The marrow washing carried on for two hours before stopping; at that point, a new smell reached the duo. Smiles appeared on the faces of Zarak and Bloodless #1 as they felt the smell of a newborning from Cain. It meant one thing. Cain Laurifer reached Void Marrow! As soon as thest drop of pollution emerged from his marrow, Cain''s vitality exploded before blood began to emerge from every pore and orifice in his body. Losing all of his blood would have been deadly, but the process was done following the Astral Rebirth Path of Power principles. As long as there was enough energy, there would not be any damage to Cain''s body or foundation; on the contrary, it would only grow stronger. Zarak and Bloodless #1''s smiles only grew wider as they saw that red blood emerging from Cain''s body since they understood the young man was evolving beyond the Red Blood Stage. He was making his breakthrough, reaching the Blue Blood Stage as soon as he became a Wave Champion! The duo made sure to provide Cain with all the energy and vitality he could need as he evolved. Cain''s evolution took a total of five hours before a peaceful expression appeared on his face. Zarak retrieved his sky-blue river and left Cain''s body on the ground before turning toward Bloodless #1. "I will take my disciple back to the Imperial Lightning Fort. He killed a Wave King for the Blood Duke, so he already paid whatever debt he had with the Blood Sea." There were two reasons why Cain hade to the Blood Sea. To pay the debt he had to the Blood Duke for killing Alexander Martel and for a lucky chance capable of pushing him to Void Marrow. Cain alreadypleted both goals, and there was no reason to remain in the dent of wolves. Bloodless #1 stared at Zarak for a moment before sighing and nodding. Cain''s departure would make things harder for the Integrationist Path, but the young man had already paid his debt with interest. "I will not leave!" Just as Zarak and Bloodless #1 finished their conversation, Cain opened his eyes. He rose from the ground as his eyes burst with red light. Zarak frowned when he heard that and was about to speak, but Cain was faster. "I know my power is insignificant in battles of such a high level like the one about to emerge in the Blood Sea. However, Surin and the others trusted me, and two of them perished so Shura and I could have a chance. I will not leave before evening the scales." Cain had fallen unconscious, but Apex told him everything that happened, and he was aware of the deaths of Martin and Radin. His eyes were full of killing intent as he looked into the distance and saw Shura approaching them. The young woman''s eyes were cold and sharp as her bloodline was bursting with power. Cain only nodded to Shura before turning toward Zarak. His heart and mind had no space for anything other than revenge. Zarak saw the determination and killing intent in Cain''s eyes and knew there was no way to change the young man''s mind. "Fulfill your duty to your fallenrades and return to the Imperial Lightning Fort. We are waiting for you." There were no more words from Zarak before rising into the sky and shing away. Bloodless #1 nced at Shura and nodded as he saw that the young woman hadpleted thest of the Four Trials of Purty before turning toward Cain. "I can dy things if you need more time." Cain shook his head and focused on Bloodless #1. "There is no need for that. Let''s go." Bloodless #1 nodded before covering Cain and Shura with his Ego Wave, rising into the sky and flying toward the Blood Sea. Cain did not have to worry about his speed or stability since he was being held by the immensely powerful force field from Bloodless #1, allowing him to focus on other things. ''System, scan me.'' He did not lose time, immediately asking for the system to give him an urate measure of his current battle power. Like always, the Absolute Life Form System carried on with the task wlessly. [Scanning Vessel. ... ...@@novelbin@@ ... Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: Low Tier 8 (Low Tier 8) --- Stats: Strength: 16.7-->23.6 Agility: 9.2-->14.1 Vitality: 15.8-->21.1 Wave: 10.4-->16.8 Blood Energy: 15.1-->16.7 --- Marrow washing: 100%pletion Blood Rebirth: Blue Blood Stage --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 20.1%] Cain found it hard to hide his surprise when he saw the difference between his current stats and those he had at Level 9. There was an increase of over forty percent in his strength and vitality and over fifty percent in his Wave. The only one that did not attain a massive boost was his Blood Energy, but that was because it relied on the amount of Blood Runes. Now that his body had evolved, it could endure a much greater number. The evolution of his Wave Talent was also extremely pleasant news since it would help his cultivation speed, allowing him to advance very fast through the Wave Champion Rank. After seeing the current state of his body, Cain took a deep breath as he stabilized his cultivation, bringing under control the raging Astral Wave coursing through his body. Cain had to be in peak condition for the next part of the Ascendance of the Blood Moon. Usually, once the Four Trials of Purity were over, the Blood Maiden and Blood Champions would march into the Blood Sea, reaching their of the Blood Origin Spirit, but things were different this time, Since there were two Blood Maidens, once the Four Trials of Purity were over, the Blood Champions of both sides would have to sh until one side prevailed over the other. It should have been a one-on-one battle, but since Surin and the surviving Blood Champions were not apt forbat, Cain would have to fight all ten fights. The tournament would not have urred if the assassins had taken care of Shura. However, neutralizing nine Blood Champions was undoubtedly a good constion prize for the Purist Path and the High Blood Elder. Cain knew his battle strength had grown immensely after his evolution to Wave Champion, but he did not dare to growcent since the enemy''s group surpassed him in number and had higher cultivation. Not to mention he would also have to face Zima, someone with an Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix, just like him. It would not be easy, but Cain was determined to take part in it, ensuring justice for Martin and Radin. Of course, the justice he was talking about was an eye for an eye. The trip was silent since neither Cain, Bloodless #1, nor Shura were in the mood to talk. After three hours, the trio could see the Blood Sea in the distance. Although it took less than half an hour from Bloodless #1 to reach the Howling Forest when he went to rescue Cain, he had overexcerted himself and put his body under tremendous stress to achieve such immense speed. There was no need to push himself to that extreme on the trip back. Cain stared at the Blood Pagoda before focusing on the river of blood formed between Blood City and Blood Ind. Chapter 286 : Blood Champion Final Tournament "Are there any important matters I must attend to right now?" Bloodless #1 stared at Cain for a moment before shaking his head. There was a lot to discuss about the events surrounding Shura''s attempted murder and the deaths of both Radin and Martin, but they could solve that without Cain''s presence. Cain nodded before breaking free of Bloodless #1 Ego Wave and shing to the sea of blood between Blood City and Blood Ind. "Cain!" Shura shouted when she saw that. Even though none of the Wave Beasts in that body of water was a King Beast, there were hundreds of Wave Champion Beasts in it, all ravenous for human meat. No matter how strong Cain was, he would notst long fighting against hordes of Wave Champion Beasts underwater. Cain did not diminish his speed and submerged into the river. As soon as he did that, the water grew restless since the Wave Champion Beasts detected the presence of human meat, and they immediately lunged toward this one. Shura and Bloodless #1 expected to see a fight and underwater explosions, but just as the beasts were about to reach Cain, they lost their drive. It was not that the Wave Champion Beasts did not want to eat, but they could not find the human anymore. Bloodless #1 could see Cain surrounded by dozens of hungry Wave Champion Beasts, but none of those creatures could detect the young man''s presence. A smile appeared on his face as he thought of the surprise of the Blood Champions of the Purist Path during the tournament. Not wasting time, he continued toward the Blood Pagoda with Shura. Cain had reached the bottom of the blood waters, and his eyes were calm as he saw the dozen of Wave Champions Beasts around him. It would take a single mistake for the beasts to detect his presence and attack him, making this ce perfect to train his Void State. Now that he had evolved to Wave Champion, he found that some parts of the Saint Technique that were extremely difficult to master before had be very simple. The advance to a new rank meant an evolution of the genes and cognitive abilities, so it made sense for Cain''s talent and proficiency to have improved so much. ''The forces from this river are enough to saturate my body''s energy absorption. I can improve it by obtaining vitality and energy from the [Gluttony Module] as well.'' Cain immediately sent every single one of the corpses that he still had from the assassins into the [Devourer Dimension]. He would have also wanted to send the Wave King assassin''s body, but Bloodless #1 took it along with the space ring to perform a forensic investigation. Bloodless #1 promised to return the body and space ring once he was over with them, and Cain knew the powerhouse would not lie about it. Ultimately, Cain used quantity over quality, and the amount of energy that the [Earth Fiend me] produced was massive, but it was too slow. ''System, show me my current Destiny Force.'' [Destiny Force: 3941.] Cain could not help but frown when he saw that number. He had used most of his Destiny Force during his training before going to the Blood Sea, but his destiny grew exponentially during the Four Trials of Purity. It is true that he used 1000 points to increase the efficiency of the [Earth Fiend me] by 1000% before the battle against the Wave King assassin, but killing this one should have made it up. Not to mention that his evolution as a Wave Champion with Void Marrow should have granted a massive amount of Destiny Force. "Hmph, brat, are you forgetting the increase in power of the [Earth Fiend me] all that time you were unconscious? If I had not done it, it would have taken you nearly two months to process all the energy from the Blood Origin Pool''s liquid." All of Cain''s doubt dissipated as he heard Apex''s voice and understood what had happened with his Destiny Force. "Hahaha, then I must thank you." Cain smiled and thanked the System Spirit. As for the fact that Apex could make decisions regarding the use of his Destiny Force without his authorization, he chose to ignore that. ''There are ten days before the Blood Champion Final Tournament begins. I must use the time wisely.'' Trying to improve his cultivation in such a little time would not work, so Cain focused on four things. Increasing his Blood Runes, reaching the fourth level of Blood Hand, advancing to the Peak of the third level of Void State, and perfecting Sonic Dash. Each of them would significantly boost his battle power, and the fourbined would allow him to overwhelm average Peak Wave Champions. ''System, increase the potency of the [Earth Fiend me] by 200% for ten days.'' [Taskpleted. Current Destiny Force: 1941] Cain felt the burst of vitality and energying from his [Gluttony Module] and began to train. There was one more card he could use to enhance his power: the [Gic Coder Module]. Since his genes had evolved, he could use [Gic enhancement] again, providing a permanent boost to one of his stats, but he did not do it. If Cain managed to evolve his soul force to the Wave King level while still being a Wave Champion, he could upgrade the [Gic Coder Module], and the gic enhancement he would have ess to would be even greater. Regarding benefits, Cain was always willing to wait so he could get the best of them. --- "That is everything I know." While Cain was training for the uing battles, Shura was in front of the Blood Duke, rting all she saw and heard during the Four Trails of Purity, especially the part rted to the Wave King assassin. The Blood Duke stared at Shura for a moment before nodding. "I understand. You should return to your quarters and prepare for the tournament. Even if you will not participate, you are the face of the Integrationist Path and must stand straight regardless of the oue." Shura showed a rueful smile when she heard that and simply shook her head before turning around and leaving through the teleportation matrix, not even saying goodbye to the Blood Duke or Bloodless #1. The Blood Duke''s eyes narrowed as he saw the young woman''s behavior since it was something he had not seen before in her. "Is that boy''s influence?" "Or maybe she is finally seeing through your schemes." Bloodless #1 and the Blood Duke looked at each other after that exchange, and there was no need to pretend there was harmony between the two since there was no one else in the room. "Everything I do, I do it for the Blood Sea." As he uttered those words, a sharp light emerged in the Blood Duke''s eyes. "You know where my loyalty is. I can recognize the merits of your actions, but right now, the Bloodless Force is neutral. I will not mobilize my brothers into a civil war." The Blood Duke stared at Bloodless #1 for a moment before nodding and signaling this one to take out the duo. Bloodless #1 did not waste time and took the corpse of Landrik and the unconscious old man he captured. The duo used the full might of their Ego Waves to scan Landrik''s body and his space ring. They hoped to find some clues that would tell them exactly who sent him after Shura, but after an exhaustive investigation, they came out with nothing. "Hmph, cautious bastard." Rage appeared in the Blood Duke''s face since the Wave King assassin was truly careful, and they learned nothing about this one. There was nothing the Blood Duke could do about it, and he turned to the old man, ready to use powerful hypnosis to question this one, but he was not hopeful. Assassins were not fond of sharing information, especially with their underlings. "Who are you, and what was your role in the assassin''s group?" A powerful intent permeated the voice of the Blood Duke, reaching the deepest parts of the old man''s mind. His eyes were still closed as he answered the question. "My name is Lorius Samsel. I was the previous leader of the Hawk Assassin Group, but due to my age and wounds, my powers decreased. In order to avoid conflict, I gave the leadership to my protege, Landrik, and I took the role of scout." The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 smiled when they heard Lorius'' answer. Since this one was once the leader and stood with the group for so long, he must have all the secrets they wanted to learn.@@novelbin@@ "Tell me, Lorius, for whom the Hawk Assassin Group works, and why did you go after the Blood Maiden of the Purist Path?" Once again, the words of the Blood Duke reached the core of the old man''s mind. However, just as he was about to answer, his body trembled, and he opened his eyes, showing pure darkness. Chapter 287 : The price of underestimating your opponent(I) Lorius was an old Wave King, but even if he were in his prime, he would not have been able to break free of Bloodless #1''s seal of his consciousness, and much less fight back against the Blood Duke''s hypnosis. Yet the duo saw the man open his eyes which were full of darkness. There was shock and dread in the eyes of the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1, not at Lorius, but at the power that had just taken control of the old man''s body. "Stop him!" The Blood Duke shouted at him, and Bloodless #1 attempted to reactivate the seal he had on Lorius'' mind and energy, but it was toote. "?BOOM!" All the Astral Wave inside the old man''s body flew toward his brain, sting it to pieces along with the rest of his head. It was a genuinely gruesome scene that made Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 frown. Despite not having attained an answer from Lorius, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 knew that only one power in the empire had those capabilities. "The Organization." Bloodless #1''s voice was cold as he uttered those two words. Despite being one of the strongest powerhouses of one of the mighties organizations in the Godyer Humankind Empire, he could not hide the sh of dread in his heart. It would not be wrong to call The Organization the shadow of the empire since they arose at the same time. The ten Dark Kings were powerhouses capable of leveling entire Sectors, and the one that ruled above all others was so mysterious that no one even knew his name or title, but everybody knew they feared him. An assassin group with ties to The Organization could mean many things, but it was likely that someone in the Purist Path had already contacted them. "What is the stance of the Bloodless Force now?" Bloodless #1 frowned when he heard that question from the Blood Duke, and there was nothing he could do but sight. If the Purist Path and High Blood Elder were in bed with The Organization, only one path was left. "The Bloodless Force will follow your lead when the timees." After that, Bloodless #1 stored both corpses and left the room. There was a lot he had to take care of. The Blood Duke was left alone, and a cold and vicious smile appeared on his face. The Organization''s presence was something he did not like, but it helped him secure a very powerful weapon. "Old bastard, all your ns will mean nothing once I get my hands on your throat."@@novelbin@@ --- As days went by, a colossal structure began to form above the Blood Sea sky. It was a massive amphitheater with space for thousands of people, and above the regr seats were tworge auditoriums where the powerhouses were located. On the right side of the amphitheater were the people of the Integrationist Path, and on the other were those of the Purist Path. The animosity between both groups had grown very deep, and there was no way in which people from both sides could sit togheder and not have an argument, which was why there was such a clear division. On the center of the amphitheater was a massive tform, and on the left were ten youths standing proudly under the gazes of the people. It was finally the day of the Blood Champion Final Tournament, where the champions from each side would sh to decide who would have the honor to march into the Blood Sea. However, while there were ten people on the Purist Path''s side, there was no one on the Integrationist Path''s side. Everybody knew that Shura and her Blood Champions faced some problems during the Four Trials of Purity, but they were shocked to see that no one had appeared. The Blood Champions of the Purist Path were ordered ording to their entrance into the battle, and the first one was no other than Jeremy, the man that attempted to sh with Cain before the departure for Ice Crown. Jeremy had asked to be the first since he knew that there was only Cain left to fight on the Integrationist Path and did not want anyone else to take his prey. A poisonous smile appeared as he jumped toward the tform at the amphitheater''s center, drawing everybody''s attention. "People of the Blood Sea, my friends and family. I know most of you are wondering what is happening and why Surin and the other Blood Champions from the Integrationist Path are missing. Allow me to shed some light on that matter." Silence reigned in the amphitheater as people heard Jeremy''s voice since they were truly curious about everything happening. Many of the powerhouses on the podiums on both sides frowned since they had chosen not to reveal that information due to the impact that could have on people, but it was toote to stop Jeremy now. If the people of the Purist Path were to censor the young man, people would assume they were guilty, and if those of the Integrationist Path made a move, everybody would think they were hiding something. In the end, both sides had their hands bound. Jeremy''s smile grew wider as he saw that no one dared to stop him. "A huge tragedy fell on my brothers from the Integrationist Path as a group of assassins attacked them." Shock appeared in the eyes of the people, and soon their gazes turned toward the auditorium of the powerhouses of the Purist Path. If there were someone that wanted to take care of Shura, then that would be the High Blood Elder. Jeremy saw that and immediately interceded. "Please do not jump to conclusions before knowing all the facts. What if I tell you that despite two of the Blood Champions dying and all the others having suffered severe wounds, the outsider came unscratched!" A new wave of shock assaulted the people of the Blood Sea as they found it hard to believe that Cain could be fine after such a cmity. It did not take long for that shock to turn into suspicion since it did not make sense for the outsider to be well when the Blood Champions nearly perished. "I know it is hard to believe, but it is the truth. Actually, the outsider was supposed to fight in this tournament, but it is clear he was too afraid, or maybe he was hiding something." Jeremy''s words guide people''s minds in the amphitheater in one direction, putting the me on Cain. Shura was in the auditorium among the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path. It was her right as the Blood Maiden to be present. When she heard Jeremy''s words, her eyes grew cold, and there was killing intent in them. She had seen Cain''s condition after the fight against the Wave King assassin, and there was no way you could call all your internal organs shutting down as being fine. Although she did not understand why Cain had yet to show up, she was aware of the young man''s bravery and knew that Jeremy and the other Blood Champion did not scare him. "My friends, I ask you. Is there any other reason that person would not appear other than a guilty consciousness?" Shura was about to rise from her seat when she noticed Bloodless #1''s gaze. The man smiled at her, signaling her to remain calm before looking at Jeremy like a clown. The mockery in Bloodless #1 confused Shura a little, especially when she noticed how all the powerhouses around her looked at Jeremy the same way. Her confusion grew even stronger when she saw the anger and frustration of the powerhouses on the other side of the amphitheater. ''What is happening? Should the people of the Purist Path not be happy with Jeremy''s actions.'' Jeremy had not noticed the expressions of the powerhouses in the auditoriums and just kept shouting even louder. "My friends, there are only two exnations for the outsider''s absence. He is a coward or guilty of something and does not dare to show his face in front of us..." "Shut up and focus!" Jeremy''s speech seemed like it would never end, but a sharp voice interrupted him. A sh of rage appeared on the young man''s face, but when he saw the one that shouted at him, he immediately concealed his anger. "Brother Zima, what are you talking about? For what reason do I have to raise my focus?" It was not only Jeremy, but nearly everybody in the amphitheater had the same question. "Hmph! Your opponent has been standing in the arena this entire time, and you ask me what reason you need to raise your focus." Zima sneered before pointing at the edge of the tform. At first, people only saw Jeremy in it, but as they focused on the point that Zima signaled, they noticed a figure. Jeremy''s eyes widened as he saw that the person he had been mocking for not daring to show his face had been here this entire time! Chapter 288 : The price of understimating your oponent (II) Cain''s presence became more and more notable as people began to focus on him, and soon, everybody in the amphitheater could see his figure. There was a calm expression on his face as he stared at Jeremy, not bothered with mockery or disdain. Now that he had evolved to Wave Champion, he was capable of physical feats much greater than before, and he could perform Void State to a much higher degree. Jeremy trembled momentarily before a sensation of rage and embarrassment filled his heart. He had been boasting all this time about Cain being too afraid to show up while the man was right in front of him, but he could not see this one. The Blood Champion''s face twisted, and he seemed ready to jump toward Cain and shred this one to pieces, but the battle had yet to start. There was a small spherical drone above the tform. It was a simple artifact that would act as the referee of the battle. Since it was a machine, there was no danger of bias, and everybody could trust the result. "Jeremy Samsan. Are you ready?" Usually, the machine would have made the question the moment both fighting entered the tform, but Jeremy did not stop talking. "I am!" When the machine heard Jeremy''s answer, its hundred mechanical eyes turned toward Cain. "Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?" Cain did not immediately answer the question but instead turned toward Bloodless #1 in the distance. "What are the rules about murder in the Blood Champion Final Tournament?" It confused Bloodless #1 since it was something Cain should have already known. Still, the powerhouses answered. "The battles will end when one side surrenders or is unconscious. You can continue attacking until one of those criteria is met. If you murder your opponent before that, then it would not break the tournament rules." Bloodless #1 did not shout, but his voice echoed across the amphitheater, ensuring everybody would hear it. Cain nodded and turned toward Jeremy with eyes bursting with red light. Jeremy trembled as he saw that red light and almost jumped back like a scared cat. The shame only kept increasing, and thinking about the way people would start to see him made his fury grow even more potent. "Hahaha, don''t worry, little outsider, I will not kill you, but I will make sure your legs never work again. That should send the message that the Blood Sea is not for people like you!" Cain did not show anything at Jeremy''s words and simply focused on the machine in the air. "I am ready." "Fight!" The machine''s robotic voice marked the start of the first fight of the Blood Champion Final Tournament. "My friends, I will demonstrate the might of the Blood Sea and why outsiders are nothing but ants in front of us. Please watch me as I..." "CRACK!"@@novelbin@@ Jeremy was amid his speech to the people in the amphitheater when a cracking sound reached his ears. Confusion appeared on his face since the next thing he saw was the rest of the Blood Champions looking at him with disbelief in their eyes. "Wait, are you... not behind... me." The young man could not understand how he could see the Blood Champions since they were on his back and he had been looking forward. Everybody but Jeremy knew the reason for that. His body was aiming forward, but he was looking back after his neck made a 180¡ã twist. The cracking sound was his spine shattering under the pressure. Silence reigned in the amphitheater when people saw such a bizarre and gory scene. Cain''s movements were so fast and silent that most people did not see his attack and only saw him standing in front of Jeremy after the neck of this one shattered. There was still light in Jeremy''s eyes as his knees bent since they lost their strength. A Wave Warrior would have perished instantly, facing such horrible wounds, but the vitality of Wave Champion was on a whole new level. Cain stared at Jeremy as his right hand turned into a red bestial w. "STOP!" That shout came from a middle-aged man on the podium of the Purist Path, but it did not affect Cain''s behavior since the next second, he used his bestial blood w to rip Jeremy''s head off. "First battle is over. Cain Laurifer is the winner." Shock filled the heart of everybody in the amphitheater when they heard the voice of the machine dere Cain, the winner. Since the mechanical referee bestowed Cain the victory, that meant he had broken no rule. "You disgusting outsider!" Of course, that mattered very little for certain people, especially the middle-aged man who shouted for Cain to stop. He was very simr to Jeremy and should be his father or grandfather. The man seemed ready to jump into the tform but did not lose control of his emotions despite the burning rage in his soul. He first turned toward the High Blood Elder before sping his hands. "My Lord. Allow me to get revenge on my grandson. We can not allow an outsider to take the lives of children of the Blood Sea like that!" The man''s voice was loud, making sure everybody could hear them and inciting the crow to support him, which half of it did. "Yes, punish the outsider!" "Kill the outsider!" "Revenge for our brother!" Thousands of people belonging to the Purist Path did not wait before shouting out loud, expressing their desire to take Cain''s life. Cain noticed that, but he did not care. If people wanted to hate him, that was their choice. He would follow his heart and fulfill his duty regardless of what others thought about him. What did matter a little was the silence of the people of the Integrationist Path. While they were not chanting for his head on a spike, they were not supporting him either. ''It makes sense. After all, I did kill a Blood Champion. It is easy to hate something and shout your rage, but harder to care for someone and fight to protect him.'' Cain was not disappointed in the people of the Integrationist Path since he never expected much from them anyways. He was not concerned about the shouts of the Purist Path since he did not live in a world where crows'' mentality mattered. The reason why Cain acted with such brutality was to pay his debt to Radin and Martin. Although he would have preferred to kill two Blood Champions of the Purist Path, he was satisfied with Jeremy, so it did not matter if the tournament ended now. "Hmph, pack of hyenas, and the rest of you are a bunch of turtles!" That shout came from the podium of the Integrationist Path, but the one that shouted was not a powerhouse but Shura. She rose from her seat and walked forward before looking at the people in the amphitheater. "Where was that thirst for revenge and justice when Radin and Martin, my friends, perished under the hands of assassins sent by those that only dare to act on the shadows like rats." Shura shouted toward the people of the Purist Path, and the disdain and loath on her face was evident. She then turned toward those of the Integrationist Path, and the contempt in her eyes was not any less. "I can understand those rats'' selective memory, but Radin and Martin were our people, yet you remain silent when they try to lynch the one seeking justice for our fallen brother. You are nothing more than a bunch of turtles." Silence permeated the amphitheater after Shura''s shout until an old voice appeared. "Young Lady, you speak harshly but truthfully. What is the point of calling ourselves integrationist if we can not demonstrate our convictions with actions?" An old woman with long white hair walked until she was right beside Shura. Despite her old age, the instant she opened her eyes, a powerful pressure permeated the amphitheater as she focused on Jeremy''s grandfather. "The pain of losing a grandson is horrible. I still remember when they told me my little Radin would not return. It was like someone had ripped my right arm, but I am a powerhouse from the Blood Sea, so I can not simply go wild with grief and follow my rage." The old woman stopped at this point as a dark light emerged in her eyes. "However, if you make the first move, nothing will stop me from killing everybody I think is responsible." When they heard those words, a sh of terror appeared in the eyes of the Wave Kings of the Purist Path since they all knew just how dangerous that old woman was. A few moments after the old woman''s speech, someone else stood up and positioned himself next to Shura. He was a middle-aged man with arge body, and his physical appearance was very simr to Martin''s. No words came out of his mouth, but the killing intent in his eyes made it clear to everybody what he was ready to do. Chapter 291 : All eyes in the battle "Ninth battle is over. Cain Laurifer is the winner." The mechanical referee shouted those words, and a secondter, thest of the Blood Champions of the Purist Path shed toward the tform. Zima seemed eager to fight immediately, which made perfect sense. While the other Blood Champion did not hurt Cain, the fight did drain a significant portion of his energy pool and stamina. The High Blood Elder and Blood Duke exchanged nces as they saw Cain and Zima on the tform. Although the Integrationist Path won nine battles, they only had one fighter, so the Purist Path only needed a single victory. Of course, everybody would mock them, and the stance of the Purist Path would certainly grow weaker, but they would still be the ones that would carry on with the final and most important part of the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon. There was nothing the Blood Duke could do about the unfairness of this situation. The rules that allowed Cain to kill Jeremy without repercussions also forced him to win all ten fights. Powerhouses of the Purist Path and Integrationist Path were not the only ones analyzing the battle between Cain and Zima. Blood Sea was an extremely important power in the Copsing Lightning Sector, so factions across the empire were using different methods to watch the fight. In the Titan Tower of the Imperial Lightning Fort, a room with arge mirror showed Cain and Zima. There were six people; five were Copsing Lightning Pirs, and thest was Luther. Of course, among the Pirs was Zarak, and there was a sh of disdain in his eyes. "Hmph! They really know no shame. Despite forcing Cain to fight ten consecutive battles, they do not give him any time to rest." Stay tuned to empire "There is no reason for the mighty people of the Blood Sea to give leeway to an outsider." Luther spoke those words before showing a mocking smile. "I am sure those cowards justify their actions with those words. I am surprised that the Blood Duke is not interfering on Cain''s behalf and allowing things to carry on." Zarak''s eyes narrowed as he heard thatst part. He was also confused by the actions of the Blood Duke. His suspicion began when he saw that this one had not shown up to rescue Cain and Surin. As a Titan, the Blood Duke should be much faster than he and Bloodless #1, yet this one never appeared. "Many have forgotten, but the reason the Blood Duke was able to rise to his current position was not his brute power but his schemes. I am sure that man is nning something, and he clearly doesn''t care about the safety of Cain." Olivion, the Second Copsing Lightning Pir, spoke calmly, but there was a sh of killing intent in his eyes. The Copsing Lightning Pirs present began to look at each other, and there was a murderous light in their eyes. Cain Laurifer was a divine prodigy that saw the Imperial Lightning Force as his home and the army as his family, so it was only a matter of time before he became one of the Pirs. Although they might have differences and sometimes fight with each other, when it came to external threats and dangers, the Copsing Lightning Pirs could act as a single unified force. Luther saw the aura in the room and knew he needed to intervene. If the Nine Pirs were to march together, then they could unleash a massacre on the Blood Sea. While it was true that the Blood Sea was a formidable power with two Titans, the First Pir of the Copsing Lightning Sector was a killing machine that had already murdered more Gods than you could count with both hands! "The Copsing Lightning Duke has forbidden our movements. Cain chose to return to the Blood Sea and knew the dangers. Unless Major Laurifer explicitly asks for our help or the tournament rules are broken, we are not allowed to mobilize our forces." Zarak sighed and nodded. It was Cain''s decision to return to the Blood Sea, and he should face the consequences of his actions. --- Far from the Imperial Lightning Fort, in a remote corner of the Copsing Lightning Sector, there was an immense castle. In a room of that magnificent structure, two men were watching a crystal species that showed Cain and Zima. One of the men was Jonathan, and the other was someone Cain would have recognized as the person from the Saint Void State Technique. The man that managed to perform that wless assassination of a Wave King in broad daylight in the middle of a crown when he was just a Wave Champion was looking at the crystal sphere with sharp eyes. "So this is the boy that has my daughter''s corpse. I must admit his assassination skills are very high for a neophile." No ill will or disdain could be heard when the white-haired man spoke about Cain as a neophile. Besides, he was right. Unlike members of the Aegon Family, who took assassination as the main path of their battle and lifestyle, Cain only used it as a tool. "Yes, My Lord. Although he doesn''t have the heart of an assassin, there is no hesitation in his mind when ites to killing. Other than Young Lord, I am afraid that no one in the Aegon Family''s young generation canpare with his talent in Void State." The man silently nodded. He saw how Cain performed a wless assassination during the first tournament battle, so there was no question about his skills. "Anyway, we must be ready. If I am right before the Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon ends, we will have a lot of work." Jonathan''s eyes widened as he understood the hidden meaning of the man''s words. He turned toward the crystal sphere, and there was focus on his eyes as he did not want to lose anything. ---@@novelbin@@ Millions of kilometers away from the Copsing Lightning Sector, a young man watched the battle between Cain and Zima. Unlike the powerhouses from the Aegon Family and Imperial Lightning Fort, he did not really care what would happen with the Blood Sea, and his only focus was Cain. Magnus Hellzer''s eyes were cold as he stared at Cain''s figure. Very few people in the world could match his talent, but Cain was one of them. He did not need to prove himself superior to others, and a good rtionship could have grown between the two, but Levi''s past and Amos'' actions made it inconceivable. ''If he perished in the iing turmoil, everything would be great. However, if he manages to rise above, I will have to start looking for ways to handle things quickly.'' The sound of a moving door drew Magnus'' attention, and saw a middle-aged man walking toward him. It was the same Wave King that attempted to force his way into the unique dimension of de Mountain. "Young Lord, by order of the Hellzer Duke, I bring you the Divine Fire Lotus as a reward for rising to Blood Champion with Void Marrow." The Wave King kneeled before taking a small red chest and presenting it to Magnus. His eyes showed a sh of greed since he knew that the Divine Fire Lotus was an incredible treasure, even for a Wave King. Still, he immediately erased that emotion since he was aware of what had happened with the enemies of the young man. Magnus smiled as he stored the small red chest and waved his hand, signaling the Wave King to leave since he did not wantpany while looking at Cain''s fight. The Wave King stood up but did not immediately leave since he had another task. "His Highness is asking whether or not you will attend your brother''s funeral?" "?Hahahahaha!" Magnus burst intoughter as he heard that question before shaking his head. "Don''t you think it would be in bad taste if the murderer attended the funeral?" The Wave King trembled when he heard that. It was a surprise since everybody knew what happened but could not believe that Magnus would just say it out loud. There were only two reasons someone would confess such a crime. They were stupid and did not understand the risk or know that nothing would happen to them. Either way, the Wave Kings erased those words from his mind since he could not survive the schemes and tribtions of the fight for power among the young generation of the Hellzer Family. "I will tell His Highness you can not attend due to your cultivation, Young Lord." Magnus shrugged his shoulder and signaled the man to leave, which he did immediately. --- It was just a battle between Wave Champion, but even Titans were focusing on it, and whatever they expected to see, it would be even more impressive. "Zima Extier. Are you ready?" "Yes, I am." "Cain Laurifer. Are you ready?" "Yes, I am." "Fight!" Chapter 292 : Clash of Ego Waves Cain and Zima looked into each other''s eyes, and there was a coldness in them. The battle had officially started, but neither made a move since the first sh would not be physical. Red and golden fields emerged from the minds of both Blood Champions, like tsunamis and lunged toward the one with insatiable might and power. As soon as the golden and red force fields collided, the superior Ego Wave showed itself immediately. Zima''s willpower belonged to an Early Wave King, which was terrific for a seventeen-year-old man in every sense, but Cain''s was way above that level! Cain had already evolved his willpower to the Middle Wave King level beforeing to the Blood Sea, and his tribtion with the Wave King assassin made it explode, touching upon the Late Stage and Second Realm! Solemn expression appeared in all the powerhouses across the empire that saw the might of that red force field. If there was one aspect in which Cain Laurifer stood above all other geniuses of the young generation in the Copsing Lightning Sector was his willpower. Having an Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix and experiencing over a dozen life-and-death trials had pushed the young man''s Ego Wave to the point that it would soon earn him the right to call himself a powerhouse at merely sixteen years of age! Unlike the rest of the people that stared at Cain''s Ego Wave with a solemn attitude, Shura showed a radiant smile. She knew just how hard Cain had fought to evolve that red force field, and seeing him unleash it made her happy since that was his purest state. Of course, the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path were thrilled to see the might of Cain''s willpower. After all, he was on their side, and this was just more than a fight. It was a sh of thoughts, and what better to define the correct path than a greater resolution and determination? Zima saw how the red force field could push back his golden Ego Wave effortlessly, but just as it was about to be drowned by the willpower of his opponent, a smile appeared on his face. "Crack." It was as if a seal had broken inside his mind. The next instant, the golden force field exploded with power, gaining the ability to stop the advance of Cain''s Ego Wave before pushing it back. Surprise and confusion appeared in the people that saw the increase in power of the golden force field since they did not understand precisely how it happened. Even powerhouses like Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 were shocked by the burst in the Ego Wave from Zima. Their knowledge about the Ego Eternal Path of Power was deep, but they were confused by the sudden turn of events. Still, they saw how now it was Zima''s Ego Wave, the one in the lead. Cain saw how the golden force field was pushing his Ego Wave when he took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he remembered the feeling he had during the fight against the Wave King assassin. When he opened his eyes again, the red light in these exploded, generating a quality improvement in the red force field that seemed to be on the brink of evolution! Zima''s eyes widened when he saw the might that Cain''s Ego Wave could reach, and soon the coldness and killing intent in his heart exploded. The red force field pushed the golden to the middle of the battle arena, and both began to ascend into the sky. They were like nearly five thousand meters long dragons shing and rising into the air. "RUMBLE!" Storm clouds began to appear in the sky due to the sh of willpower. Although Ego Wave was immaterial, the reason why it could pass through solid objects with ease, once the willpower of life evolved to a high enough level, it could affect the Wave. Its most basic deployment at this point was to use it as fuel for the Astral Wave or Essence Wave, but once your mastery reached a high enough level, you could manipte the Life Wave in the air, using the world as your energy pool. The willpower of both youths was so immense that their sh could wreak havoc on the Life Wave in the sky and change the weather! --- Back in the Imperial Lightning Fort, the Pirs, and Luther were seeing the sh between the willpowers of Cain and Zima with a frown on their faces. The mirror did not only show images since it also allowed the people that saw it to perceive the energy and forces unleashed by the people in it. Zarak''s eyes were sharp as he focused on Zima''s Ego Wave. "You also feel it, right?" The one that spoke was Akyra, the Essence Wave Cultivator that granted Cain his license as a Hypnosis Master. Her voice was solemn as she stared at Zarak. Luther and the rest of the Pirs focused on the youngest of them. While Zarak was the weakest in terms of Wave Cultivation, his evolution, and mastery over the Ego Eternal Path of Power was the highest, with him already taking a step into the Third Realm.@@novelbin@@ Zarak did not answer immediately and took focus for a long time on the golden force field before opening his mouth. "I have no idea how he managed to hide his Ego Wave and just unleash it with such strength the next second. It might be a unique skill I am unaware of." The Ninth Pir did not pretend he had all the answers since he was far from reaching the peak of the Aether in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, so it might be that Zima just had a unique skill, and that was it. However, there was something disturbing. "His willpower is old." It took a moment, but they all frowned when Luther and the Pirs heard that. Age did not limit the might of your willpower, but it determined its ancientness. After all, it was based on your life experiences, and it did not make sense it would be older than you. "Cheating?" Olivion, the Second Pir, spoke with a cold voice. He was not a master in the Ego Eternal Path of Power, but having older willpower than your actual age was like having an older brain. It should not be possible. Zarak considered things for a long time before answering. "Most likely, but I can not offer any proof." Luther and the Pirs sighed as they heard that. Even if Zima was cheating, if they could not prove it, they could do nothing to help Cain. "This battle will be hard. Let''s hope that Major Laurifer can rise as he has always done in the past." Luther spoke as he stared at the mirror along with the Pirs. --- Storm clouds had already expanded for dozens of kilometers in the sky, covering the entire amphitheater in darkness. None of the fighters had thrown a punch, but people could not take their eyes off the battle arena and did not even dare to blink. Cain focused solely on his Ego Wave, but while he unleashed his willpower, the Absolute Life Form System had another mission. [Scanning target. ... ... ... Scan of targetpleted. --- Name: Zima Extier Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: ??? Wave Talent: Low Tier 8 --- Stats: Strength: 17.5 Agility: 23.1 Vitality: 22.9 Wave: 22.3 Blood Energy: 26.5 Find adventures on empire --- Marrow washing: 100%pletion Blood Rebirth: Blue Blood Stage] Although Cain and Zima were both Early Wave Champions, thetter was at the peak of that stage, while the first evolved less than a month ago. When it came to a sh between geniuses of the same level, those small differences in cultivation significantly impacted the battle. Cain was ustomed to relying on his Ego Wave and skills to ovee stronger opponents, but Zima had the same level of willpower and skills. He could handle the physical differences, but the disparity between their energy pools would make the fight much harder. It made sense. After all, Zima was older by a year, meaning he had more time to increase his Astral Wave and the number of Blood Runes. Of course, none of that truly mattered to Cain. So what if his opponent was older than him? Was he supposed to use it as an excuse in case of his defeat? What about all the people he manages to kill thanks to the Absolute Life Form System? Should theye back to life since the fight was not "fair?" Only a coward would search for those justifications to feel about their defeat. This was a fight, and the only thing that mattered in the end was who would win. "?BOOM!" A lightning boltnded right in the middle of the battle arena, marking the beginning of the true fight. Cain and Zima made their Astra Wave burst as they shed toward the other full of killing intent. Chapter 293 : Devastating onslaught Red lightning covered Zima''s body as his skin adopted a crimson metallic color beneath his white armor, and his hands morphed into blood gem ws. Cain''s skin also turned red due to activating Second Gear as an armor of the same color covered his body. His hands became blood gem ws, and his Wave Cloak began to vibrate due to the power of Sonic Armor, increasing his defenses. "?BOOM!" Their right fists collided in the middle of the battle arena, a sonic boom emerging from Cain''s punch while a lightning st arose in Zima''s. There was no need for weapons. For warriors that trained Blood Hand, their punches were the most destructive artifacts of all, having the ability to twist Silver Artifacts with their bare hands. Coldness appeared in the duo''s eyes as they saw that neither could ovee the other, and as they retracted their fists, they adopted a simr battle stance, raising their arms and spreading their legs. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Cain and Zima both used Bloodflow Fury, exchanging punches and kicks in the middle of the battle arena, trying to push the other away. Zima''s domain over the Bloodflow Fury was surprisingly high as if he had trained it for decades. That, plus his superb speed, allowed him to have the upper hand in terms of battle skill. However, while Cain''s mastery over Bloodflow Fury was lower, he seemed capable of predicting the Zima''s moves, reacting just in time to dodge or block the blows. And while he could not surpass his opponent''s speed, the strength of his punches and kicks was unmatched due to the torque of his body. Cain had to admit that he fell behind Zima when it came to battle skills. Luckily, he had Virtual Sight, and the [A.I. Chip Module] already deeplyprehended Zima''s body and Bloodflow Fury, so the predictions were very precise. Zima sent a vicious kick toward Cain''s head, but this one was able to block it with his right arm before responding with his left elbow. Cain''s elbow could break a hole into a thick steel te like ss, but Zima managed to protect his chest using his right arm. Every time one sent an attack, the other would either dodge or block it before sending their own. There was sublime precision and control over their body movements, as expected from warriors that train their bodies to reach the peak. Zima''s eyes narrowed as he saw that Cain was able to keep up with his skills, but soon he began to smile as he activated 4000% Wave Burst!@@novelbin@@ The Astral Wave exploded with power, enhancing the Wave Cloak, which in turn improved every aspect of Zima''s body. His speed, strength, and defenses rose exponentially. Usually, even great geniuses would have a problem performing 1000% Wave Burst, but someone with such powerful willpower as Zima could generate a much greater energy output. Cain immediately felt pressured as Zima''s blows became faster and stronger, and he could only answer in the same way, also raising his Wave Burst to 4000% The strength the duo''s body began to unleash reached the standard of a Late Wave Champion due to their bursting Astral Wave. Of course, there would be repercussions for such oundish energy output, but having evolved to Wave Champion with Void Marrow and practicing a Saint Technique as Blood Refinement Art, their constitution could handle much more. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Awe and admiration appeared in the people of the amphitheater watching the fight as the skill and power of the duo were truly superb. Streams of air covered Cain''s body due to the constant rotation of his body, while Zima''s lighting pushed his reflexes to an incredible level. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" A st of Astral Wave emerged from Cain and Zima. The duo increased their Wave Burst, this time reaching 6000%. Now their physical abilities couldpare to Peak Wave Champions. Shura watched the fight with excitement as she saw that Cain could keep up with Zima, and she was sure that he would soon ovee the enemy, just like always. However, the young girl soon noticed the somber expressions of the powerhouses around her. Radin''s grandmother noticed Shura''s confusion and sighed briefly before speaking to the young girl. "That young man''s skill and ability are truly superb, but he just went through nine battles. Even if he did not receive any wound, he must have already consumed over 75% of his Astral Wave. Using such an immense energy output would drain him extremely fast." "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Shura''s focus returned to the battle as she saw that the Wave Burst of Cain and Zima rose once again, this time to 8000%. She focused on Cain''s valiant face and could not help but clench her fists. Shura knew that Cain could not reduce his energy output, but he would notst much longer if he carried on like this. Knowing that Cain had to fight alone due to their weakness and inability to hide their whereabouts from assassins made Shura clench her fists so hard that they nearly bleed. Cain could imagine the thoughts in the powerhouses'' minds. He had known Zima''s n since the moment he understood that all the Blood Champions only fought with the single goal of draining his energy and stamina. The exchange between the blows of Zima and Cain carried on with monstrous intensity until suddenly Cain''s Wave Cloak trembled, losing its bursting state! That was a clear sign that Cain''s Astral Wave had reached its limit and could no longer maintain such monstrous energy output. Zimas showed a cold smile as his eyes glowed with savagery. The instability in Cain''s Wave Cloak meant a severe decrease in this one''s speed and defense, something he was ready to exploit. Over 80% of Zima''s Astral Wave concentrated on his right fist as he sent it toward Cain''s head with all his strength. It was the time to give the finishing blow! Just as Zima fist was ready to break every bone in Cain''s face, he saw a smile appear on this one''s face. A bad feeling assaulted the heart of the young Blood Champion of the Purist Path, and the next thing he saw was Cain''s Astral Wave exploding with even more power than before. "10000%!" Shock appeared in not just Zima but also every other powerhouse that saw the battle. Cain''s energy pool wasrger than normal Early Wave Champions but was not monstrous either, and it should have depleted by this point, so they could not understand how there was so much Astral Wave left on him. A meaningful light appeared in the eyes of Bloodless #1 and Zarak as they remembered the energy that flooded Cain''s body for nearly a month and that emerged from his soul dimension. The duo was right. Cain did not care about Zima''s n because the [Gluttony Module] had been filling his body with energy and vitality from the start of the tournament. Cain had chosen to project the image of exhaustion and energy depletion so Zima would lower his guard and send an attack full of openings, exposing his body. Zima could do nothing to stop Cain from dodging his fist andnding an uppercut on his jaw, sending his body flying into the sky while making his brain tremble inside his skull. Cain would not stop and rose, making the Astral Wave focus on his arms and legs, especially his fists, feet, elbows, and knees. "Flowing First!" A barrage of blowsnded point nk on Zima. "Tempest Kick!" Enjoy new stories from empire Several kicksnded one after another on Zima''s chest, pushing him even higher. "Crimson elbows and knees." Elbows that had transformed into blood gems connected on Zima, cracking his white armor and making this one puke blood. Zima had risen over three thousand meters into the air when he finally saw Cain vanish from beneath him. Yet, his instincts screamed terror as he felt two fists gentlynding on his back. "SONIC CANNON!" "BOOOOOOOOM!" A massive shock wave spread across the sky, splitting the storm clouds apart as a mighty sonic cannon exploded point nk on Zima''s chest, making this one puke a mouthful of blood while his body crashed into the ground at supersonic speed. "BOOOOMMM!" The battle arena trembled when Zima''s body crashed into it. Blood was everywhere in the young man''s body as he used what little strength was left to turn around and look into the sky. Cain was still in the air and saw that Zima''s eyes were about to lose consciousness. He did not understand why this one had yet to surrender, but killing intent exploded in his heart since it was his chance to make things even. With Zima, there would be two Blood Champions of the Purith Path that perished, avenging Radin and Martin. "?BOOM!" Sonic booms emerged from Cain''s feet as he pushed his body to MACH 10 while his knees glowed with red light. He was ready to st Zima''s skull to pieces. However, just as he made his way down, Cain''s vision was able to capture something. He saw the faces of the powerhouses of the Purist Path. While most were full of dread and panic, the High Blood Elder was still calm. Chapter 295 The Red King acts "?BOOOOMMMM!" A powerful st echoed across the battle arena as Zima connected his fist to Cain. It had so much power that it seemed like a missile had justnded on its target. Everybody turned toward Cain since that blow was directed at his head, and it had more than enough power to be lethal for a Wave Champion. Luckily, while Cain could not dodge the blow, he managed to use his right arm as a shield. The forearm where Zima''s punchnded immediately swollen due to the severe trauma, but golden mes soon fixed the damage. Cain felt blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Even after blocking the punch, it had enough strength to do internal damage. His eyes grew sharp as he went through the attack on his mind. Zima''s punchcked any technique, which made sense since such an absurd speed was more than what a Wave Champion''s nervous system could smoothly handle. However, it mattered very little since the speed was something Cain could barely dodge, and its momentum was so much it nearly broke his arms. "Hahaha, not bad. I thought everything would be over already, but as people say, cockroaches are very tenacious. I wonder how long you will manage tost." "?BOOM!" Another powerful sonic boom emerged as Zima shed toward Cain, this time performing a downward kick that seemed capable of splitting a building in half. Virtual Sight was useless at this point since the [A.I. Chip Module] predictions were not fast enough, so Cain could only act by instinct. He managed to move back just in time to avoid the kick fromnding on his head, but that left him open to Zima''s next attack. Enjoy new stories from empire "?Ahhhhhh!" A silent scream emerged from Cain''s mouth as Zima''s punchnded point-nk on his chest, pushing out all the air in his lungs and making him puke blood. That was just the start. For the next thirty seconds, the battle waspletely unteral. Cain did his best to handle the onught, but Zima was simply too fast. Powerhouses on the Integrationist Path clenched their fists as they saw how the battle was going. Cain''s talent could be considered higher than Zima''s, but he was overwhelmed by the Blood Champion''s resources. Zima''s power after activating the Runic Inscription was simply too high. Of course, it would notst long since he would soon run out of energy, but it was evident to everybody that Cain''s body would break first. Bloodless #1 and the Blood Duke stared coldly at the High Blood Elder. There was no other way to see this battle as one that would be won by external interest, something the Purist Path was essentially against. However, no matter how much they hated the High Blood Elder''s hypocrisy, they could do nothing about it. Treasures were considered part of an individual''s power, and since Zima could trigger the Runic Inscription, he had the right to enjoy its augmentations. Shura''s eyes were distressed as she saw how Cain''s body took more and more punishment. His body would have stopped moving long ago if it weren''t for his golden me. ''Faster. Faster. Faster." Cain kept repeating that word in his mind as he attempted to push his body to a level where he could respond to Zima''s onught, but it was impossible. Something could not emerge from nothing, and his speed would not rise out of nowhere just because he wanted it to happen. Rage and unwillingness burned in Cain''s eyes as he did all he could to stay in the fight, but the damage was bing too much even for Radiance of Life. Not to mention that the powers of the Sun Seed were not endless, and he was consuming them at a staggering speed. "?BOOM!" Cain managed to block a blow to his stomach, but the potency of the attack sent him flying away. Still in mid-air, he saw Zima catching up to him andnding a knee strike right in his sternum, making him feel all his ribs shattered at the same time. The strike sent Cain to the edge of the battle arena, and while his body was still standing, he was looking down as if he no longer had the strength to raise his head. Zima''s smile was full of coldness and viciousness. It was clear he had enjoyed ying around with Cain, but it was finally time to end things. "Outsider, you gave me a very good time, so I will be merciless. Get down on your knees, and I will allow you to surrender." The mockery in Zima''s voice was clear to everybody, but there was nothing Shura and the others could do. Of course, Cain did not have to kneel to surrender. Those words were just Zima''s way of making fun of the defeated enemy.@@novelbin@@ Zima was not actually expecting Cain to kneel, but neither did he expect this one to say nothing and keep looking down. "If that is what you want." His killing intent exploded as he shed toward Cain, ready to st the head of this one open. Shock and anxiousness appeared in the eyes of Shura and many others as they saw that Cain was not surrendering. Even if he lost thisst battle, there was no shame in epting defeat, so they did not understand why he just stood silent when death was near. Zima was also surprised but only smiled as he visualized what would happen once his fists reached Cain''s head. However, just as he was in front of the enemy and ready to fire the punch, pure dread appeared on his face. Immediately, Zima stopped his attack and shed away from Cain, reaching all the way to the other edge of the battle arena. His breathing was rough, as he could not stop his body from trembling. Nothing short of absolute confusion permeated the mind of everybody seeing the battle since they did not understand what had just happened. Zima was ready to end the fight and Cain''s life a second ago, but now he was as far from this one as possible, with pure terror on his face. Zima could not exin what was happening since even he failed to understand it. He was about to kill Cain when this one raised his face, showing eyes that belonged to no man. Those eyes had red pupils full of disdain, not to a man, but to the world, as if everything was beneath them. There was no way to describe them other than the eyes of a king! --- "Where am I? What is happening?" Cain did not understand what was happening. He found himself in a ce full of shadows inside a red humanoid body without any distinctive features. In front of him was a golden humanoid, just like him, without any distinctive physical characteristics whatsoever. Before he could even try toprehend what this ce was, his body moved on its own, attacking the golden humanoid. Cain could feel everything the body did but could not control it. It was simr to his experience with his memories of his past life. The battle between the red and golden humanoids was pretty simple, only consisting of physical attacks. Cain''s body was exponentially faster and stronger than the golden humanoid, but no matter how hard he fought or what trick he deployed, he never came even close tonding an attack. Somehow the golden humanoid could not only dodge all of Cain''s attacks but also counter them with wless precision! The battle onlysted a few seconds, and the red humanoid body received no damage despite all the counters. He stopped his attack and sped his hands, and the golden humanoid responded the same. After that, the red and golden humanoids sat beside each other and began meditating. Cain stillcked any form of control, but he was able to hear words while knowledge was being engraved inside his soul. --- While Cain was in that wonderful state, Apex stared at the Sun Seed. There was a frown on his face when he saw waves of energy emerging from the dark side of the Alter-Ego. Apex''s power was great enough to understand that those were broken memories that could not affect Cain in any way to reveal information he should not know. In the end, those memories would only make Cain stronger and not proportionate any help for the Red King. The golden humanoid turned back and stared at the gargantuan gate covered in chains of white-ck lightning and dark purple mes. "What are you trying to do?" The Absolute Life Form System''s origin involved forces greater than those that formed Aether, and as the System Spirit, Apex''s wisdom was something no human in the world could match. Yet, the golden humanoid did not dare to even specte about the schemes a monster like the Red King could borate. "Ah, brat, I can only count on you to keep growing stronger regardless of the temptations in the future." Chapter 297 Titans attack Death! That was the only oue Cain would give those who attempted to take his life, especially if they did it in such a disgusting way as Zima''s sneak attack. Cain was able to rx, allowing his senses to capture everything happening around, not just the enemy in front of him. He immediately felt a burning sensation on his face, as if the sun had suddenly burst with power, and his instincts were screaming danger like crazy. There was shock on his face as he looked into the sky and saw the High Blood Elder looking at him with wild rage and madness. The Titan had already made his energy explode and was in the process of sending what could only be described as a palm strike capable of splitting atoms. Cain knew that killing Zima would enrage the High Blood Elder but never expected things to escte to this level. What he failed to see due to the state of his senses was that after countering Zima''s sneak attack, the High Blood Elder rose to the sky, shouting for him to stop. Everybody was shocked by the actions of the High Blood Elder, and before they could react, Cain had already killed Zima, and the old man sent a palm strike whose power matched that of the surface of the Old World''s sun. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 were stunned by what was happening. Regardless of their personal feelings for the High Blood Elder, they always considered the old man a meticulous and cold-minded enemy. Never did they expect this one to act as a rabid dog, especially while the eyes of the empire were in the Blood Sea As soon as they saw that palm strike emerging from the High Blood Elder, the duo shed out of their seat with so much speed and force that they broke them, using all their power to reach Cain. However, every powerhouse watching the scene knew they would not make it in time. Cain stared at the sma blood palm about tond on the battle arena, destroying everything, including him. This time, no one would save him, and he had finally reached the end of his journey. People reacted in many different ways when death arrived. Some felt fear and regret, while others shouted with fury and rage, but very few were able to rise above those primitive emotions. A small smile appeared on Cain''s face as he saw that his end woulde in the hands of a Titan''s attack. He clenched his right fist and punched forward. It would not make a difference, but even in hisst moment, he would fight! "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" The moment the sma palm reached the tform, it destroyed everything, leaving a sea of red sma that hindered everybody''s vision. No one could see the corpse of Cain, none that it mattered very much since that attack should have pulverized his body, just like the effect of a nuclear bomb on a normal human. Silence reigned after that st since people in the amphitheater were still trying to process what had just happened. Even those in the Purist Path that hated Cain and wanted him dead could not believe what the High Blood Elder had done. The powerhouses on the podium of the Purist Path were the most concerned of all. They knew several forces across the empire were seeing this battle, and the actions of the High Blood Elder had tainted the name of the Blood Sea and their movement. Even if they promulgated the ideology of being self-sufficient, the members of the Purist Path still understood they needed certain rtionships with the rest of the empire. However, who would trust and believe them now that their leader killed a young genius during a tantrum? That was just one of the problems since Cain was a member of the Imperial Lightning Fort and disciple of one of the Nine Pirs. Everybody knew the temper of the Copsing Lightning Duke and Zarak Valentine, and there was no way those two would simply ignore the death of someone so important to them and the army. --- Just like the powerhouses of the Purist Path expected, Zarak did not react calmly to what he saw. At first, Zarak''s eyes widened with shock, and as he felt the power of the sea of red sma where the battle arena used to be, he understood that there was no way Cain could have survived them. "?BOOM!" Zarak''s Ego Wave burst with power as a blue force field rose into the sky like the hand of a divine demon full of killing intent. As killing intent flooded the air, storm clouds covered the entire Imperial Lightning Fort, extending for hundreds of kilometers. The rest of the Pirs saw Zarak''s Ego Wave rising into the sky with shock and awe. It immediately reached twenty thousand meters, but that was far from its limit. 25.000. 27.000. 29.000. 31.000. 32.400. 32.700. 32.900. Finally, Zarak''s killing intent, rage, and determination reached their zenith, making his Ego Wave burst to the next level. 33.000! Zarak''s Ego Wave experienced an evolutive change when the blue force field reached thirty-three thousand meters. The rage vanished from his eyes, only to be reced by a coldness that could freeze the blood of anyone that gazed at them. The blue force field soon pulled back into Zarak''s body. As he contained and stabilized all that power inside his Ego Eternal Matrix, he turned his eyes toward the Blood Sea, ready to march forward. "Please, wait a moment." Just as Zarak was ready to march into the Blood Sea, Luther appeared in his path. "Are you going to stop me?" Zarak''s voice was cold as he clenched his fists, and a monstrous blue light appeared in his eyes. Luther saw that, and his eyes narrowed before softly shaking his head. "I can no longer stop you. However, there were ns put in motion by the Copsing Lightning Duke in case of something like this before Cain''s departure. Just wait a few minutes, and you will understand." --- Bloodless #1 stared at the sma sea for a moment with shock before his face twisted with rage before he focused on the High Blood Elder. "You fucking traitor!" The rage in Bloodless #1 heart was so much that he shouted those words without care for the ones listening. The Blood Duke did not say a word, but his eyes glowed with killing intent as he focused on the High Blood Elder. Under the cold gazes of the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1, the High Blood Elder''s eyes regained their focus, and there was a sh of shock. It was like he was just realizing what he had done. The old man stared at the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 for a moment before ncing at the powerhouses of the Purist Path, inciting this one to rise into the sky. Although the powerhouses of the Purist Path were disturbed by the actions of the High Blood Elder, they did not hesitate to answer his call. The actions of the powerhouses of the Purist Path incited a reaction from those of the Integrationist Path, and soon dozens of Wave Kings were in the sky of the Blood Sea. Bloodless #1 saw a thin middle-aged man appear next to the High Blood Elder and could feel the power of this one matched his own. "Second Blood Elder." Despite the enemy''s strength, Bloodless #1''s coldness and killing intent did not diminish, and he was ready to fight. "Do not haste. No one wants a fight that could harm the Blood Sea." The High Blood Elder spoke those words while looking at the people of the amphitheater, widening the eyes of all the powerhouses on both sides. Usually, when powerhouses of their level enter a battle, they would rise to the highest level of the sky, so innocent people would not be coteral damage. That was an unspoken rule among powerhouses that one would respect even when facing enemies from the Dark Races. The Blood Duke clenched his fists as he understood that the High Blood Elder would not simply rise into the sky but would have to be pushed there. Although he had the power, his attacks would send shock waves that might endanger the life of everybody that was not a Wave King. Pure disdain appeared on the faces of the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path as they gazed at the High Blood Elder. That man had spent nearly one hundred years shouting about the importance of keeping the Blood Sea safe but did not hesitate to use the life of their people as a shield. The High Blood Elder showed little concern with how those powerhouses saw him and focused on the Blood Duke.@@novelbin@@ "I understand that my actions will generate some troubles in the Blood Sea, but we must be wise about it. That boy''s death is irrelevant to us, and I sincerely doubt someone would dare to antagonize us just for it." Just as the High Blood Elder prepared to continue his speech, a voice echoed across the amphitheater. "Who are you calling dead, you old bastard!" Chapter 298 Civil War "Who are you calling dead, you old bastard!" Shock appeared in the eyes of everybody who heard those words, and as they turned toward the sea of blood sma, they saw Cain rising from it. "Im...Impossible!" The High Blood Elder could not believe what he was seeing. Although he was still confused about the temporary madness that took over him when he attacked Cain, he knew that the palm strike contained his true power, capable of pulverizing even a Wave King. No matter how lucky or talented Cain was, he should have died instantly once the palm strikended in the battle area. Yet, that was clearly not the case. --- In the Titan Tower from the Imperial Lightning Fort, the Pirs, including Zarak, were shocked as they saw Cain alive and well. The only one with a calm smile on his face was Luther. Before Cain left for the Blood Sea, the Copsing Lightning Duke had engraved a powerful rune in this one. It was a defensive spell that would automatically activate in case of an attack from someone above the Wave King''s level. Luther''s eyes suddenly widened as he heard a message and nced at the rest of the people in the room. Zarak could not help but smile as he saw that Cain was still alive, but soon his eyes grew sharp again. "We must march immediately into the Blood Sea and take him out. The High Blood Elder might want to finish the job." Luther immediately shook his head as he heard Zarak''s concerns. "The Copsing Lightning Cocoon will remain over Cain''s body for thirty minutes. Someone is already going to the Blood Sea to take him back, so there is no need to worry about... WHAT!" A wave of shock assaulted Luther as he saw Cain''s actions in the mirror and could not believe it. It was not just Luther since Cain''s next move filled with utter shock to everybody that saw him across the empire. --- Cain''s willpower burst with an incredible might as it began showing true domain over the Wave surrounding him. The near-death experience and his resolve to fight even in the face of hopelessness allowed his Ego Wave to break through, reaching the Late Wave King''s level and evolving into the Second Realm. Cain had been controlling the power of Mind Over Wave for a while now, so as soon as his willpower reached the Late Stage, it was easy for him to evolve from Mind Over Body to the next level instantly. Since he could now use the Wave in the sky and earth as his personal energy pool, Cain''s power grew much higher. Of course, his battle power was not at a level he could influence the fighting between the dozens of powerhouses of the Purist Path and Integrationist Path. However, right now, an extremely powerful Wave surrounded his body in the form of a cocoon of lightning, and using his willpower, he could manipte it. Cain could not transform it into a new spell or use it to enhance his Astral Wave, but he could unleash it all in a single direction, which was his n. His arms could not endure the power of the Copsing Lightning Duke''s Wave, but there was a weapon inside his right capable of doing that. ughter appeared in Cain''s hands, and his eyes burst with red light as he raised the machete, channeling all the dark lightning around him into it, before waving the weapon down. All of that took a long time to describe, but Cain had put it in motion since the moment he emerged from the sea of red sma, using the shock on the powerhouse to take them by surprise. "CRACK!" The machete shattered into dozens of small pieces, and all the bones in Cain''s arms broke, but he managed to fire an energy cannon of the Titan level toward the High Blood Elder. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Despite being an attack fired by a Wave Champion, it was essentially the full power of the Copsing Lightning Duke''s spell, so its speed and power were higher than an Old World''s nuclear weapon. The High Blood Elder''s eyes widened as he saw that energy cannon, and he could do nothing but put his arms above his chest, making two white bestial ws materialize in front of him in the form of a shield. "?BOOM!" As if understanding Cain''s intent, the energy cannon did not explode when itnded on the High Blood Elder, instead pushing this one hundreds of kilometers into the sky. Pure awe and astonishment assaulted the heart of everybody across the empire when they saw how a young man managed to send a mighty Titan flying away. It cost him a Natural Holy Weapon but would make his name echo across the entire Godyer Humankind Empire. "?BOOM!" Not even a second had passed when another st urred. This time the responsible was Bloodless #1, who took the chance tond a kick on the Second Blood Elder, also pushing this one into the sky before chasing after him. The Blood Duke''s mind was working at full power as he attempted to decide his next step, but Bloodless #1 had already taken that decision from his hand. He nced at the young man that initiated all this havoc and nodded. "It is war!" No more words were spoken as the Blood Duke shed into the sky, going after the High Blood Elder. The Wave Kings of the Integrationist Path and Purist Path heard those words and felt the burst of energy in the sky hundreds of kilometers above them. Bloodless #1 and the Blood Duke were full of killing intent, going after the High Blood Elder and Second Blood Elder. That made everything clear for everybody else. Since their leaders were fighting with murderous intent, it was finally time to shred all pretenses and fight to the death as well. The animosity between both sides had reached a point where words could not fix things anymore. This was not the first sh between the Purist Path and Integrationist Path since many battles with lethal oues had carried on over thest couple of years, but it was the first time they escted things to the point of a civil war. The powerhouses of both sides rose dozens of kilometers into the air, reaching a point where they could fight using all their power without endangering the weak ones. "?BOOM!" Before the first sh between the Wave Kings in the sky could happen, they heard a thunderous sonic boom. As they looked down, they saw Cain shing away from the amphitheater. Although it was true that Cain was severely wounded and no one expected him to meddle in the fight of the Wave Kings, running away before the battle even started did not leave a very good image. Mocking smiles appeared in the eyes of the people of the Purist Path as they saw Cain running away. In some measure, the young man had be the emblem of the Integrationist Path, so seeing him running away was humorous. However, all those smiles froze when they saw Cain heading into Blood Ind, specifically to the Blood Pagoda. Right now, no one controlled the power of the Blood Pagoda since the Blood Duke and High Blood Elder neutralized each other''s domain over the artifact. None of the Wave Kings could do something about it, so they just ignored it, but when they saw Cain moving toward the pagoda, they remembered something. All the Wave Kings had already investigated the young man who came out of nowhere and managed to take down a Wave King assassin, and hacking was among his skills. Although it was preposterous even to think that a Wave Champion could hack into a Titan Artifact like the Blood Pagoda, over and over again, Cain had proved to be capable of the impossible.@@novelbin@@ "STOP HIM!" "?PROTECT HIM!" The Wave Kings of the Purist Path and Integrationist Path shouted as they started their fight, using everything they had to kill the other side. Once they heard thatmand, the people in the amphitheater were the first to react. All of the Purist Path members rose into the air and were ready to sh after Cain. Even if none of them could match his strength, he had drained most of his energy and left with severe wounds, so together, they had a chance. Ametria, the Blood Maiden of the Purist Path, was at the lead of the hundreds of Wave Champions of the Purist Path, ready to go after Cain. However, she had not even taken a step when a group just asrge as her blocked their path. Shura was leading the force of the Integrationist Path, and her eyes were full of killing intent as she nced at Ametria and everybody else. "Take one more step, and we will kill everybody." Ametria was surprised by Shura''s coldness and killing aura, but she was not weakling. Her eyes grew cold as he led her force into battle. It was shocking news for the empire. The Blood Sea, a power that could equal an entire Sector, began a civil war! Chapter 301 The death of the High Blood Elder An hour had passed, and the battle over the Blood Sea continued to escte with increasing power. The sh between the powerhouses of the Integrationist Path and the Purist Path was intensifying. A clear victor was already emerging in the battlefield between Wave Kings, thanks to the arrival of a sixteen-year-old man. While Cain''s power wasn''t overwhelming enough to instantly reverse the tide on his own, his assistance yed a pivotal role. His help allowed Kael to take down a Middle Wave King Essence Cultivator from the Purist Path, contributing to the shift in the battle dynamics. It was a chain reaction, with Kael free to help more of hisrades, and with every minute, the advantage of the Integrationist Path increased. Presently, more than nine Wave Kings from the Purist Path had fallen, while only two from the Integrationist Path had suffered the same fate.@@novelbin@@ Cain was kept informed of the battlefield''s state through Apex''s guidance, but he couldn''t afford to lose focus. The Flow, though a powerful tool for predicting opponents'' movements, wasn''t foolproof. While he could predict Jason''s actions, it didn''t guarantee he could always evade them. Unlike Zima, whose attacks were somewhat crude and patterned, Jason executed an almost wless Bloodflow Fury, even in his current state. However, as the battle carried on, Cain''s use of the Flow and his ability to face the Wave King increased, allowing him to get closer and closer to an opening, and when it finally happened, he did not waste it. Cain managed to break through Jason''s guard,nding an elbow strike to the man''s elbow. This spot was the same area where Kael had previouslynded a ming downward kick. "CRACK!" The sound of breaking bones reached Cain''s ears, but he was forced to retreat as a powerful blow targeted his head. Just as Cain moved back, a powerful kick shed toward his chest. He anticipated the pattern, twisted his body, and raised his guard to fend off the attack. However, he was still sent hurtling through the air. Clenching his teeth, Cain regained control over his body and swiftly returned to the battle. He fought valiantly, using his utmost strength, but things were taking a dire turn for him. His energy pool was running low since even if his body and techniques could equal a Wave King, his Astral Wave and Blood Energy could not. If it weren''t for Cain''s Ego Wave taking control of the Life Wave in the air and the help of the [Gluttony Module] constantly recharging his energy and vitality, he would have run out of stamina a long time ago. "AHHHHHHHHH" Then, a scream of pain pierced the air, and the skies turned red as blood began to rain down. Powerhouses from both sides stopped their fights for a second as they looked up and saw how clouds of blood began to fill the sky before they rained down. It was a majestic and gory phenomenon to see blood raining for hundreds of kilometers, tainting Blood Ind and Blood City. The silence that followed was heavy as everyone recognized the source of the shout and the implication of blood raining upon the Blood Sea. The Second Blood Elder had fallen! "?BOOOM!" Less than two seconds after the rain of blood, an explosion covered the sky, one so strong that it made the ears of even Wave Kings bleed. Not long after, a figure crashed into the Blood Sea, creating a towering pir of blood-water that sshed in all directions, only for two figures to appear above the Wave Kings the next second. Powerhouses from both sides froze, recognizing the neers as the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1. Even Cain and Jason couldn''t disregard these figures, as they were far beyond their power levels. Their auras immediately stopped all other fights since their appearance made it clear that there was no longer a need to carry on with the fight. A winner had emerged. Bloodless #1''s left side of the face was gone, and a fist-sized hole marred his stomach. Despite this, he smiled triumphantly, having seeded in taking the Second Blood Elder''s life. The Blood Duke had lost his right leg and bore w marks all over his body, with the deepest wound revealing his spine. The battle had been brutal, but his aura still radiated strength as he surveyed the waters. A figure then rose from the sea in silence. The High Blood Elder''s body was battered but not fatally wounded. Hecked arms and bore a deep indentation where his Evolution Core had been. His cold gaze fixed on Cain, who clenched his fists in response. The High Blood Elder''s eyes held menace, but Cain''s resolve remained firm. He didn''t fear death, especially when he stood on the victorious side of the war. The High Blood Elder didn''t linger on Cain for long, turning his attention to the Blood Duke and sighing. "I am willing to leave with my people." This deration incited a burning rage within the Blood Duke. "Do you think I will simply let you go?" The High Blood Elder felt the burning killing intent on the Blood Duke, but there was no fear in his eyes. Even with all his wounds and the dire state of his Sacred Organ, there was still an immense amount of power inside him. "You two have the power to take my life, but I assure you, it wille with a dire price. I will use all I have and fight until thest second. My body will not be a war trophy." Dread appeared in the eyes of all the powerhouses from both sides when they heard that. The High Blood Elder hinted at the change of self-destruction before death, and if all the energy in his body were to erupt at the same time, it would take down a big piece of the Blood Sea with him. Facing the High Blood Elder''s steadfastness, Cain saw an exchange of nces between the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1. The ongoing war exposed their vulnerabilities and weakened their forces significantly. The deaths of several Wave Kings and the Second Blood Elder left them vulnerable to external threats. The Blood Duke was confident in his ability to end the High Blood Elder''s life, yet he understood that doing so would result in severe injuries. This, in turn, would weaken his ability to fend off challengers seeking to exploit the Blood Sea''s vulnerability. Although Cain also desired to end the High Blood Elder''s life, he refrained from issuing opinions to others. Lacking the power to kill the man, he had no right to speak. The Blood Duke motioned, ordering the Integrationist Path''s Wave King to withdraw, creating a separation between the two sides. Just as he was about to give amand, his eyes widened, mirrored by Bloodless #1''s. Both of them were the first to perceive it, and soon, everyone else saw it. "Zima?" Cain involuntarily cried out at the sight of the phantom-like figure resembling Zima, albeit much older. The High Blood Elder felt it, but before he could do something, his eyes trembled as all his defenses copsed. In the next moment, Zima''s phantom figure merged with him. A scream of agony echoed, but it was brief, reced by a surge of power even greater than before. The High Blood Elder turned towards the crowd and then directed his focus onto Cain. "YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" A wave of terror washed over Cain as he felt the High Blood Elder''s malevolent gaze. These eyes were more menacing and feral than even the High Blood Elder''s. In the next second, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 positioned themselves in front of Cain. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 shielded Cain from the rage of the entity in control of the High Blood Elder. However, despite their strength, both adopted solemn expressions since the aura of the enemy was one that surpassed theirs. The High Blood Elder''s fury was uncontainable. Whoever was in control did not care about the Blood Duke or Bloodless #1''s protection; his singr focus was on Cain. "All my ns, all my efforts for over a hundred years, and you dared to ruin them. Little bastard, I will kill you!" A dark force field enveloped the High Blood Elder, causing the sky to darken as the world quivered. Even atoms struggled under the pressure of this overwhelming power. Cain''s eyes widened as he observed the event. He had heard of the power of the Third Realm, yet the force he now witnessed exceeded it. It was evident that the man before him had reached the Fourth Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power! On the Purist Path''s side, confusion reigned. Theycked awareness of the person who had taken control of the High Blood Elder''s body. Amid the tense atmosphere, a sound of spatial rupture echoed, and a shadowy figure materialized. The aura emanating from this figure was on par with the being that had seized control of the High Blood Elder. "Hahah, good Shadow King. Assist me in eradicating these pests!" Chapter 303 Post-war mesuares While the situation on Blood City and Blood Ind had quieted, peace was far from over. The Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and nine of the Blood Sea''s strongest and oldest powerhouses were in the Blood Pagoda''s highest level. Those people''s loyalty was unquestionable, and their voices and eyes could reach every corner of the Blood Sea. However, there was one more person among the group that the Blood Duke called into the meeting. Cain might be young, and his time in the Blood Sea was short, but no one in the room felt there was a problem with his presence. Not only had Cain''s attack pushed the High Blood Elder into the sky and away from innocent people, but he also took control of the Blood Pagoda just at the right time, avoiding thousands of unnecessary deaths. Regarding his loyalty, even aplete idiot could see that he was not part of the Blood King''s scheme since there was nothing that man wanted more than to kill Cain. He was also a very important figure for the Copsing Lightning Duke and the Imperial Lightning Fort since the mighty First Pir acted as Cain''s bodyguard. It was true that his current battle power was not muchpared with the rest of the people in the room, but no one dared to look down on him for that. Cain''s talent was so immense that it would only be a couple of decades before he caught up to them or even surpassed them. "It will be a very long time before we find out the true intentions of the Blood King and exactly when he managed to infiltrate the Blood Sea. If we go by his words, he had nned for one hundred years already, so there is no doubt he is not over with us. Right now, we must decide what our approach will be for the powerhouses of the Purist Path. Does anyone have a good idea they would like to share with the group?" Silence reigned as the Blood Duke spoke those words. Everybody understood the dangers of keeping snakes in their ranks, but the decision was not so easy to make. "We are not in a position where we can allow weakness. The Blood Sea must act as a single unified force if we want to handle the looming threat." Bloodless #1 was the first to speak, and his voice was eerily cold. There was a merciless light in his eyes, and everybody could understand his n. Since they could not fully trust the powerhouses of the Purist Path, the only chance was to kill them all. "Killing all of them would mean a great loss to our war power and alienate the younger generation." Countering Bloodless #1''s idea was none other than Radin''s grandmother. No one would use the woman of having a soft heart since she alone killed two of the Purist Path''s powerhouses during the Blood Sea''s Civil War. However, her way of acting during times of war and peace was very different, worthy of a general who knew how to adapt to the battlefield and diplomacy. "We can mitigate the loss in war power by using them as furnaces to give birth to new powerhouses or transform them into battle puppets. As for alienating the new generation, while it could happen, it would not generate problems for a long time." Bloodless #1 immediately gave solutions to the old woman''s concerns. Clearly, he was not just ruthless but also a brilliant tactician. The Blood Duke and the other Blood Sea powerhouses began to consider Bloodless #1''s solution with care when they saw Cain raise his hand. Cain was not conceited or careless and knew that while he was allowed in the room, he did not have the same freedoms the others had earned through hundreds of years of service. The Blood Duke saw that Cain had something to say, and after making sure that no one in the room had a problem with the young man giving his opinion, he nodded. "Your n will bring order, stability, and power to the Blood Sea. And it is true that you do not have to worry about the younger generation now, but what about in one hundred years? Killing those powerhouses would do more than just alienate them. Learning about the death of their fathers and grandfathers at the hands of the Blood Sea''s higher-ups will fill their hearts with rage that will fester, and the smart ones will hide it until they can do something about it. I understand the urgency of the situation, but there is always another path." Bloodless #1 frowned when he heard Cain''s words. He knew the young man was in the right, but there was nothing he could do about it. Allowing untrusted elements with the power of Wave Kings to roam around Blood Sea in a moment like this was not something they could permit. As for keeping them detained inside the Blood Pagoda, that was also not wise since they could always escape, and the damage they would do on their exit would be catastrophic. Experience new stories on empire "You see the problem with Bloodless #1''s n, but do you have a solution?" The Blood Duke was surprised by Cain''s deep analysis and wanted to see if this one could guide them. "Before anything, we must learn about the Blood King, his n, and if anyone else is under his influence before doing anything with the Wave Kings of the Purist Path. I understand that time is of the essence, and it would take a long time for you to gather urate information and root out the spies, so I proposed to contact a force specialized in that type of task." Cain''s words made sense. Hiring a specialized force would help since they could do things much faster than the Bloodless Force. While the Bloodless Force was strong, they were warriors, not spies, so gathering information was not their forte. However, they could not just hire anyone. First of all, they had to be able to trust the result of the investigation, and there was also the fact that not many forces would be willing to meddle with the Dark Kings. Cain knew all that, but he had the perfect choice in mind. "I suggest hiring the Aegon Family." Many of the people present widened their eyes as they heard Cain''s proposal. While it was true that the Aegon Family was known for its assassination skills, they were also great detectives. However, there were problems. Not anyone could hire them, and they were extremely expensive. "You have a deep connection with the Aegon Family, so you will act as the proxy?" Bloodless #1 knew about Cain''s connection with the Aegon Family. After all, he would have to be blind not to recognize Void State. "Yes. I have a very good rtionship with a member of the Aegon Family. He has the authority to negotiate in their name. As for the price, the wealth left behind by the High Blood Elder and Second Blood Elder would be more than enough." Awkward expressions appeared in the powerhouses when they heard that. Many of them were already thinking of taking part of that wealth for them, but it seemed that it would not be the case. The Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 exchanged nces as they heard Cain''s proposal. The Aegon Family did not fear the Dark Kings; with their skills and resources, they would have news quickly. Since Cain could act as their proxy, everything would go smoothly, so there was no reason to refuse. Cain saw the exchange between the Blood Due and Bloodless #1 and smiled. He had promised Jonathan to establish a channel between the Aegon Family and Blood Sea, and if both parties could benefit, all the better. The Blood Duke looked around and, after seeing everybody nodding, turned toward Cain. "We ept your proposal. I hope you can contact the Aegon Family once this meeting is over since the faster, the better."@@novelbin@@ Cain nodded, then went to the next point of his n. "Once we are sure there are no spies, we need to find a way to fix the division between the people of the Blood Sea, and for that, I have two words. Cultural exchange." Confusion appeared on the faces of the powerhouses when they heard that. They understood the term but were curious about the way in which Cain wanted to apply it. "As Bloodless #1 said, to face the iing threat, the Blood Sea must act as a singr force, and it is impossible to achieve that goal with people that are xenophobic to the bone." Everybody nodded since they understood that the core of the animosity between both groups was the xenophobic behavior of the Purist Path, one that could only lead to the downfall of the Blood Sea. "There must be an exchange of ideas if we want them to break the prejudice. People of the Blood Sea must establish a sense of brotherhood with outsiders, and there is no better ce for that than the military." Chapter 307 Astral Blood Beast The surge of soul force marked the beginning, and all the Blood Champions adopted defensive stances around Shura before turning their gazes toward Cain. He drew a deep breath, and the next moment, his Ego Wave pierced into the blood-water, allowing him to mark every beast before nodding. In unison, they charged into the Blood Sea, diving through the crimson liquid at astonishing speed as they made their way toward the center of the soul force. Surin and the other Blood Champions immediately assumed defensive postures as they sensed the presence of hundreds of Wave Champion Beasts converging upon them. And they were not alone; there were even some King Beasts amidst their ranks.@@novelbin@@ "BOOMMMMM!" However, before the Wave Beasts could draw too near, sonic cannons materialized and collided with them. All the Wave Champion Beasts were obliterated, and the cannons pushed back the King Beasts. Shock appeared in the eyes of Surin and the Blood Champions as they saw the might of these cannons as they shattered the beasts despite their distance of hundreds of meters. They had witnessed Cain''s sonic cannon before, but it had undergone refinement. Though originally an Astral Rebirth technique, its mode of operation had changed. They turned their attention to Cain and observed how he merely pointed his hand to unleash the st. He had managed to wield a long-range attack with significant potency despite being an Astral Rebirth Cultivator. The reason was simple: the limitations were no longer a hindrance for someone with his mastery over the Four Basic Wave Arts. Of course, long-range attacks were still weaker than what he could unleash in closebat. However, these techniques served well for crowd control, and he could harness the ambient Life Wave to employ them, saving his own Astral Wave. "Do not squander time. It will be dangerous to confront King Beasts." The Blood Champions heeded the advice and adopted solemn expressions. They would do their best not to be a hindrance. Cain continued to unleash the sonic wave cannons, sting the Wave Champion Beasts away and keeping the King Beasts at bay. It was a demanding but not overly difficult task, allowing the group to advance safely. In the previous Ascendance of the Blood Moon, there had always been beasts that managed to approach within 100 meters of the group, inciting a close-distance battle, but today was different. No creature came anywhere near due to Cain''s power, and in less than six hours, they reached the epicenter of the burst. Waves of sky-blue energy emerged as a phantom figure began to manifest deep within the Blood Sea. Those waves keep everything but the youths away, marking the end of the fight against the Wave Beasts. Shura and the Blood Champions could not discern much about the phantom figure, but Cain had a different perspective. Cain''s Ego Wave was potent enough to detect the might of the phantom, but he could not help but frown. He couldn''t quite exin it, but there was something unsettling, something amiss that he couldn''t quite grasp. "Is everything fine?" Surin inquired of Cain, recognizing the young man''s reaction. Despite being the senior, everyone knew who was in charge. Shura and the other Blood Champions also turned their attention to Cain. The Blood King''s scheme involving the Ascendance of the Blood Moon was significant, warranting extra caution. Cain remained in silence for a few minutes before giving a slight shake of his head. "I haven''t sensed anyone, but something feels off. It would be best for everyone to remain alert." "I understand!" Surin nodded, signaling the rest to heighten their guard. With that, he and the others adopted meditative positions within the bubble. Cain followed suit, taking a deep breath as he rxed his body. As the Blood Moon rose, the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force would be stronger, and they had to take full advantage of it. Even for someone like him, this presented a golden opportunity, as it would purify his body and blood, facilitating his ascension through Blood Rebirth. Cain''s gaze sharpened as he finally saw it. The phantom grew strong enough to show the form of the Astral Blood Beast. Despite its ethereal state, the overwhelming presence of the beast was palpable. It was undoubtedly not something Aether could give birth to; he was merely glimpsing a projection of the creature, but its immensity was undeniable. Its form was a fusion of might and mystery. The draconic physiquemanded attention, hinting at raw power exuding from every fiber. Despite the absence of wings, a sense of dominance radiated from its being. Massive, blood-red ws extended from its colossal limbs, a testament to its formidable strength. Curved horns adorned its head, adding the aura of an overlord. A thick, heavy tail trailed behind, exuding potential for destruction, capable of leveling cities with a single strike. The most intriguing aspect was its face. On each side of its head, three eyes remained tightly closed, shrouding its gaze in an enigmatic veil. These closed eyes hinted at a profound perception as if the creature could peer into realms beyond the physical. In totality, it portrayed a being of ancient power and undiscovered secrets, a symbol of dominance and mysteries that rose above the realm of mortals. As soon as it materialized, a powerful surge of soul force inundated the area. Cain''s eyes honed in on the phenomenon, and he cleared his mind, allowing the soul force''s radiation to wash over him. Every cell in his body responded to the radiation, which was overwhelmingly potent. Despite being of the spirit type, its power was sufficient to alter the physical realm. The pressure mounted, causing expressions of pain to contort the faces of those within the sphere. However, two individuals remained unaffected: Shura and Cain. Shura, as the Blood Maiden, faced something different than the man. For some reason, the Astral Blood Beast''s soul pressure felt gentler and more soothing in her presence. As for Cain, his willpower at the Late Middle Wave King level endowed him with the most formidable spirit and mental defenses, enabling him to withstand the radiation without issue. Minutes ticked by, and the pressure increased alongside the energy coursing through the bodies of those inside. A smile unconsciously formed on Cain''s face as he felt his blood resonate. He had recently reached the Blue Blood Stage, and his power was ascending once again. If all went well, he could attain the Golden Blood Stage after reaching the Middle Wave Champion level! Six hours finally passed, and the Blood Moon began to lose its intensity. Seeing this, the Blood Duke, Bloodless One, and others breathed sighs of relief as it seemed everything was unfolding ording to n. However, just when the sense of security began to settle in, events took an entirely unexpected turn. The phantom projection of the Astral Blood Beast, which should have gradually dissipated, abruptly halted. Its soul force, rather than dispersing across the Blood Sea as it should now that the Ascendance of the Blood Moon was over, coalesced instead, causing its power to erupt. Cain, Shura, and the Blood Champions were stunned by this sudden surge in soul force. Before they could react, they were immobilized, and they could only see as the phantom began to change. Initially, the Astral Blood Beast''s eyes opened, revealing orbs that appeared as pools of blood, emitting a mesmerizing allure. Its chest then started to part, revealing its true form. The Astral Blood Beast''s wings weren''t separate appendages; they formed from its very blood, and that wasn''t all. A halo materialized above its head, radiating such immense power that not only did the moon turn even redder, but the entire sky across the Blood Sea transformed as well. The Blood Duke, Bloodless #1, and everyone else in the sky were astonished; they couldn''tprehend what was happening. This wasn''t the first Century Ascendance of the Blood Moon they had witnessed, yet the current events defied all reason. However, the shock became inconsequential- Now their focus was on the safety of the youths trapped within. Yet, before they could even take action, it happened. "ROOOOOOOOOAAAARRRRRRRRRR!" The roar sent shockwaves rippling through the Blood Sea, throwing everything into chaos and hurling everyone in the sky away. Not even the Blood Duke possessed the strength to withstand it. "ZNNNN!" The sound of space shattering announced the arrival of the First Copsing Pir. The man hadn''t departed after all; he clearly recognized the significance of the Ascendance of the Blood Moon. While he had waited for the Blood King''s appearance, a more dire situation unfolded. His eyes zed with silver light as he peered into the Blood Sea. Even he felt the immense pressure emanating from the phantom creature. "?AHHHHH!" Despite the threat posed by the phantom, it wasn''t enough to deter the First Pir from his mission. He roared, his Astral Wave erupting and his Ego Wave ascending into the heavens like a pir capable of sundering the firmament. He went all-out as though confronting the mightiest adversary of his life. Drawing his sword, the First Pir swung with all his might, tearing through shockwaves and advancing relentlessly toward the trapped youths. Chapter 310 Clash of sun and ocean Book 5. The awakening of the new king. ---- "It''s good to see you, Colonel Laurifer." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Luther''s voice. Luther''s strength became more discernible to Cain now that he had reached the Second Real, and he was sure that this man was stronger than the usual Wave King. ''He must be at the Apotheosis Stage.'' The Apotheosis Stage was the transition from human to the divine. In this unique level, warriors transcended the limits of the Wave King Rank and ascended as mighty warriors of the Divine Ascendant Rank. As for Titan, that was the title bestowed upon Divine Ascendant Cultivators whose power surpassed others, capable of standing at the peak of Aether. Of course, even among Titans, there were those whose power was in a whole different category, capable of unleashing a destructive might that surpassed the capabilities of the Old World. "?Colonel?" Cain found himself taken aback by his rank''s elevation, surging two levels beyond Major Rank, reaching even the rank of Colonel. "Yes, you''ve broken a deal between the Blood Sea and Imperial Lighting Fort that has significantly aided the army. It''s well-deserved. Moreover, your strength surpasses the norm for your previous rank," Luther exined. Cain''s growth over the past years was astronomical. Seventeen years of age now, and his willpower had reached the Second Realm. His mentality had grown immensely thesest few months, so he refrained from making a fuss about his rank and merely nodded. The duo propelled themselves towards the Titan Tower, captivating the attention of many. Soldiers gazed upward, awe painting their expressions as they beheld Cain. The tales of his participation in the Blood Sea events had swiftly disseminated across the entire sector, securing a ce for him in everyone''s thoughts. Cain offered a smile in response to the soldier''s gazes. Not too long ago, he had been in their shoes, gazing at figures in the sky with awe.. Cain and Luther entered the Titan Tower, stepping into the Copsing Lightning Duke''s chamber. The pressure of will was absent since the Sector Duke recognized it would be pointless to assess Cain''s talent and willpower anymore. "You''ve certainly made quite an impression." The Copsing Lightning Duke smiled as he uttered those words. Clearly, he was delighted with how things went down in the Blood Sea. Cain sped his hand and executed a bow before the Sector Duke. "Without your aid, I wouldn''t have survived. My gratitude to you." The Sector Duke''s lips curved into a faint smile, indicating his approval. He didn''t expect blind loyalty from his soldiers but rather an awareness of those who provided assistance. Cain was evidently one of those individuals who would never forget the ones that were good to him. "It was a minor contribution. I''ve brought you here for two reasons. Firstly, it''s time for you to join the battle at the north of the continent." Cain nodded, realizing that he should have participated long ago were it not for events like the de Mountain and Blood Sea. He approached the idea of the battlefield devoid of fear or anticipation, recognizing the Dark Races as adversaries of humanity rather than mere monsters. There was no way that the indoctrination of the Empire would be so potent that it could ovee the ego of a Second Realm life form like Cain. "The second reason pertains to your Noble Arcane Ceremony." These words piqued Cain''s interest. Bing a noble was bothplex and straightforward, with most people merely dreaming of such an honor. Yet, the procedure was more akin to a transaction for someone like Cain, a Colonel with the battle prowess of a Wave King. "There are two paths for this. The first merely entails the Empire officially bestowing the noble title upon you, while the other involves a crowning ceremony. I assume you''d prefer the former." The Copsing Lightning Duke, well aware of Cain''s disposition, expected him to reject grand events and the allure of fame. However, this assumption proved incorrect this time. "I would prefer the Royal Ceremony." Surprise mingled with a trace of disbelief flickered across the expressions of both the Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther. After all, these ceremonies were designed for young individuals pursuing the path of nobility, not someone like Cain, whom they assumed wanted to focus on the army. "Could you borate?" Luther inquired, curious about Cain''s rationale for such a choice. Cain''s smile remained steadfast, and he promptly responded,ying his intentions bare.@@novelbin@@ "I want the name ''Laurifer'' to resound throughout the Gaia Continent." Upon hearing this, the Duke and Luther exchanged nces,prehending the concealed significance within Cain''s words. He sought not only to elevate his own name but to honor his family, particrly his father. The Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther looked at each other and smiled as they saw the intent in Cain''s eyes. Nothing was more honorable than respecting your elders and trying to make them proud, even if they were no longer with you. "Very well. I will address the matter and notify you when it''s time to travel to the capital. Since traveling to the As Continent and back would be wasteful, you can remain here and focus on your training." Cain nodded, finding the situation perfectly suited to his needs. He had traversed different locations for an extended period, and now, a phase of prolonged cultivation and consolidation awaited, a time to integrate his insights and improvements. Within a forest thousands of meters away from the Imperial Lightning Fort, Zarak and Cain confronted each other, a palpable air of anticipation enveloping them. Watching over the duo from a safe distance were Oliver and Abin. Despite their advanced age rtive to Cain, a solemn aura clung to their expressions as they witnessed the imminent sh of ideologies. Both were at the First Realm of the Ego Eternal Path, but the sh happening in front of them was something at a much higher level, and they could only watch with awe. Zarak''s eyes emanated a brilliant blue light as his Ego Wave, infused with the same hue, surged to the forefront. "An ancient image from the Old World depicts a man gazing down from a cliff, observing a dog struggling in a vast ocean. Many interpret this as a choice between being the powerless man or the drowning dog. But I perceive a different truth. I am neither. I am the ocean itself!" As his promation reverberated, Zarak''s Alter-Ego emerged, a tumultuous river brimming with ferocity and unbridled power. Instantaneously, the surroundings responded; trees trembled, and the once-clear sky churned with turbulent currents. Your next chapter awaits on empire Even though Zarak''s willpower hadn''t evolved to the point where it could reshape matter, its connection with the primal energy of the world, the Wave, allowed him to incite a natural upheaval without difficulty. The representation of an ocean expanded limitlessly. While Olivier and Abin maintained their distance from that mighty ocean, Cain positioned himself directly before the impending deluge. Just as the ocean''s assault loomed over him, Cain''s eyes ignited with red light. In a powerful eruption, a red Ego Wave emerged, colliding head-on with the encroaching watery force, holding back its advance. However, the Ego Wave could not face the full power of Zarak''s Alter Ego, but Cain smiled with calm and confidence before speaking. "Countless stars dotting the sky, vestiges of ancient powers that once governed existence. As our understanding grew, we realized these stars were mere echoes of celestial bodies long extinguished. Yet, among them, one remained supreme ¨C a radiant force that gave birth to entire worlds." "I am the sun." His deration resonated, giving birth to a scarlet seed above Cain''s head. An embodiment of fervent energy, it exuded an aura of searing intensity. His refined Alter-Ego, the Sun Seed, was enhanced after achieving the Mind Over Wave state. Its dualistic nature was hidden, and everybody could only feel vitality and potency. Crimson mes burst forth from the seed, setting the red force field aze, shing directly with the massive, tempestuous ocean materialized by Zarak''s willpower. The spectacle they staged wasn''t merely a contest but a dynamic collision of philosophies. Their Alter-Egos, fueled by divergent viewpoints, surged and roared, pushing the boundaries of their capabilities. Amid this intense conflict, both Zarak and Cain absorbed insights and refined their Visualization Techniques. The energy enveloping them offered a glimpse into the path ahead, one born from the crucible of opposing beliefs. Zarak''s gaze remained prating as he observed the indomitable resilience of the red sun. It was a sight that deeply resonated, bearing witness to an alter-ego coalescing into a constetion of formidable stars. Zarak recognized the blessing of possessing such a unique alter-ego, understanding that it was an extension of one''s inner perceptions, shaped subconsciously by life''s experiences. While the ocean versus sunparison seemed straightforward, it was far from simplistic. Amidst their philosophical duel, Zarak''s voice pierced through the charged atmosphere. "My willpower resembles a river, adaptive and ever-changing, like the flow that shapesndscapes. Just as a river molds its surroundings, our resolve evolves through the currents of experience." Chapter 311 Concepts Book 5. The awakening of the new king. --- Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he noticed the burst in power from the ocean as Zarak revealed its nature. "I perceive willpower akin to a sun seed,pact but with the potential to radiate boundless strength, inspiring others in the process." The Sun Seed''s red mes grew even mightier, but Zarak''s smile did not fade. "A river doesn''t confine itself to a single form. It embraces transformation, from serene streams to formidable torrents. Our willpower mirrors this evolution, growing through varied circumstances." The ocean burst with even greater power as it changed its forms, flooding everything around. "A sun seed, though small, can burgeon into a radiant sun capable of illuminating the world. It''s about nurturing potential, not just adapting." Zarak''s face grew solemn as he felt the raw power of the red mes. "A sun radiates light, but a river moldsndscapes. True strength lies in adaptation and growth, akin to a river sculpting the earth over time, so our minds should evolve and adapt to the changes around us." Cain''s eyes burst with an even mightier red light as he countered Zarak''s words. "A river transforms its surroundings. But a sun seed''s light has the power to metamorphose minds and hearts, igniting change within ourselves and others. Our will should evolve ording to our own desires, not the ones forced upon us by the world." Now, it was time for Zarak''s eyes to burst with power. "A river perseveres through challenges, shaping itself to ovee obstacles. That''s the essence of strength, evolving and enduring through time. A sun might be powerful, but it is distant, its figure in the far distance, incapable of truly affecting the world as the ocean does. What is the point of all that power if you remain aloof from everything." The mighty ocean continued to surge, growing stronger and stronger as it pushed back the red mes. It was evident that the path of the ocean had the potential to rise higher and higher.@@novelbin@@ Cain saw how the waves pushed against him, but then a smile appeared as the red light in his eyes burst with power. "It is true the sun is distant, incapable of truly changing the world in a moment, but who says I am the Old World''s sun? Everything changes as we move to this dimension, so why should I limit my nature? Stay connected via empire We do not understand the sun of this world, so I decide to make my own ording to my wishes, like a source of power that can act on the world right now and grow like my willpower does, free of any shackles!" Cain''s words made the Sun Seed burst with power and push back the ocean like a force that knew no boundaries. Zarak''s eyes widened as he stared at the bursting sun and saw how it pushed his ocean back. A sense of loss appeared in his face as he felt the sun''s power oveing him, but then his eyes gained a sh of enlightenment. The ocean that was about to sumb burst with strength as it pushed the fire back, and that was far from everything as the sky above the duo began to change. Thunderstorms began to manifest, but these differed from those generated due to the duo''s unleashing of their Ego Waves. Cain''s gaze fixed on the sky, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the storm clouds and how multicolored mes were within them instead of lightning. Shock and awe appeared in Cain''s eyes as he stared toward Zarak. He knew what that storm meant and that if Zarak were to break through it, his willpower would reach a whole new level, rising beyond the limits of the Apotheosis Realm into the Divine Ascension Rank! Zarak saw how the me clouds in the sky began to grow, soon reaching nearly ten kilometers, but he forced his willpower to hide, erasing its essence, making the storm clouds slowly fade away. Cain saw that and frowned. There was immense danger when facing those mes, but he had seen Zarak''s willpower and knew this one could take it. Zarak saw that and showed a small smile before shaking his head. "Twelve kilometers is too little. I will keep tempering my willpower to strengthen the mes'' power. It will be dangerous, but if I rise, my battle power will obtain not just a quantity improvement but also an evolution in nature." Cain saw the determination in Zarak''s eyes and had to admit that this one was very fierce. He slowly nodded before making his willpower return. "Thanks for this. Your insights were of great help." "I also benefited." Cain and Zarak nodded to each other as they rose from the ground. They looked around and saw that the trees around them were either burnt to mes or crushed under the devastating pressure of the ocean waves. "Are you ready to march into the capital?" Cain''s eyes were sharp as he nodded. Two months had passed since he returned to the Imperial Lightning Fort, and his strength had also greatly increased over this short period of time. He did not aim to advance too fast in his cultivation since he was still at the Early Wave Champion Stage. Cain did not take shortcuts during his cultivation in the Wave Warrior Rank, nor would he do so in the Wave Champion Rank. He was proceeding with extreme focus on his foundation while examining Blood Rebirth. He had already nearly reached his Blood Energy saturation point, and it wouldn''t be long before his Blood Runes evolved into a Blood Core. As for Blood Hand, Cain clenched his fist, and it transformed into Blood ws before beginning to thrive. He had already evolved his Blood Hand to the ultimate level, Blood Shockwave. Unlike Sonic Boom, which used shockwaves to enhance the strength of the punch, the shockwave unleashed by that attack happened inside the target, making every punch deal destructive internal damage. Cain found it hard to believe, but his talent in the techniques of the Blood Sea had evolved superbly for some reason as if he had obtained a new Lineage. Zarak saw the power of Cain and nodded. "You have be very powerful, but still, be careful. The politics of the Capital are not easy to navigate, and you could face all sorts of problems. You are a rising star, and everybody knows about your aplishments, so I am sure the princes and princesses of the Capital and the noble families will be looking to obtain gains from you." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard that and nodded. His only goal was to go through the ceremony and make the Laurifer name echo across the empire for his father. He was not interested in those schemes, but just because he was not interested, that did not mean he would not get mixed into them. "Since you will be there for around six months, you should take advantage to see, explore, and use its functions. There are many ces that can be of use, like the Tower of Concepts and Laws and Stars." When he heard the term Concept, Cain''s eyes narrowed. "I have reached the realm of Mind Over Wave, allowing my willpower to interact with the Concepts, but I am still slightly confused about them. They are simr to the Laws, but their nature is very different." Zarak nodded and adopted a solemn expression as he once again unleashed his willpower, but this time, there was something different. His river began to vibrate with a new power. He focused on one of the burned areas, and as his willpower covered it, things changed, and Cain could see the tree healing. "The Laws are the matrix of the universe, the order of things; they are the basis upon which the world works. Thanks to them, heat burns, and water cools down. Concepts are different; they are not born from the universe but our collective thought. Our minds are able to affect the world, as you can see by the effect of our willpower in our surroundings. Concepts are molded by sentient life forms'' ideas and beliefs, and that defines their power. The Concept of Fire makes things burn, just like the Law, but as it evolves, its power changes. For humans, fire is not just destruction. It is also the power of life and the core of civilization. As you can see, my willpower has gained insight into the Concept of Life, granting my Ego Wave the power to have a bursting healing force. You can begin to feel them, but harnessing their force is much moreplex. Do not be hasty; keep improving your willpower, and they wille in due time. Your Alter Ego will slowly gain power and interact with them. I would like to help you, but my insights on the Concept of Life are too shallow yet, so I am afraid I cannot be of assistance. You could use your time in the Capital to find a way." Chapter 312 Biometal Herculean Technique Book 5. The awakening of the new king. ------ Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he focused on Zarak''s words, making sure to engrave the essence of the Concepts in his mind. That was a power that rivaled the Laws but that even an Astral Rebirth Cultivator like him could master. "I will be leaving now. Until next time, Master." Cain sped his hands, bowed toward Zarak, and nodded at Oliver and Abin before rising into the sky and shing back toward the Imperial Lightning Fort. Oliver and Abin bowed toward Cain''s departing figure before closing on Zarak. "Young Lord has grown tremendously in such a short period of time." "That is right. Less than three years ago, he needed my help to take care of a few Wave Warriors, and now he has risen to the point that he can face Wave Kings alone." Abin and Oliver were full of admiration and awe toward Cain. "That brat is an absolute genius, but he tends to wreak havoc wherever he goes. I wonder what kind of problems he will generate in the Capital." Zarak almostughed at the idea of Cain causing trouble in the Capital. He simply shook his head and looked into the distance as blue light flooded his eyes. "I will be leaving for a few months at the least and a few years at most. I intend to refine my willpower before ascending to the Third Realm. Make sure to contact me only if it is an urgent matter. You have my authority to handle my wealth and use my name as you see fit." Zarak gave a small badge to Abin and Oliver before rising into the sky and departing, heading to the north of the Gaia Continent. Cain''s presence began to fade as he approached the Imperial Lightning Fort. His mastery over the Void State had reached a high enough level that he could hide his presence from weak Wave Kings as long as they were not looking at him. With the threat of the Blood King, Cain had to be careful wherever he went. Traveling to the Capital would be long since the distance between the Copsing Lightning Sector and the Prometheus Sector was immense. It would have been easier to travel a thousand times across the Old World to its sun than to cover that distance. Cain was not a coward, but that did not mean he would go around giving chances for the Blood King to kill him. Not to mention that his presence in a Star Cruiser would also put everybody else in it in danger, so it was better if no one knew. Other than the Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther, no one knew how he would get to the Capital and when he would do it. Silently, Cain got into a Star Cruiser and entered the Captain''s chambers. This Star Cruiser held a tremendous amount of wealth that would be sent to the Capital. While space rings could hold all kinds of weapons and treasures, there was a limit to the energy levels they could endure. Most of the products herecked refinement and radiated a massive amount of toxic energy, so they could not fit into standard space rings. There was a chance of using a unique space ring to store those toxic materials, but that would destabilize the artifact. This approach was better regarding safety, efficiency, and cost. Other than Cain, there was no one on this Star Cruiser. Average Wave Champions could not endure the radiation, and Wave Kings would not waste their time piloting a ship when the machine could do it on its own. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he perceived the radiation that spread across the ship, and his eyes glowed with red light as he took control over the Life Wave, generating a shield around him that acted as a filter. After taking care of the radiation, Cain took a deep breath and began to drive the Life Wave into his body using his willpower. Simultaneously, he consumed several mid-quality wave crystals and Blood Orbs. This external energy infusion wasn''t the extent of his preparations; he also transferred numerous King Beasts'' corpses into his [Devourer Dimension], aiming to flood his body with energy and vitality. Most of these corpses hade as part of the rewards apanying his new military title of Colonel. With his energy intake managed, Cain delved into his cultivation routine. Every bone in his hands and feet had been reforged, so it was now time to address his forearms and tibia. This transformation wouldn''t just enhance his strength and speed; it would turn his extremities into formidable shields. In addition to his cultivation base, Cain was deeply engrossed in refining his Blood Refinement Art. He had already reached the pinnacle of Blood Hand, and over the past few months, his Blood Runes had progressed at a staggering pace. Following the events in the Blood Sea, Cain''s talent in the Blood Refinement Art had grown immensely. Not only could he create Blood Runes at an astonishing speed, but the ones he crafted were smaller and denser than usual, allowing him to amodate more of them and increasing the amount of Blood Energy within his body. Cain was content with his newfound talent, but his curiosity lingered. No matter how much he investigated, even with the assistance of the Absolute Life Form System, he found no answers. Two days after the Star Cruiser departed from the Imperial Lightning Fort, Cain''s eyes widened as a sharp gleam lit them up. Cain smiled as he felt his body could no longer hold more Blood Runes. He counted them, and the number reached an astounding 999! ording to the Saint Technique Blood Refinement Art, individuals with exceptional talent in this technique and a robust constitution could typically reach 300, while superb masters and absolute geniuses might attain 600. There was no mention of anyone achieving 999! The first time Cain had glimpsed the formation of the Blood Core, it had overwhelmed him with its power and bewildered him with itsplexity. He had understood nothing of it. But now, the formation seemed incredibly simple, as if he had always known it. Cain ceased circting his Sonic de Fusion Technique, focusing exclusively on the Blood Refinement Art. His eyes zed with red light as he concentrated on every single Blood Rune within his heart, carefully merging them. The Blood Runes blended one by one, creating a remarkable synergy between them. It took Cain a grueling fourteen hours and the energy and vitality of over three King Beasts to merge all the Blood Runes. However, this was merely the beginning. It was time to give the Blood Runes Chain form, transforming that amalgamation into the Blood Core. The colossal chain began to interweave, fusing and gradually metamorphosing into something else entirely. With each passing second, the demand for vitality and energy surged, but Cain had it covered by drawing from the wave crystals and Blood Orbs in his hands, along with the supply from the [Gluttony Module]. Cain pushed his mind to its limits and nearly cked out from the extreme pressure and mental fatigue. However, after twenty-nine grueling hours, he opened his eyes again, and a burst of Blood Energy emanated from him as his body grew stronger.@@novelbin@@ Inside his heart now resided a crimson sphereposed of 999 Blood Runes, emitting a potent radiation coursing through every blood vessel in Cain''s body, infusing him with immense strength. "System, scan me." Cain did not lose his time and immediately ordered the system to scan his body to see how much he had grown. Like always, the Absolute Life Form System obeyed themand without dy. [Scanning Vessel. ... ... ... Scan of Vesselpleted --- Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: Low Tier 8 (Low Tier 8) --- Stats: Strength: 27.6 Agility: 17.2 Vitality: 26.7 Wave: 19.9 Blood Energy: 34.6 --- Blood Rebirth: Blue Blood Stage --- Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 22.1%] No one would believe that someone who entered the Early Wave Champion Rank less than four months ago would have stats like that. Other than his agility, Cain''s stats were all in the level of Middle Wave Champion despite being far from reaching the limit of the Early level. As for his Blood Energy, that had already evolved to the point of matching the Late Wave Champion level! Cain clenched his fists, and a fierce smile appeared on his face. He was sure that if he were to face Zima again, he would have achieved victory even without the help of The Flow. What excited him most was that his body could handle the pressure of training in the Biometal Herculean Technique. A body capable of evolving your body to point it can take point-nk strikes of a Wave King without any form of augmentation. Who would not want that? The amount of metals needed to train the Biometal Herculean Technique was outrageous. Luckily for Cain, he was inside a ship full of them. Chapter 315 A new assistant Krane opened his eyes the next second and found himself in a chair. Immediately, his mind jolted, but before he could take a step, he realized that he couldn''t control his body and his Essence Wave wasn''t circting correctly. Fear gripped his heart as he thought that his spine had been shattered. "I''ve blocked the flow of your energy and blood. Your limbs will regain their functionality in a matter of hours." Cain spoke with a calm voice as he stood in front of the man. He had managed to hinder Krane''s movement by using Vessel Strike, thest skill of Bloodflow Fury. He had yet to master it to the point of effectively using it inbat, but against an unconscious enemy, it wasn''t that hard. "What do you want?" Krane''s eyes glowed with silver light as he used his willpower to regain control over his emotions. Cain didn''t seem like the sadistic type, and since the young man had woken him up to talk, there might be a chance to keep his life. Cain nodded as he saw the calmness in the man''s voice before speaking. "Full name and nickname." The man stared at Cain for a moment before speaking. "Krane Savier. Silver Gale." Cain was a little surprised by how easily he got the information. Krane noticed that, and his eyes narrowed for a moment before exining. "I have no reason to lie. You could have easily gotten that information from my men since you''re able to hypnotize them." Cain nodded before essing the military interface. He could ess much more information with his current rank as Colonel and soon found Krane''s name. "A reward of 2 million military credits, not bad." Krane only sneered as he heard the reward for his head but did notment about it. "Why did you attack this Star Cruiser?" Once again, the middle-aged man did not hide it and immediately answered the question. "I got information about a Star Cruiser with arge amount of wealth moving through this region, which was supposed to be empty. It was an easy job and one I have done many times before." Cain nodded, and his eyes grew cold this time as he asked the following question. "Who sold you the ess codes and the information about the Star Cruiser?" The routes of the Start Cruiser were supposed to be a military secret, and since the group was able to make a hole inside the force field, it was clear they had ess codes. This time, Krane didn''t answer immediately and instead asked his own question. "What do you n to do with me and the rest of my men?" Cain''s eyes narrowed. He was sure that Krane was the only one who knew about the inside man, and the middle-aged man would not talk before knowing what kind of fate awaited him. After a moment, Cain nodded and honestly answered the middle-aged man''s question. "I will interrogate each of you. As long as you are not a group of deranged killers or something like that, I will just hand you over to the authorities. I am not fond of killing people who can no longer fight back." Krane stared at Cain and could see the honesty in the young man''s eyes. "A man in the Imperial Chamber of Commerce in the capital. He constantly gave us the intel, told us what we could take, and we gave him a percentage. Then he just reported it as missing and put the me on the other side. No one really cares as long as the quantities aren''t high enough." Cain softly nodded. This ship was supposed to be empty, and his presence was an anomaly, so it made sense for it to be the target of a heist. "Who do you work for?" Cain had learned about the underworld in the past few months from intelligence reports he bought from the Aegon Family. He knew any criminal group or organization with a Wave King had to pledge allegiance to one of the ten Dark Kings. "I work for the Golden King." Cain rxed when he heard that. Among the Dark Kings were all kinds of figures, one of which was the Golden King. In contrast to the other kings who asked for all sorts of tasks and initiation rituals for their members, the Golden King only cared about wealth. As long as you gave him his cut, the Golden King would hand over protection, and you could work under his umbre. Of all the kings, he was the second most mysterious, behind the Shadow King, and he was also the one with the most rxed rtionship with The Organization. Unlike the other Dark Kings that had wreaked havoc across the Empire more than once, the Golden King usually stayed silent and did not bother others. Cain then stared at the middle-aged man for a moment before finally asking another question. "How did you end up in the underworld, and why did you stay behind to protect the rest of the bandits?" Krane''s eyes narrowed, and a sh of rage appeared as he remembered a few images of his past. After a few moments, a silver light appeared in his eyes as he calmed down. "I was part of the Sundering Sky Rock University a long time ago. I and several others apanied the Principal''s son on an incursion into the As Continent. We were supposed to go on a rescue mission, but the true goal was to steal some treasure from the Dark Races." Krane made a small pause at this point as the rage in his heart burst. Clearly, the memory of that time was something that greatly disturbed his mind and soul. "The Principal''s son took the treasure, but the Dark Races discovered our presence. The piece of shit ran away, leaving us behind. Most of my friends died, and while I managed to escape, I took a dire wound to my Evolution Core. ording to the university''s rules and codes, I should have beenpensated, but they refused to acknowledge the mission and said I went alone so they wouldn''t have to help me." Cain''s eyes narrowed, and he stared at Krane. While he didn''t blindly believe the middle-aged man, the story made sense. The wealth needed to heal the Evolution Core of a Middle Wave King was immense, and there was no way the university would take that cost, especially if the man resented the Principal''s family for his actions. "I see. Still, that doesn''t exin why you are wanted." Krane showed a chilling smile as he answered that question. "Since they did not want to pay me, I took it. I loathed their treasury, taking several high-level cultivation resources, and in the process, killed a few guards that refused toply." Cain stared at the man for a few moments and nodded. It was evident now that the reason Krane remained behind to protect the rest of the bandits was the psychological impact of being abandoned in the past. He then focused on Krane''s lower abdomen as the [A.I. Chip Module] began to act. [Target scanned. ... Read exclusive adventures at empire ... ... Name: Krane Savier Race: Godyer Humankind@@novelbin@@ Path of Power: Essence Evolution (Middle Wave King) Lineage: ??? Wave Talent: Limit Tier 7 --- Stats: Strength: 21.9 Agility: 36.2 Vitality: 31.2 Wave: 79.1 --- Note: Target''s Evolution Core is damaged. There are cracks in it. Currently stabilized, but using Wave Burst or high energy output reopens the wounds.] Cain''s eyes narrowed beforemanding the system to generate a visual representation in his mind. He saw how the Evolution Core of Krane was already crystallized, full of immense energy. He also saw the cracks on it. Some were old, but there were new ones as well. The cauterized ones should have been the old ones that Krane managed to stabilize with the stolen cultivation resources. The newer ones should be the bacsh of the technique that nearly defeated Cain. A light appeared in his eyes as he considered a few things before speaking with the system. ''Ways to heal it?'' [Calcting... .... ... ... Vessel is unable to heal a Wave King''s Evolution Core, but Sun Seed''s Radiance of Life current power should be able to stabilize the wounds.] Cain was slightly surprised that the radiance of life could heal a Sacred Organ, but he didn''t waste time before putting his hand on Krane''s abdomen, right above the Evolution Core. "Do not resist." Krane was surprised, and the next thing he saw was a shining golden me that emerged from Cain''s hand as it reached his abdomen. Before he could realize what was happening, his pain faded as he felt the cracks on his Evolution Core begin to close. Cain smiled as he saw the power of his Sun Seed''s Radiant of Life. Although it was much weaker than Zarak''s Alter Ego''s healing power, it was still a great force. "Why?" Krane was grateful but also confused as to why Cain would help him. "I need an assistant who knows the ways of nobility and the Empire''s Capital, and you seem fine. I will help you stabilize your wounds, and in the future, when my strength grows, I might heal you entirely if you do well." Chapter 317 Change of plan Unlike other Sectors where there was a variety of organizations in control, such as the case of the Copsing Lightning Sector having the Copsing Lightning Duke and organizations like the Blood Sea and Sky Sundering Roc University, every inch of the Prometheus Sector was under the control of the Imperial Court. The Imperial Court of the Godyer Humankind Empire was a massive organization with hundreds of thousands of individuals. Although it might sound like a lot, it was a force whose purpose was to monitor the political and military power of the entire Gaia Continent, whose poption surpassed a trillion. Even those at the lower echelon of the Imperial Court had great influence in the empire, especially within the boundaries of the Prometheus Sector, where the imperial power was at the highest level. Near the border of the Prometheus Sector, there was a massive port where hundreds of Star Cruisers from all over the empire arrived and left during the day. The amount of wealth that moved through this location in a single day was more than what the Blood Sea could generate in an entire month, and this was one of hundreds of ports spread across the Sector. A young man stood in the port, and his eyes focused on a Star Cruiser from the Copsing Lightning Sector. He had blond hair and blue eyes and wore a golden robe with the words "Chamber of Commerce" on the back. "That is the Star Cruiser from the Imperial Lightning Fort sent by the Copsing Lightning Duke. We have more than enough people to do the inventory ourselves. There is no need for someone of such high status as Treasurer Marcus to waste his time with this." A bald old man with a ck beard stood beside the young man. Despite his old age, he was a Wave King, and his aura was immensely powerful. "Guardian Krima, I am in charge of this Imperial Port, and there is no task too small for me." Marcus'' voice was serene as he uttered those words and stared at the Start Cruiser with a smile. Krima''s eyes narrowed as he nced at the young man, but he did not open his mouth again. It was clear to him that something suspicious was going on, but he was unwilling to antagonize someone as influential as the young man, so the best path was to remain silent. It did not take long for the Star Cruiser to descend, and it automatically opened its cargo doors, allowing ess to Marcus and Krima. However, just as the duo was about to move into the Star Cruiser, they saw two red eyes emerge from the shadows. Krima immediately jumped forward, positioning himself between Marcus and those red eyes. The cruiser should have been empty, but that was not the case. Marcus was also surprised by those red eyes, but what really bothered him was not the unknown presence inside the Imperial Lightning Fort''s Star Cruiser but what he saw next. Cain emerged through the cargo door, and he was not alone since Krane and four bandits followed him. His eyes immediately fell on Marcus since he was the inside man in the Imperial Chamber of Commerce who sold his Star Cruiser''s codes. Cain expected Marcus to lose control upon seeing Krane, but other than surprise, the young man showed nothing on his face. ''Interesting, his battle power and talent do not seem surprising, but I can detect a powerful willpower. He is not someone simple.'' There was no love in Cain''s heart for the one who sold the information about the Imperial Lighting Fort''s Star Cruisers, but he did not have tangible proof of Marcus'' criminal activity. Krane was able to deduce it from their interactions and business deals, but that would not be enough to convict someone, much less a member of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce. Cain expected to make Marcus lose control by walking out with the bandits and, from there, slowly break the young man''s spirit, but it did not seem it would be so easy. "Who are you!?" Krima shouted as he unleashed his Essence Wave, showing Early Wave King''s vibrant power as his bow materialized. "Hmph!" The one that sneered was not Cain but Krane. The Middle Wave King took a step forward, triggering his Wave Cloak. "A mere Port Guardian dares to question a Colonel of the Imperial Army!" Krima was surprised by Krane''s cultivation, and the shock only grew stronger as he realized that the young man with red eyes was actually a Colonel. Suspicions arose in Krima''s mind as he focused on Cain. While there was no doubt that Cain''s aura was formidable, he was too young. However, the old man did not dare to make a move. Just as Krima wondered what he should do, a voice emerged from behind. "It is a pleasure to meet the King yer, Cain Laurifer. My name is Marcus Ignis, Treasurer of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce." Marcus sped his hand and performed a deep bow toward Cain. Krima''s eyes widened as he heard that, and after a moment, he remembered Cain''s name and the saga of the Blood Sea. People still talked about the young men not over seventeen who managed to survive a full-power attack of a Titan before engaging Wave Kings. "Please excuse my outburst. I have not recognized Colonel Laurifer. This old man is Krima Justier." Even if he was a Wave King, Krima knew his status was nothingpared to the young genius before him, so he immediately sped his hands and lowered his head. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the reaction of the duo. He did not care about Krima, but it seemed that taking care of Marcus would not be so easy. Marcus could feel Cain''s eyes, and the pressure of a Late Wave King''s willpower was not easy to handle, but he was able to keep hisposure. Enjoy exclusive chapters from empire "I must apologize for this lousy reception, but we had no idea Colonel Laurifer would be arriving today in our port." "I boarded this Star Cruiser without telling anyone, so there is no need to worry about that. However, you could help me with something." Cain nced at the four Wave Champions, and these began to move, positioning themselves next to Krima. "They are bandits that attempted to steal the resources stored in the Star Cruiser. I already interrogated them and uploaded their confessions to the militarywork. Take them to jail for their sentence." Krima was surprised, and while he did not feel threatened by a group of Wave Champions, he did not think it was wise to let them walk freely. However, as he concentrated on their eyes and noticed theck of focus, a new wave of shock assaulted his heart. "They are hypnotized!" Marcus'' eyes widened as he heard Krima''s shout and turned toward the Wave Champions. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath as he calmed his heart and nced back at Cain. "I must thank you, Colonel Laurifer. There had been a wave of robbery in Star Cruisersing from the Imperial Lightning Fort. Luckily, there had never been any death before, and I am sure they will not happen again." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Marcus'' words and detected the hidden message. "The fact that new crimes will not happen doesn''t mean we can just ignore the old ones." Marcus grew solemn as he heard that since it was clear that Cain would not simply ignore the previous transgressions, even if no people had died before. He considered things for a moment before speaking again.@@novelbin@@ "For such detailed information about the Star Cruisersing from the Copsing Lightning Sector to be revealed, there must be more than one person working in the shadows. Some just want to gather wealth, but others might want to harm the Imperial Lightning Fort." Krane understood the silent exchange between the duo but did not really care about it. As for Krima, he was looking away as if he could not hear the discussion between Marcus and Cain. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he heard thatst part. Marcus hinted that he was not the only one targeting the Star Cruisers from the Imperial Lightning Fort, and while he was doing it for wealth, others sought to undermine the Copsing Lightning Duke. Cain began to reconsider things since it seemed he had stepped on something greater than just a simple heist. "Are you sure the leaked information had harmed no soldier?" "Yes. I am 100% sure that all the information that reached this port led to only stolen wealth and no deaths." Marcus immediately answered Cain''s question. He was able to rx since it seemed there was a way out for him. Cain''s eyes burst with red light as he increased the pressure on Marcus, but this one stood firm. After a moment, his Ego Wave vanished, and he nodded. "Let''s talk in private. I want to know more about these figures in the shadows." Chapter 318 Into the forest It didn''t take long for Cain, Krane, and Marcus to reach an empty room, and as soon as they did, Cain''s eyes began to glow with red light. Marcus took a deep breath as blue light flooded his eyes. His willpower had reached the Pseudo Wave King Rank, allowing him to keep a cool head, but there was no way he couldpete with Cain. "The information reached me through encrypted messages. I got a long list of targets, along with their routes and codes. Many of them were not just full of wealth but also soldiers. They asked for nothing in return, making it clear that money was not an issue to them. I was careful and only targeted the empty cruisers and used people who knew how to handle themselves. Or at least, that''s what I thought." Marcus''s eyes were cold as he nced at Krane, but the middle-aged man just shrugged his shoulders. There was no real rtionship between them other than mercenary work, and any notion of loyalty between the two would be ridiculous. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words and saw that Marcus was being cautious even now, revealing the information in a way that, out of context, had no meaning and could not be used against him. His interest in Marcus waned since he wanted to find out the people behind the scheme targeting the Imperial Lightning Fort. They were cautious, going through severalyers of protection and not risking contacting the bandits and mercenaries directly. "Since when did this message arrive, and do you have any clue who is behind it?" Marcus did not answer immediately, as he didn''t want to antagonize Cain, but neither did he want to get on the wrong side of the secret organization that dared to target the Copsing Lightning Duke. Cain could discern the thoughts crossing through Marcus'' mind. "They might be dangerous and have much more power than me, but they are not here." Cain''s eyes grew cold as he uttered those words, and his hand transformed into a demonic blood w. Marcus was shocked to see how fast Cain turned to violence, and he could feel the palpable killing intent emanating from him. They were in the port and under surveince, so everybody would know if something were to happen to him, but it seemed that Cain didn''t really care about it. ''He wouldn''t dare.'' That thought crossed Marcus''s mind, but he immediately shook his head. The image of the young man attacking a Titan was still clear in his mind. Compared to that, killing him was nothing. "Ahhh. I have all the information filed. I can send it to you." Marcus sighed as he epted his fate. He could do nothing about it and understood that he bit off more than he could chew. "Do not send it to me directly. Send it to Krane." Marcus and Krane were confused when they heard that. It was clear that Cain hadplete ess to all the information, so adding an extra step seemed unnecessary, but things soon became clear. "Krane, you will read all the information and write a new report as if the information was something you gathered on your own. The force targeting the Imperial Lightning Fort contacted you directly, and there was no middleman between you two." Marcus''s eyes widened, and a smile appeared on his face. If Krane were to make apletely new file and send it to Cain, things would not be traced back to him. He was just about to express his gratitude when Cain spoke again. "Keep using the information, but only target empty cruisers. I don''t care about the wealth you obtain, but from now on, you will be my eyes and ears in the Imperial Commerce Chamber." Before Marcus could answer thatmand, Cain vanished from sight, and the next thing he felt was a hand grabbing the back of his head. A sharp pain assaulted him as a red rune was engraved beneath his hair. That was none other than an Ego Mark, allowing Cain to always know Marcus''s location. "Betray me or neglect your duty, and I will send you to prison. If Ick evidence to convict you, I will silently kill you." Marcus trembled as he heard those words. Cain managed to vanish from his sight despite being right in front of him, and now he was marked. While the Ego Mark was not indestructible and could only do minor damage to the upperyer of his body, to break it, he would need the assistance of an Apotheosis Realm Master. As a Treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, Marcus knew people at that level, but none would erase Cain''s Ego Mark and risk enraging such a genius on his behalf. The young man nearly fell to the ground, finding himself in an extremely dangerous position with no way out. Cain did not really care about Marcus''s thoughts and walked away with Krane. Actions had consequences, and if the young treasurer had not sought to steal from the Imperial Lightning Fort, he would not have found himself in that predicament. Although an Imperial Port was a fortified ce full of powerful people, Cain and Krane could walk freely, and it only took them a moment to reach the gates. "Commander Luther." Continue reading stories on empire "Colonel Laurifer?" Luther''s voice emerged from Cain''s [A.I. Chip Module], and there was confusion as the bald man did not understand the reason for the call.@@novelbin@@ Before leaving the port, Cain contacted Luther, handing over all the information he got from Marcus and exining the events that went on inside the Star Cruiser. He also made sure to exin how some resources were "destroyed" during the fight. Cain originally nned to pay for the resources he consumed, but there was no reason to waste his money if he could put the me on the bandits. Besides, they would have lost much more if it hadn''t been for his intervention. Luther could figure out that Cain kept some of the wealth, but upon seeing that the young man touched nothing of the Gold Level and above, he did not care. That was especially true since the information about the force behind their recent problem with their shipments was now avable. "Thanks for the help. I will make sure to record this service. Any more information will be of great help." "I will assist in what I can." After that, the conversation ended, and Cain soon left the port. No one dared to stop the duo, and all the gates opened with Cain''s military authorization. Once they were out, a massive forest appeared in front of them, extending as far as the eye could see. It was full ofrge trees and powerful presences hidden in it. "This is the Cicada Forest. ording to my knowledge, there are powerful King Beasts and all sorts of interesting ces in it." Cain''s destination was the Godyer Humankind Empire''s Capital, Eden. There was a long way to go from the periphery of the Prometheus Sector, but he was fine with it. Although he was now a powerhouse, he had always wanted to visit the Prometheus Sector and gaze at its wonders, so he would take the chance. Besides, the first of the three rites of his Arcane Nobility Ceremony would take ce in a month. Cain and Krane rose thousands of meters into the sky before shing at supersonic speed forward. The middle-aged man had visited the Prometheus Continent before, so this was nothing new for him, but Cain''s eyes were filled with excitement as he gazed at the majestic trees, waterfalls, and mountains. "ROAR!" Suddenly, a mighty roar drew the duo''s attention, and they looked down, only to see a massive crocodile-like King Beast roaring at them, its Life Wave bursting. The King Beast stood inside a frozen river full of killing intent as it detected the duo''s presence and roared to warn them against getting closer. Unfortunately for the Iceberg Crocodile, the roar only made Cain''s killing intent explode. The young man''s Astral Wave burst, as did his Blood Energy, and he fell from the sky. "BOOOOMMMM!" A massive shockwave echoed across the forest as Cain reached Hypersonic Speed before lunging toward the Iceberg Crocodile. Soon, a bloody battle started, but it didn''t take long for a winner to be evident. Krane''s eyes narrowed as he felt Cain''s power, and it was clear that the young man didn''t win their battle due to luck. His eyes were sharp as he paid attention to the surroundings, making sure no enemies attacked from the shadows. Cain didn''t take long to win the battle, consuming every drop of blood from the King Beast before sending its corpse into his [Devourer Dimension]. Cain''s body had some minor wounds that were already healing. The power of his body was overwhelming, and it took a lot of strength to make a superficial wound, much less leave a crippling injury. Chapter 319 Azure Royal Family For the next week, Cain spent his days traveling across the Cicada Forest. He faced several King Beasts, taking their blood in order to improve his Blood Core while at the same time enhancing his techniques and honing hisbat skills. It was excellent training, allowing him to refine hisbat abilities and adapt to his cultivation and skills. ''Blood Hand is good, and its power should help me all the way to the Peak of the Wave Champion level, but I should seek another technique in the capital. For defense, the Biometal Herculean Body will help me even if I were to be a Titan, so there is no way to improve in that aspect. Sonic Dash is still sufficient regarding my speed, and my Sonic de Fusion Technique will serve me well until the Apotheosis Realm, so there is no issue with that.'' As he formted his ns, Cain and Krane finally reached a city. It was enormous, though smaller than the Imperial Lightning Fort. Itcked a Titan Tower or any simr structure but featured a massive castle beneath a mountain. Cain immediately recognized this ce as one of the Eighty-One States. The Imperial Family was vast, not just due to the descendants of the Emperor but also because it included the family of the former Emperors. Unlike the Old World, the title of Emperor of Humankind was not inherited by birthright. It was a rule established by the First Titan and Emperor of the Godyer Humankind before his voyage into the Astral Sea. Once an Emperor grew too powerful for Aether, a grand battle wouldmence among the Godyer Humankind''s mightiest warriors until one emerged as the victor. That individual would then assume the role of Emperor, and his family would be the Imperial Family. Out of respect for former Emperors, the previous imperial family retained their possessions and gained the title of Royal Family. They moved from the capital''s core to one of the Eighty-One States, where they would take control of thend and manage their wealth. Of course, not all Eighty-One States were governed by previous Imperial Families since the current Emperor was only the Eighth Emperor of the Godsalyer Humankind. The others were under the control of various forces, primarily from the Imperial Court, but they also included the sons and daughters of Sector Dukes and other high-ranking nobles. Regardless of one''s perspective, the Prometheus Sector teemed with promising figures, all eager to ascend to greater heights. "This should be the Azure State, under the control of the Royal Family of the Azure Emperor, the Sixth Emperor of the Godyer Humankind." Cain nodded at Krane''s words. A glint appeared in his eyes as he heard the name Azure Emperor. That man had been a formidable warrior, capable of immense power, but his legacy was tainted by the unruly behavior of his descendants and the persistent chaos they sowed. After the departure of the Azure Emperor, they encountered numerous challenges but remained influential. It was best to steer clear of them. Cain had no interest in the Azure Royal Family, so it posed no problem. His gaze settled on a hotel, and he proceeded with Krane. They encountered no hindrance when passing through the city gates, courtesy of Cain''s rank, and it wasn''t long before they arrived at their temporary lodging. After a whole week of fighting and flying, and with much more ahead before they reached the capital, a night of restful sleep sounded appealing to the duo. Cain reached the lobby and secured two rooms for himself and Krane. It was costly, but that was of no concern to him. The night passed without incident, and the rest worked wonders for Cain. However, it didn''t take long for matters to be troublesome. Cain and Krane left the hotel in the morning, but before they could get far, they saw amotion on the road and observed a group of people walking toward them. This group wasposed of young individuals with vibrant bloodlines coursing through their veins. It was evident that all of them were young, less than twenty years old, and none had a cultivation level below the Wave Champion Rank. At the forefront was a young man with blue hair and golden eyes, apanied by a woman with simr characteristics. Cain nced at Krane and noticed him subtly nodding, indicating the group were indeed royals. He wanted to continue on their way, but ignoring the group could lead to various problems, so it was better to hear what they said before politely declining. It didn''t take long for the group to arrive in front of Cain, but they remained silent and instead wore frowns on their faces. Cain immediately understood the meaning behind their frowns, and he couldn''t help but silently curse. ''Are they serious?'' It was clear that the group expected Cain to greet them as if they were doing him a favor by gracing him with their presence. While he wasn''t narcissistic, there was a certain level of pride in Cain''s demeanor, given his exceptional talent. ''Ah, what a nuisance.''@@novelbin@@ Cain let out a silent sigh before pping his hands together and nodding. That was the best gesture the duo would get from him. Krane, on the other hand, performed a slight bow. Discover hidden tales at empire Even after these gestures, the duo continued to frown, showing ack of friendliness. However, they didn''t waste any more time and began to speak, their tone now devoid of any goodwill. "Cain Laurifer, the Azure Third Prince invites you to a feast. You shoulde at nine past noon. There will be people of great importance whom you will want to meet." Although it sounded like an invitation, the way the duo addressed Cain suggested that he should be grateful and thank them for their kindness. "Please convey my thanks to the Azure Third Prince, but I will be leaving the Azure State today to travel to Eden." Surprise registered on the duo''s faces, as they seemingly hadn''t considered for a moment that Cain might be so audacious as to decline their invitation. In the next moment, a cold gleam appeared in their eyes. "I''ll allow you some time to reconsider your answer. The Azure Third Prince has shown kindness by inviting amoner into his home, yet you are refusing it." Cain''s eyes turned cold, and he no longer cared about the duo. He was willing to y along with their game to avoid trouble, but he would never lower his head to someone he didn''t respect. Without saying a word, Cain and Krane moved to the side and continued walking forward, ignoring the group. There was no point in wasting his breath on any of them. "YOU DARE!" The young man''s eyes red with rage as he witnessed Cain''s behavior and extended his arm to grab the back of Cain''s neck. Despite having seen the recording of the Blood Sea battle and knowing of Cain''s strength, he didn''t care. In his mind, the opponent''s strength didn''t matter because no one would dare to harm a member of the Azure Royal Family. Unfortunately, the young man made a grave mistake since, for the first time in his life, he encountered someone who didn''t care about his background. Before he could even touch Cain, a silver blur appeared, and the next thing he saw was his arm lying on the ground. "?AHHHHH!" A scream of pain reverberated through the city as the young man immediately fell to the ground, blood oozing from his amputated limb. Krane''s eyes were cold as he stared at the young man and calmly sheathed his sword. Cain didn''t even bother to nce at the middle-aged man since this one was just fulfilling his duty. "You, you lowlymoner, dare to attack us!" The young woman with azure hair shouted and immediately stepped back while the guard moved forward. There were five of them, all Wave Kings. However, they were all old at the Early Stage, so their power was far from impressive. Cain nced at the woman and couldn''t help but shake his head. He was a supreme genius and had the battle strength to call himself a powerhouse, but there were still people who dared to speak to him in such a disrespectful manner. Soon, his eyes turned cold as he looked at the Wave Kings. "I am a Colonel of the Imperial Army. An attack against me is considered an act of treason." Cain''s eyes burst with red light, and the old Wave Kings were immediately paralyzed. None of them dared to take a step forward. While their duty as guards for the Azure Royal Family was important, they could feel a great power emanating from the young man. Additionally, the strength of Krane alone was enough to handle them. Even more important was the fact that even though Caincked a noble title, he held the position of Colonel in the Imperial Army. That rank was no less prestigious than a Marquess, a title that even the Third Prince of the Azure Family could only match. Chapter 320 Damian Sky-Flame The young woman saw how the guard did not follow hermand, and her rage exploded. Years of being treated as superior and doing whatever she wanted had twisted her personality into one of extreme narcissism. Even if the target was much stronger than her, in her mind, no one should dare to resist them. "I told you all to apprehend him!" The woman had just shouted when Cain appeared in front of her, and the next second, he pped her with so much force that her teeth were sent flying before her head crashed into the ground. She nearly lost consciousness, and immense pain assaulted her, but it did not erase the hatred in her eyes. Cain''s eyes shed with killing intent as he felt that gaze, and the muscles in his right leg grew tense as he was ready to stomp her chest, crippling her. He would not have a problem justifying his actions, but just as he was about to act, his eyes narrowed, and he looked into the sky. Krane followed his gaze but detected no one, leaving him wondering what was happening. "Hmph, consider yourself lucky." Cain said nothing else before turning around and leaving with Krane. He was annoyed by the inconvenience and the fact that, no matter how strong he grew, there were still people stupid enough to think their background allowed them to look down on him. As Cain and Krane departed, a figure materialized in the sky. It was an old woman with azure hair, and there was a sharp light in her eyes as she focused on Cain. "What a monster. So young and still able to detect my presence even though I should have been perfectly hidden from his Ego Wave." After that, the woman turned to the bloodied duo on the ground, and nothing appeared in her eyes but disdain and disappointment. She did not care about the trash of the new generation but could not allow people to go around and simply kill them, as it would affect the name of the Azure Royal Family. Luckily for Cain, no one else bothered them, and they could leave the Azure State in a few minutes by shing across the state. Once they were out, they found themselves within the Cicada Forest again. Cain and Krane had a choice. They could either take the regr route, moving through empty trails to the next Royal States or cross straight through the heart of the Cicada Forest toward Eden. While Cain would have liked to take the second path to avoid the inconveniences, it was not so simple. The Cicada Forest''s periphery was safe for someone of his power, but deep inside, far from the range of influence of the Royal State, there were Great King Beasts whose power matched that of Apotheosis Realm Masters. Cain was not so arrogant as to think he could face those beasts, even with Krane''s help, so he chose the safe path, heading to the next state. This one was also controlled by a Royal Family, the one belonging to the Fifth Emperor, the Sky-me Emperor. During their trip, Cain fought some King Beasts until he reached the city. However, this time, a group was waiting for him at the entrance before he could enter. Immediately, Cain frowned, as he did not want another set of problems, but there was not much he could do, and he simply walked forward. However, from the beginning, things were very different from their encounter with the Azure Royals. The group had a young woman and a middle-aged man, and while there was an inherent aura of nobility and arrogance, they kept calm expressions as they saw Cain''s arrival. When they finally saw Cain arrive, the duo sped their hands and took a short bow before the middle-aged man spoke. "We greet Colonel Laurfeir. Allow me to introduce ourselves. I am Sn Sky-me." Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the calm nature of the middle-aged man, and this time, he returned the courtesy, sping his hands and performing a polite bow along with Krane. The young woman remained silent, but Cain did not overthink it. "Wee in the name of the Second Sky-me Prince to invite you to his home for dinner and an important dialogue. I assure you that there is no better ce to rest than our royal castle." Cain nced at the duo, and after a moment, he nodded. He would consider talking to them if the other party was cordial. Besides, he was curious about what type of topic a Royal Prince wanted to discuss with him. It didn''t take long for Cain and Krane to reach the outeryer of the massive castle. It was built on top of an enormous active volcano. Even at the foot of the volcano, the temperature was incredibly high, so much that even weak Wave Warriors could not stand it, and it only grew as they advanced. Discover stories with empire Despite that, Cain saw many people calmly walking through the area. It didn''t take long to understand that all these people were part of the Sky-me Royal Family, and their bloodline granted them heat resistance.@@novelbin@@ However, Cain was surprised to see people with the bloodline of a former Emperor of the Godyer doing mundane tasks like taking care of the area around them. Ss noticed that, and aplicated smile appeared on his face. "Our Ancestor, the great Sky-me Emperor, had arge harem, and due to our bloodline''s tendency toward fertility, it was not hard for him to generate over 1000 children. And the apple doesn''t fall far from the tree. Over one hundred thousand children with the Sky-me Lineage were sired in just two generations." Cain was slightly surprised to hear that and didn''t know whether tough or cry. He had already started an intimate rtionship with Shura but was far from being ready to have a son, much less a thousand of them. Since the number of the Sky-me Royal Family members was so massive, it made sense for those with little strength and talent to live a mundane life. He didn''t really care or have an opinion about that and continued walking. Ss nced at Cain, and his eyes could not help but narrow as he noticed how easily Cain managed the heat. The Sky-me State had one of the hottest volcanoes in the entire Prometheus Sector, and even those with the Sky-me Lineage found it hard to reach the volcano''s peak. Cain noticed the man''s eyes but didn''t care. He was actually more intrigued by the sight of the young woman by the side of this one. She had not said a word since they met and kept looking at him with intense eyes. Finally, the group reached the volcano''s peak and entered the castle. As soon as they did, the heat that permeated the outside faded, but that didn''t mean the energy was gone; on the contrary. Cain and Krane immediately noticed the waves of liquid fire permeating the ceiling. All the heat from the outside had condensed there, and its destructive power was formidable. The duo didn''t stare at the ceiling for long since a man immediately went toward them. The man seemed to be in his twenties, with short ck hair and blue eyes. His nearly two-meter-tall body was not overly muscr, but it was clear there was an immense strength inside it. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he saw the number two engraved on his blue robe''s shoulder. For Royal Families, the titles of Prince and Princess were not given by their connection with the former Emperor since their direct descendants were thousands of years old. Those titles were granted by the higher-ups in the family to the younger generation members who had proven enough talent, and those with numbers like First, Second, and Third were among the best of the group. "You came. It is a pleasure to meet the young legend in the flesh." The young man stood before Cain and extended his hand with a cordial smile. "I am the Second Sky-me Prince, Damian Sky-me." Cain stared at Damian and returned the courtesy. As soon as their hands touched, he perceived the strength of the Second Sky-me Prince, and despite being an Essence Wave Cultivation, it was impressive. Damian''s smile remained, but there was inner shock inside his heart. He had seen the battle of the Blood Sea, but Cain''s strength was even greater than he expected. Although deducing all that from a handshake might seem too much, the young man did not reach his position just due to his great power but also his insight. "Thanks for that, Ss. You can leave now." Ss bowed toward Damian before nodding toward Cain and Krane and left quietly. However, the young woman by his side remained. She showed a great smile before walking next to Damian and sping her hands at Cain. "It might bete, but allow me to introduce myself. I am a Princess of the Sky-me Royal Family, Karin Sky-me." Chapter 323 Fourth Prince The Silver City was massive, and the castle of the Imperial Princes was far from the entrance. So, if they were to simply walk, it would take days for the group to arrive. While the group could move at Hypersonic Speed and reach the castle in less than a minute, it would still generate all sorts of inconveniences for the people, not to mention it would leave them in a bad name for theirck of manners. Although there were vehicles that could help them move, they were still too slow. Luckily, they had a much more efficient way of transport. Damian guided the group toward a small location full of formations engraved in the ground, and it didn''t take long for them to recognize them as teleportation matrixes. There were guards around it since not anyone could use it. Even Cain, with his title as a Colonel, would need help getting ess to them since there was a need for authorization from the Imperial Court, but Damian already had that covered. The guards moved aside as soon as Damian appeared, and the four got into the teleportation matrix. The next second, the group found themselves standing at the entrance of a massive castle, and just the ground on the exterior was full of wondrous sculptures and majestic nts. Cain''s eyes adjusted to the change of scenery as he saw a middle-aged man, attired in golden battle gear, appear in front of them. This one nced at everybody, and his eyes remained for a moment on Krane before taking a short bow toward Damian and Cain. "Prince Damian and Colonel Cain, I am Nastor, assistant to His Highest, us Goldsoul, the Fourth Imperial Prince. Please apany me; His Highness is waiting for you." Shortly after Nastor uttered those words, a young woman with the same attire appeared beside him. "She is Lamir. She can take yourpanions to their residences." Nastor was tactful, but his words had a clear intent. Krane and Kira should wait in their rooms as Damian and Cain spoke with the Fourth Imperial Prince. Cain did not say a word since Krane was his assistant and would do as told, but Damian had to exin to her sister that she would wait until his return. In the end, the duo nodded and went away with Lamir. "Please." Continue your adventure at empire Nastor said that before guiding Cain and Damian through the castle. It was truly shocking, with the right amount of treasures and art to make it splendid but not to the point it lost its might and elegance. Cain did not really care about things like paintings, and he couldn''t help but wonder why people would pay a fortune in the Old World for stuff like that, but the ones here made his eyes shine. There were paintings of fire and ocean that, upon looking at them, he could feel searing heat and freezing coldness, as if they were alive. It was clear they were not made by simply moving a brush through a piece of paper. Still, he kept his focus until they finally reached the main room. This one was devoid of treasure, but the man in the center shone with an even greater light. The Fourth Prince had ck hair, pale skin, and a muscr body. He wore a golden robe covering his body. An air of prestige around him made ordinary people want to bow in his presence, but his eyes were the most striking. The man''s eyes werepletely ck with golden pupils, and it was not just for aesthetics. Cain could feel a power in those eyes and knew they were special organs capable of enhancing the Fourth Prince''s battle might. "Brother Damian, I am d to see you have finally arrived. I was starting to think I would not see you for the Imperial Fest." "Hahaha, Brother us, I would not miss it. I was waiting for a friend." Damian walked toward us, and the two shared a hug before nodding to each other. Although looks could be deceiving, especially among nobles, there was clearly a deep rtionship between them. us nodded before his eyes turned toward Cain, and a silver light appeared as he stared at the young man. He did nothing as rude as to inspect the young man with his Ego Wave, but that did not mean he wasn''t focused on his aura. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, young legend of the Blood Sea. I was surprised when I heard from Damian that you would ept to be part of my escort at the Imperial Feast." Cain sped his hands and performed a small bow toward the Fourth Prince. While his status was not any less than a Royal Prince, he had to pay his respects to an Imperial Prince. "Colonel Laurifer, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." us''s eyes narrowed as he observed Cain''s behavior. To anyone else, it might have seemed like mere politeness, but us perceived the underlying intent to establish a clear distinction. Although such an attitude might annoy some, it was like a breath of fresh air for us. Due to his status, many sought to form rtionships with him, but few were as cautious as Cain, not swayed by the allure of the imperial family''s name. us offered a smile and nodded, appearing to ept Cain''s boundaries. He also sped his hands and nodded. "The pleasure is mine, Colonel Laurifer." Damian merely shrugged his shoulders as he watched the interaction between the two. Cain had always maintained a certain distance from him, but he had expected things to be different with the Imperial Prince. It seemed he was mistaken. "I heard that Colonel Laurifer is here to attend his Arcane Ceremony of Nobility. The first rite should begin in twelve days, am I correct?" Cain wasn''t surprised that the Fourth Prince had this information, as it should bemon knowledge among the members of the Imperial Court attending his meeting. "That is correct. In twelve days, I will embark on the Arcane Route and dere my family''s emblem and motto." The Arcane Ceremony of Nobility consisted of three rites. Normally, several people would participate simultaneously, but for someone at Cain''s level, it would be a solitary endeavor. Following that, he would have to wait two more months for the second rite and another two months for the third rite. The entire process and waiting period were aimed at gaining fame for Cain''s name so that arge crowd would gather at the conclusion of the Arcane Ceremony, and his name would resonate throughout the Empire. "I''m sure you will excel, but it would be even better if you were to gain the patronage of a member of the Imperial Family." us could discern Cain''s straightforward nature and knew he didn''t like beating around the bush, so he openly expressed his intention. It would require no effort on his part to patronize Cain, and while his reputation would suffer if Cain performed poorly, he wasn''t concerned. Cain''s eyes sharpened, and he smiled. Getting straight to the point suited him well. "I would indeed wee your assistance, especially at the conclusion of the ceremony. I wonder how I could repay your generosity?" Damian was surprised to see the two making rapid progress, but he remained silent. If it worked for them, who was he to meddle in their business? "Actually, there is indeed something you could help me with, but first, I''d like to know the extent of your Gic Coding abilities." Cain was a bit puzzled by this question. Although he was undoubtedly a skilled Gic Coder with superb abilities, it had been a while since he had demonstrated those abilities in public, so he was surprised that the Fourth Prince was asking about them. Nheless, he chose to be direct. "My current abilities should be at the Pseudo-Saint Grade." Cain was being modest since his skills should actually be ssified at the Saint-level, but he was too strict with himself. us and Damian couldn''t help but widen their eyes upon hearing this. Cain was only seventeen years old, and it was clear he focused greatly on his cultivation and foundation. Yet, he possessed a near-divine talent for Gic Coding. There was no shortage of Pseudo-Saint Gic Coders in the capital, but all of them were elderly men who had reached the peak of their cultivation and could no longer advance, allowing them to focus their minds solely on their professions. "If those are your skills, then there is something you could help me with. In a month, there will be a small tournament for Gic Coders. There were three people in my group, but I lost one of them due to a minor issue.@@novelbin@@ Of course, you will be rewarded ording to the level of assistance and the grade the team achieves." Cain could not help but show a small smile as he heard that. He sought to achieve many things in Silver City, and one of them was to enhance his Gic Coder''s abilities. Chapter 324 Dream Journey (I) "Sure, if that is all it takes, I am happy to help. However, I would be of better help if I got the notes of a Saint Gic Coder. Of course, I am willing to pay; I just need the channels to buy the proper ones." When buying information about a profession, one has to be just as careful as with Cultivation Techniques; after all, the wrong guidance could lead to dead ends. "No problem. I will bring some of the best Saint Gic Coder Manuals there are by tomorrow." "Thanks, I must thank you." Cain nodded, and the three began to speak, discussing the preparations for the Imperial Fest. While it might seem like a simple meal, it was actually a silent sh between the Imperial Princess and their abilities to enhance their status. The discussionsted untilte at night, and the group discussed many essential points, especially the intricated alliances and animosity between the Imperial Princes and Princesses. Just the fact they were brothers and sisters did not mean they would get along. After all, no matter how wealthy the Imperial Family was, there were never too many resources. "This was very useful, but it is time to rest. I hope to see you two tomorrow in the Imperial Feast." us smiled and sped his hands to Damina and Cain, to which the duo responded by performing a small bow before heading to their respective rooms. Cain''s room was pretty simple. There were golden walls, and other than a bed, there was nothing else inside. However, he immediately noticed the extremely dense Life Wave in the air. ''Training here is the same as using mid-quality wave crystals. It seems the Imperial Family is really rich.'' Not wanting to waste too much time, Cain adopted a meditative position on the ground and closed his eyes. He was tired, but before going to sleep, he went through the cultivation path of the Middle and Late Wave Champion Rank. Since he had finished increasing the joints in his extremities, it was time to start working on his chest, shoulders, waist, and head bones. Unlike in the Early Wave Champion Rank, where he only needed to follow the guide of his cultivation technique, the next part was much moreplex. It was crucial toprehend theplexities of the human skeletal system. The human skeleton serves as the framework for our bodies, supporting and protecting vital organs while facilitating movement. It consists of 206 bones, including those in the spine, arms, and legs, each with unique roles and characteristics. One area of particr interest is the ribcage, which consists of 24 ribs arranged in 12 pairs. The ribs encase and shield essential organs such as the heart and lungs while allowing for the expansion and contraction of the chest during respiration. The ribs were the first set of bones that Cain would begin to modify after the transformation of his legs and arms since it was the closest to his Rebirth Heart, the Sacred Organ.@@novelbin@@ First, he would alter their molecrposition, allowing them to be more sturdy and able to handle stress and trauma much better than before. Through visualization and the revolution of the Astral Wave through the chest, the ribs would fuse naturally, forming a structure akin to the sturdy metal te of armor. This fused ribcage provides exceptional protection to vital organs. After the fusion, the enhanced ribcage would begin to expand, covering the rest of the vital organs in the chest while at the same time generating a powerful bone shell around the Rebirth Heart. Cain revolved the Sonic de Fusion Cultivation Technique for a couple of hours, and after making sure he hadplete control over the technique, he went to sleep. Sleep was just a physical and mental recovery process for someone like Cain. Due to the might of his willpower, it was extremely weird for someone like him to have dreams. Yet, that was what was happening right now. Cain found himself going through an ethereal and bewildering experience. Cain felt weightless, like a ghostly observer with no tether to the physical realm. His perspective soared high above, granting him an awe-inspiring view of a realm where reality bent and twisted like a painter''s canvas. Even his ability to think and discern reality was affected. First, he found himself floating above a garden that defied nature. Glowing flowers of every hue swayed in an iridescent breeze, and trees bore fruits that sparkled like stars. The air was filled with melodious hums as hummingbird-like creatures flitted among the blossoms. It was a celestial garden that defied the concept of beauty. Even the word majestic fell short for such an exquisitive scenario. While Cain could have stared at that celestial garden for days, he was transported to a canyon of crystalline spires that refracted light into a mesmerizing disy of colors in the blink of an eye. These colossal crystals hummed with a harmonious resonance that resonated in the very essence of his being. Before Cain''s sight could amodate the crystal canyons, his ethereal body descended upon an endless sea of bioluminescent creatures that pulsed and glowed in rhythmic unison, casting an eerie but captivating radiance upon the dark waters. The sea seemed to breathe, its waves moving like a slumbering titan. The might of that bioluminescent sea was not lesser than the Blood Sea, and the aura it unleashed was purer, as the desires of an Astral Beast did not taint it. A few seconds after plummeting into the sea, Cain was pulled out. He traveled at the speed of light and found himself amidst the gears and cogs of a colossal clockwork city in less than a second. Each movement of the intricate machinery seemed to orchestrate the passing of time itself. Towers spun, bridges extended, and steam billowed, creating an intricate dance of mechanics. This clockwork city awakened a powerful intent on Cain as if he could find powerful inheritances rted to all sorts of professions. However, before he could lose himself in it, the scenery again changed. As if carried by a gentle breeze, Cain was transported to a realm of floating inds. These inds were adorned with surrealndscapes. He saw jungles of crystal trees, waterfalls that rose to the heavens, and skies painted in shades that had no names. It did not take long for the floating inds to disappear from Cain''s sight. Suddenly, he was within abyrinthine structure of mirrors. Each reflection revealed a different version of himself, living alternate lives, making choices, and facing different fates. He could sense the echoes of those choices reverberating through his very soul. A sh of light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he perceived that wonder as he felt in it the power to enhance his hypnosis, but before he could perceive anything else, the mirrorbyrinth faded. His journey then took him to a sky illuminated by dancing auroras that weaved intricate light patterns. These ethereal ribbons of color streaked across the heavens as if they were celestial dancers in a cosmic ballet. Other than the majestic beauty of the sky, there was no clear intent in this ce, so it could notpare with thebyrinth, but this journey was not something Cain could control. In the blink of an eye, Cain found himself amidst the boundless tomes and scrolls of a celestial library. He could see the collective knowledge of the world written innguages of light and thought. The knowledge of this ce was something that captivated Cain, but he was unable to ess it. He could only watch the world around him before moving to a new majestic sight. High above the peaks of mountains that sang with celestial melodies, Cain watched as streams of music flowed down to the valleys below, where dreamlike creatures swayed in time with the harmonious tunes. Enjoy new adventures at empire After a few seconds of that wondrous music, Cain saw desert painted in shades of twilight, where the sands shimmered with stardust. Here, ancient constetions took form and told stories in the celestialnguage of the cosmos. As he reached that starlight desert, Cain''s mind slowly regained the ability to think and act on the information he was receiving other than by mere intents. The world was slowly losing its grip on his mind, and it seemed he was about to wake up. Throughout his voyage through the dream world, Cain was but a spectral observer, unable to interact with these fantastical scenes. Each transition brought new wonder and left him in awe of the boundless creativity of this realm. It was a journey through the subconscious, a testament to the limitless possibilities of the dreaming mind. However, just as he was about to regain consciousness, the dark side of Cain''s Sun Seed trembled, and he once again plummeted into a dream state. Yet, it took an unexpected turn into the depths of a nightmare. Here, the dream world became a realm of darkness and dread, and his inability to interact only heightened the sense of powerlessness. Chapter 325 Dream Journey (II) Suddenly, Cain found himself in a decaying, moonlit asylum, where tortured souls whispered chilling secrets from behind rusted iron bars. The air was thick with despair, and eerie cries echoed through the endless corridors. It was so horrific that just by being a few seconds in it, he felt a wave of despair eroding his mind. Luckily, he was soon pulled out from that haunted asylum. However, Cain just jumped from the frying pan into the fire as his ethereal body plunged into a bottomless abyss, where grotesque, bioluminescent monstrosities with eyes like voids swam in pursuit of him. The crushing pressure of the deep weighed on him, and he could hear the mournful songs of long-forgotten shipwrecks. That abyssal ocean made him feel as if he was drowning, and the might of his willpower to fight that horrible experience was severely weakened. Fear and dread overcame his rational mind, and his body was paralyzed. Cain grabbed his truth, trying to breathe, when he was plunged out of the ocean and thrown into an endless maze. Cain''s rational mind kept failing him, and he acted ording to his instinct, which pushed him to run.@@novelbin@@ Trapped within abyrinth of twisting corridors and shifting walls, Cain was pursued by unseen horrors. Malevolentughter echoed around him, and he felt the ever-present gaze of unseen eyes. It must have been barely a few seconds, but for Cain, it felt like an eternity. Somehow, he managed to leave the maze, only to enter a forest cloaked in perpetual twilight. The trees seemed to writhe with sinister intent, and strange, shadowy creatures slithered through the undergrowth, always just out of sight. The forest of shadows confused Cain, and he did not know where to go. That was not a problem since soon his surroundings shifted to a bleak, destendscape dominated by a towering funeral pyre. mes danced with a sinister glee, casting elongated shadows that seemed to reach out for him. Just as the shadows seemed ready to overwhelm him, he appeared in the heart of a clockwork city. Unlike the beautifulndscape of engineering he had seen before, this one was a nightmarishbyrinth of gears and traps. Malfunctioning machinery threatened to crush him, and menacing automatons pursued him relentlessly. A building had just copsed, and as the pieces were about to crush him, he appeared in the heart of an ancient, eerie town. Dark water emerged from a well with whispers that promised secrets and forbidden knowledge, drawing him closer to the edge despite his dread. Cain was about to fall into the whispering well when he appeared in the center of a macabre carnival. He watched as faceless, masked figures danced in a grotesque procession. Their eerie, synchronized movements left him with a sense of profound unease. Suddenly, the dancers began eating each other with maniacal smiles, and just as they turned their eyes toward Cain, he appeared within the grand cathedral. Cain witnessed a congregation of tormented souls, their anguished cries echoing through the cavernous space. Twisted figures adorned the stained ss windows, depicting scenes of suffering. People were praying and begging with all their strength, but blood kept emerging from their eyes. Every scenario was worse than thest one, filling Cain''s soul with a sense of dread and hopelessness, and after that tormented cathedral, what came next was unbearable. Cain appeared in a deste void, where all light and hope seemed extinguished. Here, he felt the weight of despair pressing down on him as if the very essence of his soul was being tainted. Time lost its meaning in this ce, and even a second felt like one thousand years. Cain felt as if he would remain in here forever, and the mere idea was unbearable. Nevertheless, the power of the nightmare on Cain''s mind began to wane, and he did not hesitate even for a second before making his willpower burst. "Ahhhh!" Cain woke up with a short scream, his body soaked in cold sweat. His heart was racing, and he had difficulty regting his breathing. Soon, his eyes began to glow with red light as his willpower allowed him to regain control over his mind and emotions, permitting him to analyze everything that happened. ''What kind of dream was that?'' Although having a dream was extremely odd, it was not impossible for Cain to have one. What should not have happened were the ten dreams and ten nightmares realms he visited or the fact he remembered every second of it. Dreams are a natural part of the sleep cycle and ur during the rapid eye movement stage. They are a series of images, emotions, and thoughts that manifest in the mind while we sleep. Their purpose is mostly for memory consolidation and emotional processing, helping us adapt to new information or deal withplex feelings and experiences. That was why those with powerful willpower and souls do not dream since they do not have the need. Cain knew that dream journey fulfilled none of those purposes, and there was no reason for him to have it or for the experience to be so bizarre. ''?A curse?'' That thought crossed Cain''s mind. Cultivation was full of strange paths and abilities, so those who dwelled in curses existed. However, Cain soon shook his head. First of all, curses were extremely hard to deploy. The caster should be a Titan to affect someone with willpower at the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power. The only one with the resources and desire to deploy an attack like that on Cain would be the Blood King, but there was no reason for a curse to make him experience the first ten beautiful scenarios. No matter how much effort he put in, Cain could not find a reason for that experience, and after using the Absolute Life Form System and his Ego Wave, he detected nothing different in his mind and body. In the end, Cain only shocked his head since he could do nothing. He rose from the bed and took a short shower before adopting a meditative position on the ground, doing his best to heighten his focus before the Imperial Feast. Experience more on empire Cain meditated for several hours until daylight slowly began to fade away on the horizon. Only then did he open his eyes and wear the golden robe left by the Fourth Prince''s people. He left his room and saw Krane waiting for him. While the middle-aged man would not be part of us'' escort in the Imperial Feast, he could still attend it as Cain''spanion, simr to what would happen with Damin and Karin. ''We will keep a low profile. I already found a way to secure the Fourth Prince''s help, so there is no need to show off during the Imperial Feast.'' Cain used his Ego Wave to speak directly into Krane''s mind, and his eyes grew cold as he said the next part. ''I should not tell someone like you this, but I will do it regardless. We might be the guests of the Fourth Prince, but we are not his friends, and nothing stops him from using us as chess pieces in whatever game he might be ying.'' Krane''s eyes widened for a moment. He had lived for hundreds of years and experienced the cruelty of those so-called rades," so he knew that trust was not something one should give easily. Yet, he was surprised that someone so young as Cain would also see the world like that. It was clear to Krane that while Cain was courteous and looked happy to be part of the Fourth Prince''s escort, he did not trust the man. Thatck of confidence was not because us did something wrong but because he had done nothing to earn Cain''s trust. The fact he was an Imperial Prince meant nothing to Cain since only fools would think that status and age made some honorable. ''I understand, Master. I will keep a low profile and open my ears for new information.'' Krane''s eyes glowed with a solemn light as he realized that the young man he served was not only a divine genius but also a keen mind that saw things beyond ck and white. Cain noticed the change in Krane but did not say a word since it was not like he trusted the middle-aged man either. However, he had control over the Wave King and would get rid of this one at any sign of betrayal. "Let''s go." Cain and Krane left the castle and headed into the teleportation formations. The Imperial Feast would not ur in the Fourth Prince''s home but in a neutral location. Shortly after activating the teleportation formation, Cain and Krane found themselves atop a mist-shrouded mountain. They were greeted by stone statues of mythical beasts and ancient warriors, their eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. The Imperial Fest would be held in the Heaven Sundering Mountain. From this ce, one could see the entire Silver City as gods did in the tales of the Old World. Chapter 326 Magnus ''Gods among men.'' That was the feeling Cain thought the creator of this ce wanted to inspire. Even if they were in the same ne, those on the top could look down on those on the bottom. Cain only shook his head but did not offer an opinion about it since even he was not impervious to the feeling of superiority. After all, by any metric, he was superior to billions of other youths across the empire. Luckily for Cain, the enemies he was making on his path were so powerful that he never grewcent with his strength. He did not waste too much time with those thoughts and began walking to the Heaven Sundering Hall, where the Imperial Feast would ur. Krane immediately regained his focus as he saw Cain walking forward. He was a Middle Wave King and a noble before his crimes, but even then, he never enjoyed the status required to attend this sort of ceremony, so he was a little dumbfounded by the wondrous view. ''It should be the first time he enjoys a sight like this, yet he can keep his emotions under wless control. The view of a god clearly means very little to this young man.'' The more Krane learned from Cain, the more he felt the young man was full of mystery. Cain noticed Krane''s stare but simply walked forward. Just the path to the hall was majestic. It was a meticulouslyndscaped Gaia''s exotic flora and fauna. Cherry blossom trees heavy with fragrant blossoms line cobblestone paths, and koi fish glide gracefully through lotus-filled ponds. The scents of rare flowers flooded the air along with the soft murmur of a thousand exotic birds. Cain was surprised by the beauty of the ce but did not think much about it until he suddenly felt his mind growing calmer and his Astral Wave revolving more smoothly across his body. Krane had also noticed the change, but he just took it as a change in the energy flooding the ce. Yet, Cain''s mind was able to pierce much deeper thanks to his understanding of The Flow. Shock and awe appeared in his eyes as he realized there was a natural formation in this ce, not made by inscribing runes but by the arrangement of the trees, earth, and air currents around them. Whoever created this path had divine control and domain over the origin energy that flooded Aether. "Marvelous." Cain could not help but express his admiration as The Flow showed him just how amazing this ce truly was. "Hmph, since when is Heaven Sundering Mountain a ce meremoners can enter?" Unfortunately for Cain, he was not able to focus on that wondrous feeling for long since a mocking voice appeared behind him. Cain and Krane turned around and saw a small group of five people walking toward them. All of them had azure hair and wore golden robes. The one at the lead was a man not over thirty years old with sky-blue eyes. He was not more than one meter and ny centimeters, but his aura was the greatest of the group, and the Essence Wave running across his body felt like an endless sky. Cain and Krane frowned since this group clearly belonged to the Azure Royal Family, and their bloodline and energy density were vastly superior to the duo they facedst time. Cain could feel the animosity in the eyes of the entire group, and it was clear they recognized him. He knew his actions on the Azure State would bring him problems with the Azure Royal Family, but he did not think it would happen so soon. ''Ahhhh.'' Cain could not help but sigh in his mind, yet that did not stop his eyes from bursting with red light as he looked back at the group. Expression of difort appeared in four members of the Azure Royal Family as they stared into Cain''s eyes since neither of them could equal the willpower of a Late Wave King. Luckily for them, that difort faded the next second as the eyes of the man at the lead glowed with golden light, disying an Ego Wave that was even mightier than Cain. "No wonder you dare to refuse the invitation of my older brother." The man spoke coldly as the golden light in his eyes burst with even greater power. "I should introduce myself, or else people might say that the Azure Royal Family has the same manner asmoners. I am..." "I don''t care." Before the man could finish his words, Cain interrupted him and turned around, walking toward the hall. Shock appeared in the man from the Azure Royal Family, as he could not believe that someone dared to ignore him, and even worse, that person was a simplemoner. Of course, the man was aware of Cain''s name and rank in the military, but for him, the Imperial Army was just a tool and could notpare with the power and status of nobility. "You dare!" The man roared as his Essence Wave burst as he took a spear from his space ring. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw that move. He knew the man was very powerful, even more than him, but he did not need to win this battle. He pushed The Flow to the limit, allowing him to perceive the movement of every muscle and the energy flow in the opponent as he prepared to endure the iing attack. However, just as the man from the Azure Royal Family was about to attack, a voice echoed across the mountain. "Fourth Azure Prince!" That voice was not only loud but carried a powerful intent that managed to stop the Fourth Azure Prince from attacking.@@novelbin@@ A frown appeared in the Fourth Azure Prince as he looked from the source of that voice, and his eyes narrowed when he saw the one responsible. The one that shouted was a young man not older than Cain with jet-ck hair and fiery red eyes. "Magnus Hellzer." Even the arrogant Fourth Azure Prince dared notsh out against the young man since this one was the greatest genius of the Hellzer Family and widely recognized as the future Hellzer Duke. The Fourth Azure Prince took a deep breath as he stared at Magnus. He calmed his rage, but the coldness in his eyes did not fade. "Why are you defending thismoner? Should I take as the will of the First Imperial Prince?" Magnus stared at the Fourth Imperial Prince before softly shaking his head and sighing. "I do not understand why the Third Imperial Prince would choose someone like you to be his escort in the Imperial Feast. It is like asking a baboon to choose your clothes. You will only bring embarrassment to yourself." Silence reigned across the mountain after Magnus uttered those words. Cain had just ignored the Fourth Azure Prince, but Magnuspared this one to a baboon. Discover exclusive tales on empire Magnus spoke again before the Fourth Azure Prince could even process those words. "The First Imperial Prince and Third Imperial Prince are in an alliance, so I can not let you embarrass both of them. If you attacked the escort of the Fourth Imperial Prince in such sacred terrain, what kind ofpensation do you think they would have to pay?" Shock and dread crossed the Fourth Azure Prince''s eyes as he heard that and realized that he nearly made a grave mistake. His title granted him the authority to do as he pleased in most ces, but this was the capital, and he was far from special. The Fourth Azure Prince turned toward Cain, and as he saw the sh of disappointment, he understood that everything had been a scheme. Burning rage emerged in his heart, but he did not dare to attack, and after ncing at Magnus, he walked forward with his group. Magnus saw the man walking away without saying thanks but did not care since, from the start, he never cared about forming a rtionship with the Azure Royal Family. It is like a great general of the Old World once said: what one should really fear is not apetent enemy but an ipetent ally. Magnus did not have time to reflect since he soon felt tremendous pressure on his mind as two cold red eyes focused on him. The young man stared back at Cain and his eyes began to glow with silver light. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he felt the willpower of an Early Wave King on Magnus! Although the silver Ego Wave was much weaker than his, Cain was a genius with an Inborn Ego Eternal Matrix, while Magnus had to reach that level by pure hard work. No matter how you saw it, the young man from the Hellzer Family''s talent in the Ego Eternal Path of Power was not weaker than Cain. A sh of killing intent appeared in Cain''s eyes, but it immediately faded as he focused on Magnus'' shadow. Cain sped his hand and performed a slight bow to the shadow before walking away with Krane. Chapter 328 Imperial Feast (II) The rest of the group didn''t know how to react, but luckily, the Fourth Imperial Prince broke the tension. "Caught." us drove things forward as Cain took a step back from Aurelia. "The young man at your right is Alex Umbra, son of the Minister of Information." Alex was a young man with a body nearly two meters and twenty centimeters tall, yet despite that massive physique, if you didn''t focus on him, you could barely detect his presence. Cain was someone who trained in assassination arts and could be considered a great master in it, so he was sure that this young man was also someone extremely dangerous and a seasoned spy or killer. It takes one to recognize one, which was why Alex also perceived Cain''s training as a killer. While it might be imperceptible for others, he immediately detected it when he saw Cain''s movements through the hall. "I am d to meet someone who trained in the Aegon Family''s techniques." Alex stretched his hand, and Cain did the same, and with a single handshake, their eyes narrowed before nodding to each other. It was silent, but there was a sh between the two, and they both knew that if they attacked with pure assassination techniques, neither woulde out fine. us saw Cain''s effect on the younger members of the group, but there was not much he could do since it was normal for a young genius to ignite the fighting spirit of others. "Our next friend is the only daughter of the Caelum Sector Duke, Nova Caelum." Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire Cain stared at Nova, and just as expected, she was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and a well-defined body, but his eyes focused on her single golden left wing. That was not the result of a spell or energy incantation but an actual appendage, most likely due to her bloodline. External physical alterations due to your Lineage were not umon among those with powerful bloodlines. Yet, Cain''s eyes did not remain on the wing for long since he turned to the old man behind her, who looked like a stone statue. It was not normal for the escorts of the Imperial Princes to bring people with them, but just like Krane, they should be tactful, not interfere in the discussions of others, and remain at a suitable distance. "Ahhh, ignore him. Uncle Rokus is just fulfilling his role given by my father. I am happy to meet the young legend of the Blood Sea." Cain showed a small smile and nodded to the woman. He felt the great might of the man and was sure this one was not much weaker than Bloodless #1, so he made sure to mark Nova as someone he should not bother. The group had just finished their introductions when Cain''s eyes narrowed. He was not alone since many people in the hall did the same as they felt a powerful aura approaching. Soon, a group of six people entered the hall. Each of them had a vibrant aura full of great power. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he focused on the group and saw Magnus among them. But he wasn''t the only familiar face since he also saw Iris Xurong, the young woman he helped survive in Saharo City. There was also a middle-aged man who could simply be defined as a giant, nearly three meters in height at the back of the group, and who wore a ck mask over his face. However, like everybody else, his eyes soon focused on the trio at the lead since two of them were not humans. The one to the right had draconic scales on the side of his body, covering his arms and legs, and a long tail around his waist. Not only were the physical characteristics striking, but the bloodline aura of this one did not belong to humankind. As for the one on the left, it was even more evident that he was not human. He had a metallic humanoid body with crystal eyes glowing with blue light. They were members of the Deus Bahamut Race and Anima Mechanicus Race, the allies of the Godyer Humankind against the Dark Race. It was the first time Cain saw members of the other race in the flesh, or metal in this case, and he was not alone. Not only was there an immense ocean between Gaia and their home continent, but they were also very reclusive. Not to mention that the duo was clearly not normal, as one could tell from their vibrant life force and auras. As for the one who assembled such a group, that was none other than a young man with a white crown over his head. Just like all the other Imperial Princes, he had golden pupils, but his aura was like a burning star in the dark sky, drawing the attention of everybody. He had dark hair, and strange runes covered his body, glowing with bursting bloodline power. "The Crown Prince." Cain immediately recognized the man as none other than the First Imperial Prince. He was not over one hundred years old but had already evolved beyond the Wave King level, the oldest son of the Golden Emperor and also the strongest. The current might of the Crown Prince was unknown, but there were tales of him challenging Titans. As for the oue of those battles, there was no way to say for sure, but everybody already epted that he had the power to battle Divine Ascension Cultivators! There was a radiant smile on the Crown Prince''s face as he stared at the rest of the people in the hall, immediately bing the center of attention. His aura was so immense that it made everybody feel drawn to him. ''Michael Goldsoul.'' Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at the Crown Prince and felt the immense strength of this one, one so mighty that it was hard for him even to perceive it. The Crown Prince did not say a word and simply walked with his group into the hall with arge smile, and soon, people began to walk toward him. Everybody recognized the one approaching the Crown Prince. He was very simr to Michael in appearance, but their auras could not be more different. That person was none other than the Third Imperial Prince. While the Third Imperial Prince was far from the power or fame of his brother, no one dared to go against this one since he and the Crown Prince had the same mother. Cain noticed the Fourth Azure Prince in the group of the Third Imperial Prince and could not help but frown when he saw the man looking back with a poisonous nce.@@novelbin@@ Silence reigned for a few seconds as Michael appeared, but noise soon returned, and people began to talk among themselves. "THUMP!" That sound marked the beginning of the feast, and everybody went to their seats. There were two seats of tables spread across the hall, leaving the center empty. The one closest to the center belonged to the Imperial Princes, Princesses, and escorts, while the one behind was for theirpanions. On the right side of the tables were the Fourth Prince, apanied by two Imperial Princes and one Princess. Right in front of them was a groupposed of one Princess at the center, nked by two Imperial Princes. As for the head, that was a ce where the Crown Prince and Third Imperial Prince were sitting. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he analyzed the formation of their seats and knew it was not coincidental. It was clear there were three groups among the Imperial Princes and Princesses. The one with the lesser numbers belonged to the Crown Prince, but while the Third Prince was the weakest, Michael''s power alone was enough to support their coalition. It did not take long for people with refined attire to enter the hall and deposit food that was not only pleasing to the sight but the amount of energy and aura in it was overwhelming. Cain was surprised to see the food since not only was it full of energy, but its scent generated a reaction in his bloodline. It was regr food in this ce, but he was sure it would be a treasure anywhere else, capable of drawing great battles. The waiters put the food in ce and silently left the room. While everybody wanted to enjoy the feast, no one dared to break etiquette, and they all waited as the Crown Prince raised his cup. "My brothers and sisters, allow me to express how happy I am to see all of you gathered at the same table. It has been a long time since Ist saw all your faces. Let''s hope we can repeat this very soon." As the Crown Prince raised his cup, every other Imperial Prince and Princess did the same and took a drink as if they werememorating the asion. Of course, that was just the public image they would present since everybody knew they did not get along very well. Chapter 329 Cain vs the Fourth Azure Prince "Your words are indeed true, big brother. As sons and daughters of the Golden Emperor, we should be together, especially with the advances of the Dark Races." The one who answered the words of the Crown Prince was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and golden pupils, and her aura seemed to merge with the world around her. That was none other than the Second Princess. Although in this world, power mattered more than anything, there were still those who believed that gender should be decisive in the leading roles of a force. But the woman had managed to carve her path with impressive aplishments and remarkable personal power, allowing her to be second only to the Crown Prince. After that small toast, people finally began to eat. There was a certain level of finesse in everybody''s behavior, suitable for a ce like the Heaven Sundering Hall. However, one person did not particrly care for that, and everybody saw how they devoured the food in front of him like madmen. Yet, no one said a word since it was none other than a member of the Deus Bahamut Race. While some frowned upon that behavior, Cain''s response was different. He looked at the young man with a short smile as he liked that behavior, to truly act ording to your heart''s desires. Still, Cain kept consuming his food with calm. There was not an excess of etiquette, but neither was he as wild as the members of the Deus Bahamut Race. He just followed the table manners his father taught him. "Fourth Brother, I see you have a young hero in your group. Shouldn''t you present such a rising star to all of us?" It did not take long for the small chatter between the princes and princesses to stop as the Third Prince spoke loudly, drawing attention towards Cain. us'' eyes narrowed as he heard those words from the Third Prince. He, of course, knew of the animosity between Cain and the Azure Royal Family, so this exchange could not be a good one. But there was no point in keeping silent. "Of course, most of you should already know him. He is Cain Laurifer, Colonel of the Imperial Army and the Blood Sea Civil War hero. The man who managed to frustrate the ns of a Dark King." People turned toward Cain and began to look at him with extreme focus. All those present were aware of such an important event as the Blood Sea Civil War since it involved two Dark Kings. Cain stopped eating and nced at the people in the room before nodding to them. He did not offer words and instead stared at the Third Imperial Prince. It was clear that things would not end with that small introduction, but he did not lose his calm. "Colonel Laurifer. It is a great pleasure to meet such a young hero. Irion, I heard that you and the colonel have already met." The person that the Third Imperial Prince referred to as Irion was the Fourth Azure Prince, and a poisonous light appeared in his eyes as he prepared to talk. However, Cain was faster.@@novelbin@@ "If Your Highness refers to the time the Fourth Azure Prince aimed his weapon at my back, then yes, we have met." Surprise appeared in the people in the room as they heard that. They could detect the animosity between the two but were surprised to hear such an usation. After all, the Fourth Azure Prince was over two hundred years old and a Late Wave King. For someone so older and with such a higher cultivation base to aim his weapon at the back of a seventeen-year-old Middle Wave Champion was a great shame. "What are you talking about!" The Fourth Azure Prince shouted, with burning rage in his heart. He was ready to disparage Cain''s name, but this one was faster, and just as he intended to lie, his eyes turned towards Magnus. If there were no one else around at that time, Irion would lie without hesitation, but there was someone who saw everything, and he did not know whether Magnus would back up his lie or not. In the end, he just clenched his teeth, took a deep breath, and carried on with his n. Experience exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire "That was a misunderstanding, but I would never attack a Colonel of the Imperial Army since I have too much respect for them. After all, they are the sword of the Empire." Cain''s eyes grew cold as he heard those words from the Azure Royal Prince since he could detect their falsehood. Irion did not care if people did not believe him and would be happy if this one called him a liar since there was no way to prove such words. However, Cain remained quiet and did not fall for such an obvious trap. "The Imperial Army is a source of honor. Unfortunately, as ofte, their fame and prestige have weakened due to the presence of criminals among their ranks." Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he detected the goal of those words. It was clear to him that the Azure Royal Prince wanted to use Krane''s presence to tarnish his reputation and, from there, devalue his character in several ways. Irion did not care that Cain knew his ns, as he carried on with a smile on his face. "I wonder what Colonel Laurifer''s opinion is about that topic. After all, our great heroes should not fight side by side with a bunch of criminals since the only ones that would feelfortable in theirpany are those without respect for the codes and rules of the Empire." People focused on Cain, wanting his opinion. The topic regarding military criminals in the war effort was very important, as it involved not only meaningful ethical points of view but was also rted to the security of the Empire. There was a silence in the hall as everybody waited for Cain''s response. He nced at the Third Imperial Prince, who looked at him with a smile before turning toward Irion. Only peace and serenity appeared in Cain''s eyes as he took a sip of his drink before speaking. "No matter their strength, there is no one fighting in the war against the Dark Races who is not a hero, and I would understand if some of them feel difort about having criminals among their ranks." Irion''s smile grew wider upon hearing that, as it was the response he expected. He was now ready to call Cain a hypocrite. However, before he could do that, Cain proceeded. "However, I am a Colonel, and I should lead millions of soldiers in the future. Any measure I can use to secure the lives of those heroes is more important than their personal feelings. Only a child would think that feelings matter more than security in war." The Fourth Azure Royal Prince''s eyes grew cold as he felt the hidden intent in those words, but he did not care, as it did not affect his n. While there is justification for military criminals in war, using them inside the Empire, especially in the capital, could easily be controversial. Unfortunately for Irion, Cain had not finished yet. "Since you brought that topic, I would like your insights, Azure Prince." Irion''s eyes narrowed as he felt something was wrong, but he did not lose focus and came up with what he thought to be the perfect answer. "I am not an official member of the military, but of course, I have had several skirmishes with the Dark Race in the darkness. I do not glorify them since it is just my duty as a member of the Empire." Irion knew hisck of military background could be brought up, so he gave that answer. It was not odd for those of Noble Families to fight members of the Dark Races away from the spotlight. The truth was that Irion had never gone to fight the Dark Races, as in his mind, there was no reason to go to such dangerous ces, but no one could verify his words. Cain did not attempt to verify the truth of those words and simply continued. "I know that youck military merits, but I expected the insights of someone close to you. I expect you to have a profound meaning behind discussing the military criminal policy that could save soldiers'' lives. There must be a family member or close friend who shared those experiences with you. After all, you would not bring this topic only to cause controversy since such political maneuvers were unworthy of a descendant of the Azure Emperor." Irion clenched his fists beneath the table as he heard that. He had only intended to bring up the policy to bring out Krane''s presence. Still, Cain redirected the topic to hisck of military experience; even worse, this one called him a politician. For the Godyer Humankind, the term politician was infamous since it depicted a group of people who only knew how to cause trouble and draw attention without offering solutions. Chapter 331 Godslayer Human vs Deus Behemoth(I) A thunderousughter echoed across the hall, but it did note from the Crown Prince but from the man on his right, a member of the Deus Behemoth Race. After hisughter finished, he jumped out of his seat and into the middle of the room before pointing his finger at Cain. "You are a true man. My name is Desmond Zanginis. Let''s fight to see who is stronger!" Cain frowned again since the man''s words were not any less rude than those of the Third Imperial Prince. However, before he could jump to conclusions, he heard the voice of the Fourth Imperial Prince in his mind. "Brother Cain, it is normal for members of the young generation of the Deus Behemoth Race to challenge others at any time. Actually, they only challenge worthy warriors and can be considered a sign of respect." Cain nced at us, and the coldness in his eyes vanished as he heard that. While the young man from the Deus Behemoth Race was a little rude, he showed respect ording to what his elders had taught him since childhood. Aplicated expression appeared on Cain''s face as he did not know how to act. He was not interested in showing off his abilities, but that smile full of fighting spirit in the Deus Behemoth Race was not easy to ignore. After a moment, he stood up and sped his hands before bowing slightly. "I am ttered by that proposition, but it would not be wise for us to fight in this ce. After all, this is a sacred ce, and we would not want to damage it." Desmond''s brows rose as he looked around. In his home, all ces, regardless of their use, were adapted to endure a battle, but that was clearly not the case here. He could not help but frown before turning toward the Crown Prince. "Old man, could you do something about it? You are very powerful and could easily reinforce this ce." People were a little surprised by how Desmond referred to the Crown Prince, but this one seemed not to care and only showed a small smile before putting his hand over the ground, and the next second, his Astral Wave reinforced the tables, floor, and every other part of the hall. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the mastery of the Crown Prince over Wave Cloak since it was like nothing he had ever seen before. However, he had other troubles since Desmond''s smile grew even wider as this one focused on him with pure fighting will. "Colonel Laurifer, it would be a great honor to see the skills of a soldier of the Imperial Lightning Fort." The Second Imperial Princess rose from her seat, sped her hands, and spoke to Cain. Unlike the Third Prince, her request was done with solemnity and respect while at the same time hinting it was in the name of the Imperial Lightning Fort''s fame. ''Ah.'' Cain could only sigh in his mind before jumping past the tables. Although he could find a way to excuse himself from the battle, it was not worth the effort. "Since this is a friendly encounter, I suggest we refrain from using any form of external energy output and only activate our Wave Cloak to its basic state." The Crown Prince, Second Princess, and Fourth Prince softly nodded as they heard Cain''s words since that arrangement would avoid dangerous wounds and allow this one to hide his core techniques. Desmond, on the other hand, was much simpler. Since it was indeed a friendly fight, there was nothing wrong with limiting their energy output, not to mention that as a member of the Deus Behemoth Race, he was fine with only using his fists and legs. ?Fine by me!" Desmond did not waste time and immediately unleashed his Astral Wave Cloak, generating a strong air pulse across the hall. He was a Late Wave Champion and did not reach that state too long ago, but his Astral Wave''s output was not much weaker than someone about to be a Wave King. Clearly, the young man was a genius, and the bloodline aura he unleashed gave everybody a clear sense of his Lineage''s power. Cain was also surprised by the young man''s power but did not lose his calm as he unleashed his Astral Wave. While the potency of his Astral Wave Cloak was weaker, it was still much stronger than what an average Middle Wave Champion could release. Desmond smiled as he felt the power of Cain''s body and sped his hands before performing a bow. Cain responded to the courtesy simrly, lowering his head as a sign of respect to his opponent. As soon as both men raised their faces, their eyes shone with blue and red light. "?BOOM!" Read thetest on My Virtual Library Empire A st echoed across the hall as Cain and Desmond shed, both being pushed back before shing back into the fray. Cain sent a lightning-fast kick aimed for Desmond''s head, his leg not only carrying an immense speed but also a great force. Desmond''s pupil dted as he saw that kick. With uncanny reflexes, he swaged back, generating a 90¡ã angle with the upper side of his body, narrowly avoiding Cain''s devastating kick. It was a move executed with such precision that it left everybody in awe.@@novelbin@@ It was clear that the young man''s battle instincts were top-notch. However, that was more than just racial gifts. These skills were not born out of innate talent but had clearly been honed after years of hard work. Desmond seized the opening created by Cain''s missed kick. Instantly, he countered with a lightning-quick punch aimed at Cain''s midsection. The strikended with unerring uracy, driving the breath from Cain''s lungs as he staggered backward. The people in the hall gasped at the incredible speed and precision of Desmond''s counterattack. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he was pushed back, and he clenched his teeth as the red light in his eyes grew stronger, forcing his diaphragm to rx and his lungs to work again. It was just a small sh, but it was enough for him to understand the might of Desmond''s martial skills. Cain was genuinely surprised. Although it had been less than two years, his mastery over the Bloodflow Fury had advanced immensely, yet Desmond''s martial arts were even mightier. Of course, that did not mean Cain would just give up. You could face an enemy with greater martial skills in several ways. He quickly regained hisposure andunched himself back into the fray. His fists and feet became a blur of motion as he unleashed a flurry of strikes at Desmond. Each punch and kick was aimed with pinpoint uracy, seeking out vulnerabilities in Desmond''s defenses. Desmond remained calm andposed as he pushed his skill to the peak, blocking those blows, but it was not easy since thebinations were endless, and more than once, he had to step back or else suffer a fierce blow. His movements were deliberate and controlled, a testament to his years of training. He deftly parried Cain''s strikes with well-timed blocks and evasive maneuvers. It was a disy of martial finesse that showcased his incredible skill. As the battle raged on, Cain''s heartbeat quickened, and his skin took on a fiery, crimson hue. It was as though an inner fire had been ignited within him, infusing his movements with even greater speed and power. He had activated Asura Form, pushing his physical might to the next level as he triggered Second Gear. His strikes came faster and harder as he continued to press the attack, but that was not all since he also sent several feints to confuse his opponent. Desmond''s heartbeat, in contrast, slowed, and his face took on a pale, serene expression. It was a stark contrast to the intensity of Cain''s raging heart. Everybody present had a high enough cultivation to understand the reason for that lower heartbeat. While it diminished the speed at which the blood ran through his veins, the strength at which it did it was much higher, not to mention it helped the young man remainposed. Desmond''s blows gained immense brute power while Cain''s speed rose to a whole new level. The Imperial Princes, Princesses, and their escorts watched in utter fascination as the battle between these two martial masters reached its zenith. Cain''s movements were a blur of crimson, his attacks relentless and unyielding. Desmond, with his slowed heartbeat and unwaveringposure, countered with stoic resolve that seemed unbreakable. The sh of their opposing forces was a mesmerizing dance of martial prowess. Cain''s strikes came like a storm, with each blow a testament to his newfound speed and power. Desmond''s defenses held firm, and his counterattacks were executed with wless precision and immense brute force. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed as Desmond found an opening in Cain''s attack and performed a double strike directly on his chest, sending him flying to the other side of the room. Chapter 333 Third Gear Cain stared at Desmond for a moment before rxing his body. ''I didn''t want to show it so soon, but I guess it''s fine.'' Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at Desmond before taking a deep breath, and the power of his Ego Wave burst, flooding his veins and heart with golden mes full of life force. "Tell me, just how hard is your skull and upper neck?" Desmond was slightly confused by that question but answered instinctively, "Very hard." He was already at the Late Wave Champion level and was a member of the Deus Behemoth Race, so his skeletal structure was inherently more robust than humans. "I see, then you''ll be fine." Cain only uttered those words before his skin grew redder than ever before. His heartbeat grew monstrously powerful, so much so that it began to affect the heartbeats of others in the room. Some were too weak to endure it, and blood began to leak from the corner of their mouths. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire Desmond''s eyes widened as his instincts screamed, and he immediately raised his guard. He knew that something extremely dangerous wasing. "Asura Form: Third Gear!" "?BOOOOM!" Those words had barely echoed across the room when a massive sonic boom resounded throughout the hall. Desmond saw Cain appear before him in an instant. The young Behemoth could do nothing to avoid a kicknding on the right side of his jaw. Before he could process the strike, another kicknded on his left temple. Desmond instinctively attempted to move back, but that only made things worse. Along with the initial kicks, a thirdnded on the back of his skull. There were afterimages of Cain around Desmond, three of them to be exact, and it was like each of them was striking at the same time. "?Boom!" "?Boom!" "?Boom!" By the time people heard those three sts, Cain was already ten meters past Desmond, and everyone watched as the Behemoth trembled momentarily before falling to the ground, eyes wide open. Desmond was still conscious since Cain had purposefully contained the strength of those kicks. Still, they shook his brain with such force that he couldn''t move andy defeated on the ground. There was nothing short of awe and amazement in his eyes, as the strike was truly marvelous. Cain showed a faint smile, but then his body trembled, and he could not help but cough a mouthful of blood. His knees could not resist, forcing him to kneel on the ground. Even with Radiance of Life, the bacsh of Third Gear was a little too much, but luckily, the damage was not significant, and Cain immediately began to stand up. ''I can withstand the power of Third Gear thanks to Biofusion Herculean Technique, but the bacsh is still too much.'' Regarding the series of kicks, it was Cain''s expansion in the Asura Techniques. While Blood Revolution had immense power as it wlessly used Cain''s torque, it first needed to paralyze the opponent. Asura Kick had less power, and while it required Third Gear to achieve the necessary speed to perform those three kicks virtually simultaneously, Cain did not need any preparation to use it. Silence reigned in the hall as people were still stunned by the attack. Cain had limited himself to Wave Cloak, yet he achieved a speed greater than Hypersonic! Had he pushed his Wave Burst to its limit, he would have moved so fast that even those at the Middle Wave King level couldn''t keep up with him.@@novelbin@@ Everyone also noticed the bacsh, but if Cain could handle it, it wouldn''t be a problem for him to defeat Middle Wave Kings or even face those at the Late level. Cain turned around and walked towards Desmond, cing his right hand on his head. Golden mes emerged from his palm, and everyone felt their healing power now they were exposed. Desmond immediately felt his body healing, and he managed to stand up again in a few moments. "Amazing, that technique, it''s based on your heartbeat, am I right?" Those were the first words from Desmond as he managed to stand. The fact he lost the battle mattered little since it was a friendly fight. Moreover, one can often learn more from defeat than victory. Cain stared at the young man for a moment before nodding. "Excellent. Are you willing to share it with me? Of course, I will pay handsomely for it and vow not to share it with anyone without your permission." Once again, the cultural differences between humankind and the Behemoth race were evident. Techniques were guarded in the Godyer Humankind; even if exchanged, it wasn''t done openly. However, to Desmond, there was nothing wrong with it. For him, knowledge was meant to be shared, and doing business in the shadows was problematic. Cain was about to reject the proposition, but then his eyes narrowed as he remembered the blood flower that Desmond had taken before. It had immense blood vitality and was perfect to help him improve his Blood Core and advance in Blood Rebirth. "We can talkter." Desmond did not press the subject and nodded. Even if Cain did not want to share the technique, there was nothing wrong with it. "You should be careful with those types of transactions, young Colonel. Those techniques crafted by humans should not be passed lightly, even to allies. You should not put your Master in a difficult position." Once again, the one speaking was the Third Imperial Prince. The man was having difficulty suppressing his anger toward Cain and could not stand that he was being the center of attention, so he took the first chance to strike. Although his words were clearly ill-willed, they had a certain truth since any Saint Technique, no matter how weak, was a treasure. Just sharing them, even among the members of your own race, was done carefully, much less with allies of other races. Nevertheless, the Imperial Princes and Princesses turned angrily toward the Third Imperial Prince. Even if they understood his thoughts, speaking them aloud in front of the Behemoth and Machinum Races geniuses was a great mistake. Cain only stared at the Third Imperial Prince and was already done with the man. Since there was no way they would have a good rtionship and the animosity between them was clear, he did not need to be polite. "I don''t need to exin my actions to you." The Third Imperial Prince''s eyes widened as he heard that, and just as he was about tosh out, the Crown Prince looked at him. At first, he was confused, but then he saw how Desmond and the Machinarium race genius were looking at him. Regardless of his mistakes, people always turn a blind eye to any fault in his words, but it seemed he would not be so lucky this time. Cain did not care and simply walked to his seat. Desmond should have done the same but stared at the Crown Prince before sping his hands and performing a slight bow. "Crown Prince, I am thankful for your invitation, but I would prefer to sit where there is no clear animosity toward my people." The Third Prince could only lower his head since he did not want anyone to see the poisonous loath in his eyes as he heard Desmond''s words. The Crown Prince only nodded and did not say a word. On the other hand, Desmond turned toward the Fourth Prince, who immediately rose from his seat. "Young friend, if you are willing, we would love to have you by our side." Desmond smiled before sitting next to Cain. While a tense atmosphere appeared in the hall, talk soon regained in the room. As the meeting was reaching its end, a voice echoed across the hall, and it came from the side of the Second Princess. It was a young woman with a cultivation at the Peak of the Wave Champion stage. "Colonel Cain. I might not see you again, so I wonder if you would like a little sparring with me. My name is Yordana Manixet, second daughter of the Imperial Prime Minister." Although in a noble hierarchy, the title of Prime Minister might not sound like much, it could not be farther from the truth when it came to the Godyer Humankind Empire. The Emperor was chosen ording to the rule of the jungle by the strongest one taking that position. While that would grant security to the Empire, it did not mean it would do well in terms of economics or infrastructure. That was where the Prime Minister came in. He was chosen not by his strength but by his mind and wisdom. And while he might not be as powerful as a Titan, there were seven Divine Ascendants Cultivators at hismand at any moment, ready to follow his instructions without hesitation. The Prime Minister''s responsibility surpassed the Emperor''s in certain aspects, so his power and influence were also astronomical. Chapter 334 Overcoming the illusion (I) As the daughter of such a man, Yordana''s status and reputation were actually not any less than that of the Imperial Children. Cain stared at the woman and recognized her status, but still, he softly shook his head. He was already tired and was no longer in the mood for fighting. "I am sorry, but I''m all tapped out already." The young woman seemed to expect that, but she did not give up so easily. "I am trying to prove the might of my illusion skills, and there is no better sparring partner than someone like you. Of course, I do not expect it to be free, and I heard you have a knack for bets." Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he heard that, and a sh of his Ego Wave manifested. There were very few temptations that could affect his mind. Even the pleasures of the flesh were something he could control without a problem. However, as his power rose, gambling became his weak point. The notion of gaining massive wealth by proving his superiority was something he felt attracted to. Of course, he did not simply ept and first had to know the stakes. "What would you be betting?" Yordana showed a radiant smile as she heard those words. She might have had a refined aura but was still young and wanted to test herself, raising her name for all to hear, and what better way than to fight what some consider among the greatest monsters of the new generation, Cain Laurifer. "I heard your Natural Holy Weapon shattered when you performed that magnificent strike against the High Blood Elder. I have contacts and could get one of the greatest Wave Crafters of the Silver City to take a look at it to see if it could be fixed." Cain''s eyes immediately glowed with excitement as he heard that. Although he could get a great treasure at the end of his Arcane Noble Ceremony, he did not want to give up on ughter. "So, if I win, you will give me the contact?" Yordana immediately shook her head before showing a radiant smile. "I will get you in contact regardless of the winner. However, if you win, I will cover the price, while if you lose, it would be up to you to pay for it." The Second Imperial Princess couldn''t help but smile as she heard that. She was very careful with every step she took, and that included the people around her. Unlike the fools around the Third Imperial Prince, she only picked people worthy of her trust and friendship, and no one was better than Yordana. While it was a fight with a bet, Yordana made sure to keep a good rtionship with Cain regardless of the oue. The Fourth Imperial Prince kept smiling but silently, there was a sharp light in his eyes. He couldn''t help but envy the people around his sister since they were all magnificent in their own way. Cain''s thoughts were much more straightforward. He smiled before jumping into the hall''s center and ncing at Yordana. "Then I am more than happy for this battle." Yordana also smiled, but a solemn expression soon reced it as she smoothly sailed into the center of the hall, putting distance between her and Cain. While she wanted this fight, she was aware of just how powerful the opponent was and knew a single mistake would be enough to end the battle. "Second Princess, if you could." The Second Imperial Princess softly nodded before putting her hand on the table, extending her Essence Wave into every corner of the hall, just like the Crown Prince had done before. While the power of her Wave Cloak was weaker, it was still impressive since she was only a Late Wave King. "Are you both ready?"@@novelbin@@ Cain silently nodded while Yordana''s eyes began to glow with blue light, showing an Ego Wave equal to a Middle Wave King! Clearly, the woman was strong, but Cain showed no fear as his pupil began to contract, ready to finish everything as fast as possible. "Begin!" "THUMP!" The Second Imperial Princess''s voice had just emerged as a powerful heartbeat echoed across the hall as Cain pushed his body to Third Gear, shing at Hypersonic Speed toward Yordana. As a Peak Essence Wave Champion, Yordana would not be able to hold on in a melee battle against Cain, and there was not much space to move in the tiny hall, but she did not need it as the blue light in her eyes exploded and the bracelet in her hand burst with power. "Spectral Illusion Style: Drowning World!" Those words had juste from Yordana''s mouth when everybody saw Cain freezing in front of the young woman less than a meter away. His eyes twitched as his Ego Wave burst with all its power as if facing a great might. Yordana was also unmoving, but her eyes were as sharp as a de, as abination of Ego Wave and Essence Wave emerged from them with more and more power by the second. The Imperial Children in the room could not help but feel awe at the technique as they understood its power. It was more than an Illusion Technique that made you see things since Yordana sought to trap the Illusion Realm, a ce where she had absolute control. Of course, her cultivation was far from enough to create an Illusion Realm of her own, so she used the one inside her bracelet as a medium for her technique. Yordana was burning more and more of her energy, using all her power to trap Cain''s mind, but he ferociously fought back, relying on his incredibly mighty Ego Wave. No one said a word as they all waited to see what would happen. Yordana began to bleed from her mouth, making it clear that the mental pressure she was withstanding was monstrous, but she clenched her fists as her bracelet glowed with even greater power. Cain''s eyes trembled, and the next second, they seemed to lose their light as his consciousness fell into the Illusion Realm. A smile appeared on the Second Imperial Princess when she saw that. While Yordana relied on her Holy Weapon, she still came up victorious, or at least that was what she thought until Cain''s hand moved. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire Under the shocked sight of everybody, Cain''s right hand moved forward, grabbing Yordana''s neck and beginning to squeeze with so much strength that the young woman''s face immediately turned pale. The Crown Prince, Second Imperial Princess, and Fourth Imperial Prince had the highest cultivation, so they could see that while most of the light in Cain''s eyes had vanished, there was still a tiny red dot in them. That fraction of willpower was enough tomand the young man''s right arm, making him strangle Yordana. People in the hall were at a loss since they did not know how to process. While Yordana had managed to trap Cain''s consciousness, which would generally mean the end of the battle, he was currently strangling her, and she would pass out in minutes. The Second Imperial Princess and the Fourth Imperial Prince silently nodded, allowing the battle to continue. It would be up to the fight in the Illusion Realm to determine the winner. If Yordana managed to crush Cain''s spirit before suffocating, the young man''s body would copse. us and the Second Imperial Princess would only interfere if a severe problem arose. While inside the hall, Cain was strangting Yordana; things were much different in the Illusion Realm. After Yordana pulled Cain''s consciousness out of his mind, the duo found themselves in a small world with nothing but raging water and dark skies. And the first thing that happened was Cain sumbing to the waves and plunging into the darkness. Yordana stood in the sky like always, but unlike every other time she found herself in her Illusion Realm, she was now pale and having difficulty breathing. ''How did he move his body after I took his consciousness into this ce? What kind of willpower is that to move even when there is no mind controlling your flesh and blood?'' Her heart could not stop racing as she felt her own mind going foggy due to theck of oxygen and blood reaching her brain, but she did not give up. ''I need to break his spirit. Once that happens, he will lose consciousness, and I will have defeated the legendary hero of the Blood Sea Civil War!'' Even if the person knew it was an illusion, that did not mean they could endure it. The one inside those dark waters would feel an overwhelming sense of helplessness and terror. The innate human fear of suffocation and drowning would lead to extreme panic and struggle for air, inducing a crippling fear. Every emotion would be magnified by a factor of ten, while at the same time, your rational mind would grow numb, pushing you faster and faster to a total mental breakdown. Yordana''s face was cold as she focused on the dark, chaotic water, waiting to see Cain fighting for air as the waves submitted him to greater and greater pressure, but the only things she received were two red eyes full of calmness and coldness. ''Im... Impossible.'' Chapter 336 Blood Wings The Imperial Feast was finally over, and people hade back to their residences. Everybody had left with whom they arrived except for Desmond, who had returned to the Fourth Imperial Prince''s castle with Cain.@@novelbin@@ The duo had business to attend to. Luckily for Cain and Desmond, us was happy to let them use his castle''s conference room to discuss business. As for Yordana, that was something Cain would take care of tomorrow since they would go together to the Wave Crafter. There was no such thing as the best type of weapon; it was only the one that suited you most, which was why Cain would have to speak with the crafter before the work started. Not bothering with the transactions of tomorrow, Cain focused on Desmond. Although the two had a good rtionship, business and friendship were very different things. "Asura Form is a skill that does not require using Astral Wave as a trigger but uses your Ego Wave''s control over your physical functions. It enhances the heartbeat considerably, enhancing your speed and also improving the secretions of hormones that improve your physical condition. First Gear can be used without much problem as long as you have a solid foundation, and even those on the Essence Evolution Path of Power could use it if they trained a good enough auxiliary technique. However, to safely use Second Gear, you must at least have evolved with Void Marrow. Even then, there is a bacsh, so I do not rmend its use for extended periods unless you have a healing skill. Third Gear pushes your heartbeat to the absolute limit of your heart and blood vessels. I trained a skill that enhances my flesh and blood to be as durable as Silver Wave Artifacts, yet I could barely use it for a second before nearly copsing. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire Regardless of your cultivation, there is no limit or weakness in its power. Even a Titan could use First Gear and obtain an upgrade to his speed and torque. However, the same can be said about the bacsh since it does not depend on your cultivation base but the power of your physique and foundation." Desmond kept a calm expression, but internally, he was beyond shocked. He had seen the technique''s power and knew it was stunning, but to learn there was no cultivation base default to it was incredible. Just that raised Asura Form''s value to something he found hard to contemte. "I see, indeed, an awe-inspiring skill. I have a lot of assets, but I would like to know what you need first." Instead of just revealing his wealth, Desmond first wanted to know Cain''s needs. That way, he could negotiate from a better standpoint. Cain did not have a problem revealing his needs since he already knew what Desmond wanted. "I need resources that can help improve my Blood Rebirth. I am currently at the Golden Blood Stage. Of course, I would like those with powerful blood vitality like the flower you took during our sparring." Desmond nodded. He had noticed the blood essence coursing through Cain''s body during their battle, so he was not surprised that he wanted resources that carried blood vitality. "Is that all?" Cain was about to nod, but then a sh of light coursed through his eyes. ''My brute power is covered with Blood Hand and Darkness Infusion, and my defenses could not be higher than with Biofusion Herculean Technique, but there was one aspect in which my current skill reached its limit, and I need something better if I want to keep improving.'' "Do you have a skill rted to speed?" Although Sonic Dash was fast, it had already lost its might for Cain''s current need. Sonic de Fusion Technique covered his cultivation needs wlessly and granted great foundation, but its battle skills were no longer helpful. Desmond could not help but smile as he heard that since, in his space ring, he had what Cain wanted. Still, he remained calm and thought for a long time before taking out an apple and a starry gem. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the apple. It was simr to the flower, but its power was much more potent, and he could feel his blood vibrating just from its presence. "There is a sacred tree in my family''s home called Sanguis Blood Tree. Before, I took grasses that grew around it, but this one is an authentic fruit. It is precious, and my mother granted it to me before my journey toward Gaia with the Crown Prince. It has immense healing powers for Wave Kings, but it can also be used as a cultivation treasure, having a very potent effect on Blood Rebirth." Cain did not doubt Desmond''s words since just one look was enough to tell him that the fruit was a treasure that even Wave Kings could only dream of. If he were to use it, pushing his Blood Rebirth to the peak of the Golden Stage would not beplicated. Of course, the fruit''s power was immense, and ingesting too fast could lead to problems, but Cain was ready to take his time with it. Although the fruit was what he needed, Cain maintained control, and his eyes turned to the starry gem. Desmond noticed, and only then did he exin the Saint Technique in it. "Its name is Blood Wings. The technique transmutes the user''s Blood Energy, creating ethereal wings that grant flight and immense power. The wings'' flutter corresponds to the user''s heartbeat, making them faster and more formidable with each pulsation. Although it is just a hypothesis, I believe it would integrate perfectly with your Asura Form. It has four levels, with the first meant for Wave Champions, the second for Wave Kings, and thest two for those at the Apotheosis Realm." Cain could not help but smile since the Blood Wings seemed to be truly perfect for him. It would integrate wlessly with Asura Form, pushing his speed to the next level. Cain considered things for a moment before softly nodding. "I agree to exchange my Asura Form with its Three Gears for the Blood Apple and your Blood Wings." Desmond was pleased with the transaction. Although Blood Wings was a powerful technique, it was not one of the secret techniques of the Titan Level of his family, so he could exchange them if he thought it to be correct. He waved his hand, signaling for Cain to take them, but this one did not. "We will need to wait a few hours since I cannot hand over a starry gem with Asura Form to you right now." Desmond was a little surprised, but an idea soon came to his mind. Cain might have to speak with his master to secure a starry gem. Engraving a Saint Technique in a starry gem required more than just learning enough of it to use in battle. You must have reachedplete mastery over it and understand its core principles. Desmond was smart enough not to put Cian in aplicated position with his master and simply nodded before standing up and storing the apple and starry gem. "No problem. Then I will speak to you in the morning to finish the deal." With those words, Desmond left the room and went to the residence granted to him by the Fourth Imperial Prince. He would remain there until the deal was done before returning with the Crown Prince. Although he had remained with the Fourth Imperial Prince for thetter part of the Imperial Feast, he would not be so rude as to ignore the Crown Prince. He had just stayed away since he could not tolerate the presence of the Third Imperial Prince. Cain saw the young man leave, and only once he was utterly alone did he take out an empty starry gem from his space ring. He did not have to ask anyone''s permission to pass down the Asura Form with its Three Gears since he made it, and no one knew it better than him. However, if people wanted to specte, he was more than happy to add mysticism to his background. As for the time asked to finish the deal, Cain needed a few hours to engrave the technique. After all, the information inscribed in the starry gem would be more than just words. He took a deep breath and put the gem on his forehead before sending his Ego Wave into it, slowly engraving the knowledge to practice Asura Form all the way to the Third Gear. It took him several hours, but Cain was finally done by the time the sun was rising in the sky. Desmond was very punctual and came to meet him. Not wanting to waste time, Cain handed the starry gem to Desmond, and he did the same with the apple and Blood Wings. Both of them smiled as they stretched their hands before the Bahamut left. Cain wanted to test the power of the fruit and the skill, but he had other business. Chapter 337 Fixing Slaughter (I) Cain left the castle of the Fourth Imperial Prince, and he was not alone since Krane apanied him. The middle-aged man might not have more information than us about Silver City, but Cain could always rely on him to answermon questions about the ces they would be visiting. As soon as Cain stepped out of the teleportation formation, he saw a young woman with short golden hair and green eyes waiting for him. The young woman was none other than Yordana, and she was not alone; behind her was an old woman in a ck suit. Although the old woman had wrinkles all over her face, her spine was still straight as an arrow, and vibrant power coursed through her veins. ''As expected from the daughter of the Prime Minister. She has an Apotheosis Realm Master by her side, and I am sure a Divine Ascension Cultivator must be ready to act in case of any danger.'' Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he stared at the old woman before turning toward Yordana and softly nodding. "A pleasure to meet you again." "Hahaha, there is no need to be so stiff. I hope there is no ill will about the small fight." Yordana showed a radiant smile as she approached Cain with a friendly aura. Cain showed a small smile as he heard her words and softly shook his head. "There is no ill will. I am grateful for your assistance. I am just not very experienced with the opposite sex, that is all." "Oh, is that right?" Yordana couldn''t help but be surprised by those words, and she began to look at Cain with wonder.@@novelbin@@ Cain had undergone wless marrow washing, and his looks had improved tremendously over thest few years. Even if that were not the case, his demeanor and fame would be enough to captivate the hearts of countless women. However, just because people would be attracted to him did not mean he would do something about it. He wanted to keep his distance and thought inexperience would be a good deterrent and exin his distant approach better than saying he was not interested. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire The old woman behind Yordana focused on Cain, but just as she did that, the eyes of Cain went cold as he stared at her, a bursting red light appearing in them. Yordana was surprised by the sudden burst of willpower and began to look between Cain and the old woman. "Did something happen?" Cain''s eyes soon returned to normal as he stared at Yordana and smiled before shaking his head. "Nothing wrong. Shall we go?" Yordana was a little confused and nced at the old woman, but since none offered an exnation, she could only nod and guide Cain and Krane into another teleportation formation. The old woman did not remain behind and followed the group, but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she nced at Cain. She had tried to probe the young man, but her invisible Ego Wave was discovered immediately. ''Such sharp instincts. No wonder Lord Prime Minister told me to keep an eye on his daughter. Being too close to the young man is not good since he dwells in dark waters.'' As a seasoned warrior, the old woman knew that those types of instincts and reactions could onlye from a seasoned assassin, and those types of people were too dangerous in the mind of the Prime Minister. He could not stop his daughter from fulfilling her promise of helping Cain fix the Natural Holy Weapon, but that was as far as he would allow their rtionship to go. The teleportation formation glowed, and in the next second, the group''s attention was immediately drawn to a massive pyramid in the distance. Like most structures in Eden, it was silver, andrge pirs made of strange and magnificent materials surrounding it. Above the entrance of that magnificent pyramid was the word CRAFTER. It was simple but projected powerful intent, and just gazing at it for too long would make those with weak minds imagine all sorts of armor and weapons filling the sky. Cain was surprised to see the ce Yordana brought him to. He initially thought they would visit a reclusive Wave Crafter, but he had no idea they woulde directly to the Crafting Association. Yordana smiled as she saw Cain''s expression and calmly walked forward. The other three did the same, and as soon as they approached the pyramid, the pirs around them began to glow, flooding the air they breathed with powerful and pure energy. Cain felt the energy and was surprised to realize it contained blood essence. He turned to the pirs with awe as he realized they could analyze the energies inside their bodies and unleash something specifically beneficial for them. "Amazing." Cain was genuinely impressed since the level of craft to do something like that was terrific. The pirs created a formation that was no less impressive than the one in Sundering Heaven Mountain. As he looked around, he saw people of all ages moving around the terrain. They seemed to enjoy the energy flooding the air, which allowed their energy pool to grow with little effort, enabling them to focus on their artifacts. All of them had silver robes covering their bodies, but they wore different types of armbands that seemed to depict their levels as Wave Crafters. Most of the people were young and had either bronze or silver armbands. It made sense that no one with golden armbands should be inside the pyramid where the energy should be even greater. Many people looked in their direction, but they mainly focused on Yordana. Cain was famous across the empire, but that was only among the great powers that witnessed the battle in Blood Sea. For everyone else, he was just a Wave Champion apanied by a Wave King. Cain didn''t care about people ignoring him and simply walked with Yordana until they finally reached the entrance. It was at that moment that two figures emerged from the ground. One of them resembled a massive metal snake, and the other a humanoid figure made of silver sma. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he felt the energy of the two puppets; they were stronger than Wave Kings. That realization made a strange smile appear on his face. ''Wave Kings are supposed to be powerhouses, but wherever I go, I find people with power above it; even the guards protecting this pyramid are stronger.'' Cain just shook his head as a sh of red light emerged from his eyes. Although he knew he was far from the peak, he had grown a littlecent with his strength since it was indeed formidable, above 99% of the poption. However, now he understood that Wave Kings were nothing special for true great powers. The two Apotheosis Realm Puppets nced at the four before their eyes focused on Yordana. "Yordana Manixet, Grandmaster Horteus is waiting for you. You and Colonel Laurifer are allowed to enter the Endless Pyramid, but yourpanions must remain outside so as not to interfere with the other Grandmasters." Yordana nodded, and she nced at the old woman behind her. "Granny Samantha, I will be going." The old woman nodded with a smile. She was not worried that something could happen to Yordana since she would bepletely safe once inside the pyramid. Cain only nced at Krane, and thetter nodded before stepping back. After that, Cain and Yordana crossed the gate into the tower and were immediately assaulted with a shocking sight. Yordana could control her reaction since it was not the first time she had visited the Endless Pyramid, but Cain''s eyes widened as he saw that the space inside the pyramid was genuinely massive. Looking at it from the outside, the Endless Pyramid seemed to have a base of less than one thousand meters, but the space inside was no smaller than a mountain range, with thousands of kilometers long and high. Such massive space was needed, considering the creations that Cain saw in mid-process. Some weapons resembled giant war tanks, and others were giant puppets that were not any less impressive than the ones built to guard the entrance to this ce. In the center of the floor was a massive pir of red and blue energy, one full of incredibly potent yang force and the other overflowing with yin energy. Large streams emerged from them, all going to the Wave Crafters, providing all the power they could need for their creations. ''The entire pyramid is a space treasure,pletely isted from the outside, and I am sure it had many more functions other than just supplying an endless stream of energy to the Wave Crafters.'' Yordana nced at Cain, and this one nodded as they walked to the stairs. None of them made a sound as they rose higher, ncing at the magnificent creations around them until they finally reached their destination. Chapter 338 Fixing Slaughter (II) Cain and Yordana moved through the start for nearly twenty minutes before finally reaching an open room where a five-meter-tall man was hammering a massive piece of metal. Despite his size, the proportion of his body made one think of a dwarf due to his bulky frame.@@novelbin@@ Yordana walked to the room''s threshold, quietly sat outside, not uttering a word, and remained silent. Cain saw that and did the same, not willing to disrupt the man''s work. Although he did not dare to use his Ego Wave to inspect Grandmaster Horan, nor did he use his [Scan Force Field] since the pyramid might pick it up, his eyes grew calm, and he triggered on The Flow. While The Flow allowed keen perception over the target, it depended on Cain alone and did not directly interfere with the body or energy movement of the target. Cain did not show it, but there was wonder in his mind as he saw the movements of the man''s hammer. While it might seem simple and crude, he was actually engraving extremelyplex magic matrices into the piece of metal, harnessing its power to the absolute limit. Hours carried on as Grandmaster Horteus kept striking the anvil, but Cain did not mind the wait as he was fascinated by the man''s technique. Although his talent in Wave Crafting was not great, nor did he intend to learn, he was still engrossed in the essence of those hammer strikes since they had the power to temper things, erasing the impurities inside them. After finishing that craft, Horteus did not raise his head from the anvil. Strange pieces of metal began to emerge from his space ring, and he began to arrange them, forming what seemed to be an extremelyplicated Rubik''s cube. "Tell me, do you prefer the swift precision of the wind or the relentless crush of the mountain?" Cain''s eyes narrowed as he heard Grandmaster Horteus ask that question. The man did not raise his eyes and kept working on the Rubik''s cube, but Cain did not take the question lightly. "I''d prefer the swift precision of the wind. Quick and untouchable." Cain always strived to have a body that could endure immense damage, which was why he was so d to have a technique like Biofusion Herculean Technique. Still, in all his fights, he always strived to strike with speed and precision that overpowered the enemy''s defenses. Grandmaster Horteus kept working as he carried on with his questions. "Mmm, agility and precision. A swift strike that decides the oue before the adversary realizes it. What about your approach to adversity? Do you face it head-on or maneuver around, looking for the optimal moment to strike?" Cain did not answer immediately since that was a tricky question for him. During military matters, he always took the lead, striking head-on the enemy in order to inspire his troops, but when facing enemies alone, he took the approach of an assassin. "It depends on my position and the type of battle I am facing. Yet, in my purest form, I will say I assess the situation, find the weak point, and when I strike, it is to end the enemy''s life." Grandmaster Horteus kept working on the Rubik''s cube, but a small smile appeared on his lips as he heard Cain''s answer. "A strategist... Interesting. Would you say you value subtlety and cunning over brute strength?" "I strive for brute strength, one that can inspire fear in my enemies, but I tend to face individuals who are always stronger than me in every sense of the word, yet I win by being smarter and willing to go even further than them." At that point, Grandmaster Horteus finished with the Rubik''s cube and finally raised his head, looking straight into Cain''s eyes. "What do you do when you are between a sword and a wall?" Cain stared straight into the man''s eyes as he answered the question. "I push away the sword and strive forward, destroying everything in my path." "What if the sword is stronger than you?" Silence reigned after Grandmaster Horteus posed that question, as Cain just stared into the man''s eyes. Yordana was by his side and could not help but frown. ''Isn''t the answer obvious? You just have to break the wall behind you.'' That thought had just crossed the young woman''s mind when she saw Cain''s eyes burst with red light. "If I strike, I cut. No matter the strength of my enemy''s sword, I will sunder everything in my path!" Yordana''s eyes widened as she heard that answer. The moment she realized the sword was stronger than her, she immediately chose the path of escape. There was nothing wrong with escaping and biding your time until your strength rose if you were able to keep a strong will, but what would happen when escape was not an option? "Good, now let''s see the might of your body and mind." Grandmaster Horteus threw the Rubik''s cube in front of Cain, and it immediately morphed into a two-meter-tall silver metal mantis. Cain''s eyes widened as he saw the Battle Puppet, and he immediately moved to the side as the mantis'' scythe came crashing down on him with a speed and strength that could have killed a normal Wave Champion. The Battle Puppet didn''t wait even a millisecond before shing after Cain again, this time aiming at his legs and neck at the same time. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire A sh of shock assaulted Cain''s heart as he saw that wless attack, but soon coldness emerged in his eyes as red light burst from them. He did not activate his Astral Wave since he knew this was a test and disrupting the energy flow of this ce would be a mistake. Immediately, his heartbeat burst with power, but he did not use the increased speed to pull back. On the contrary, he shed forward, using his entire body as a battering ram, striking the Battle Puppet''s chest. "?BOOM!" Cain''s body carried such momentum that it generated a st upon crashing against the Battle Puppet, not different from the one of a missile striking a building. Since his body was as hard as a Silver Wave Artifact, the strike would have crushed the bones of a standard Wave Champion. However, the Battle Puppet was pushed back less than ten meters before regaining control over its body and shing back into the fray. Cain and the Battle Puppet were in the thick of it, a blur of moves and countermoves, each trying to get the upper hand. It wasn''t fancy or mythic. It was raw and pure, a clear-cut fight where strategy and reflexes were key. Cain dodged swiftly, his body moving with precise calction as he avoided the sharp edges of the mantis'' scythes. He observed every movement, every swing of the puppet, searching for an opening, a weak spot where he couldnd a decisive blow. It was like a game of chess, each participant anticipating the other''s moves, looking for a way to outsmart and overpower the other. The puppet, with its silver armor gleaming, was no less adept. It adjusted its stance, its metal limbs moving with mechanical precision, adapting to Cain''s every move, matching his speed and agility. It was a dance of strategy and skill, a relentless exchange of blows and evasions. Cain was vignt, his senses heightened, his body ready to react at the slightest sign of an attack. His moves were sharp and deliberate, a series of kicks, punches, and dodges, each aimed to disrupt the puppet''s bnce and find an opportunity to strike. The puppet countered, its movements a seamless blend of attack and defense, its scythes slicing the air with razor-sharp precision. It was relentless, never giving Cain a moment''s respite, keeping him on his toes, forcing him to push his limits. Cain''s focus was unbroken, his eyes locked on his opponent, analyzing every move, every shift in weight, every flicker of metal. He was like a hawk, poised and ready, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down and seize his prey. Finally, after over one hundred blows, Cain found his opening as a kick on the Battle Puppet''s leg, making this one lose its bnce. Cain''s body began to move from one side to the other as powerful gales coursed around his chest. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" Yordana saw with shock and awe how Cain unleashed a barrage of punches over the Battle Puppet, each carrying such a powerful momentum that it seemed like dozens of booms were blowing up every second. "BOOOMMMM!" One final punch echoed across the pyramid as Cain sted the Battle Puppet''s head into the ground, breaking it to pieces. The next second, it morphed back into a cube and shed on its own toward Grandmaster Horteus'' hands. "Good. Your mind and body are keen and follow your instincts and will. Please, show me the weapon you want me to fix." Chapter 339 To the Genetic Coder Association Cain nodded to Grandmaster Horteus, and the next second, the pieces of ughter inside his heart emerged. Horteus did not waste his time, waving his hand to bring the pieces to himself and ncing at them. His Essence Wave concentrated in his retinas, but it was more than just enhancing his vision since it seemed as if his gaze could pierce into the core of the artifact. "The damage is significant, but it makes sense since it was used as the conduit for the power of a Titan like the Copsing Lightning Duke. Several of its magic matrices broke to pieces, rendering the overall formation useless." Cain and Yordana silently listened to the man analyze the pieces and did not dare to interfere. If they gave their opinion about the state of ughter, they would only be making clowns of themselves as they could notpare in expertise with a Grandmaster. "I can fix it, making it even stronger than before, but the price would equal a Peak tinum Tier Wave Artifact." Cain was happy with the first part, but upon hearing the cost, he could not help but feel shocked. ughter was a Holy Weapon, and since it was born of a Natural Inheritance, its power was equal to a tinum Tier Artifact. Still, it was an astronomical price. Cain''s wealth was not small, but the cost of a single tinum Tier Artifact would equal half of his worth. Luckily for Cain, he would not be the one paying for ughter''s repair. "It is fine. Please do your best, Grandmaster Horteus. Even if the price rises, it is not a problem. As usual, the military credits will be transferred to you as soon as the job is over." Clearly, what was expensive for Cain was not the same for Yordana. The title of Prime Minister had tremendous responsibility and a significant burden, but it was rewarded with immense power and wealth. "I do not have any other work right now, so I can start immediately. Come back in two months. Until then, use this to train." Grandmaster Horteus threw a starry gem from his space ring to Cain. "It uses the principles of vibration and sound to train your body. While it is limited to the Wave Champion Rank, its effectiveness is not less than the cultivation technique engraved in this weapon." Cain showed arge smile as he heard that. Without ughter, he would be unable to train his Sonic de Fusion Technique, but that would not be a problem with this new technique. It was fine if it was limited to the Wave Champion Rank since he would get back his Natural Holy Weapon before even preparing to enter the Late Stage. "I appreciate this." Although Cain would have no problem getting another cultivation technique, this saved him a lot of trouble. Grandmaster Horteus only nodded before waving his hand, signaling the duo to leave. Cain and Yordana stood up, bowed to the man, and silently left the Endless Pyramid. Krane and the old Apotheosis Realm Master were waiting for the duo outside, taking advantage of the energy that flooded the air. "Let''s go." Cain spoke to Krane, and the duo calmly returned to the teleportation formation with Yordana and Samantha. It did not take long for the four to leave the terrain of the Wave Crafter Association, and they appeared in the central za. Cain was about to say goodbye to Yordana, but she was faster. Would you like to use this opportunity to visit the Gic Coder Association? I am sure the Fourth Prince will provide you with the best equipment for the Gic Coder Tournament that will happen in a month, but someone like you would prefer to get it on his own." Yordana showed a radiant smile as she uttered those words, and there was a meaningful light in her eyes. Cain stared at the woman and could not help but silently nod to her skills. She was not only talented in the cultivation path, but her mind was extremely keen on matters of politics and influence. ''The apple doesn''t fall far from the tree.'' Cain did not know much about the current Prime Minister, but anyone who achieved that position must have outsmarted countless other opponents. Sometimes, winning a battle with your brain instead of your muscles was much more impressive. "I will follow you." Yordana smiled as she heard that answer, but the expression of the old woman behind her was not so happy. However, in the end, Samantha could only sigh and ept that she could not control the young woman''s interests. The group returned to the teleportation formation and took the one that would bring them to the Gic Coder Association''s domains. After a blinding light, the group was received with a view that was no less impressive than the one from the Wave Crafter Association''s metallic pirs. Strange trees covered the area, all hundreds of meters in height, but that was not the important part. They were not just made of wood since they had biological and mechanicalponents, making them monstrosities to most people''s eyes.@@novelbin@@ "Wonderful." However, for Cain, they were gorgeous. Whoever created those trees was able to modify their gic structure to enhance them with biological and mechanicalponents. Cain''s eyes glowed with red light as he saw the trees devouring the carbon dioxide in the air along with the Life Wave before releasing a colorless substance that entered people''s lungs. He took a deep breath, allowing the energy to flood his body, and was shocked to feel how it enhanced his cells and energy pool! Cain''s body had a vitality that surpassed some Wave Kings, and the amount of energy needed to improve it in the slightest was immense, but those trees could do it without a problem. By any sense of the words, they were a marvel of gic engineering. The effect this energy would have on people''s bodies and energy pools was not any less impressive than the one generated by the pirs of the Wave Crafter Association. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire While he was impressed by the structures in the Wave Crafter Association, Cain did not take that path, so that was the end of it. But he was a Gic Coder and was very interested in pushing that path all the way to the peak. As he saw the level of gic engineering in the trees, he felt his blood burning with excitement and curiosity. If no one were looking, Cain would have difficulty resisting the temptation to dissect those trees and study their gic structure. Despite the magnificence of those trees, they were nothingpared to the structure at the core of the Gic Coding Association''s domain. Arge smile appeared on his face as he looked ahead, gazing at the headquarters of the Gic Coder Association. Unlike the pyramid he saw in the Wave Crafter Association, this one was a massive metallic square floating a substantial distance above the ground. It did not have the majesty of the Endless Pyramid, but Cain could not help but smile since the form of the cube was the perfect embodiment of the mentality of Gic Coders. There was no need to worry about aesthetics since efficiency was all that mattered in the end. Yordana led the way, and the group headed to the formation beneath the massive square. They immediately drew the attention of young people in dark robes and armbands that stayed inside the forest. They were young, but there were thousands of Elementary Gic Coders, and the number of Grand Gic Coders could be counted in the hundreds. Grand Gic Coders could inspire the same respect that a Wave Kings in most Sectors, but they were nothing special in a ce like this. Entering the headquarters was prohibited for anyone beneath the Pseudo Saint Gic Coder level. Just as Cain and the others reached the teleportation formation that led into the cube, two figures emerged from the ground. One was a massive humanoid tree, while the other was a three-headed wolf. Cain could not help but clench his fist as he saw those two beasts. They were Living Battle Puppets, gically engineered beasts whose minds had been reced with livingputers simr to an A.I. Chip. "Yordana Manixet, you have no prior appointments and are not authorized to enter the Gic Evolution Cube." The Living Battle Puppets spoke with a robotic voice. Clearly, this one would not allow her to pass just due to her status. Yordana did not lose herposure and simply took a card from her space ring. The Trent focused on it, and the next second it nodded. "Visit Card recognized. You and your group can pass." Cain stared at the card and was surprised at how simple it was. However, he understood that getting one would not be easy, and most likely, its use was limited. The four did not waste time and went into the teleportation formation, leaving the forest and teleporting into the cube. Chapter 340 Genetic Trial (I) As soon as he appeared inside the Gic Evolution Cube, Cain''s eyes widened as he saw all sorts of devices, techniques, and innovations that filled him with awe and wonder. Like the Endless Pyramid, the Gic Evolution Cube was full of open rooms on the periphery. At the same time, the center housed a giant pir of energy that served as the power source for all the experiments going on in this ce. There were several levels, with the first one resembling a massive shop featuring all sorts of Wave Viruses, forms, and devices for Gic Coding. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire "I am not a Gic Coder, so I do not dare to assume your requirements, but if you tell me what you need first, I can guide you." Yordana did not attempt to guide Cain''s movements since, while she had the means to enter this ce, that did not mean she could figure out the type of material this one would require. "Then I thank you in advance. First, I need a new Gic Chamber." A Gic Chamber is where a Gic Coder would deposit the raw material to form Vectors and Gic Chains. Cain needed a new one since the one he currently had could only properly maneuver Grand Gic Coder''sponents. "I see, then follow me." Yordana knew where they had to go, and soon they reached a ce with all sorts of devices. It was full of gic chambers; some were more than good enough for Saint Gic Coders. Cain''s insights were good enough to discern the type of Gic Chamber that could cover his necessities, but his eyes could not help but focus on the giant tubes on the back. They resembled Recovery Capsules, but while they had ss, the rest of theirponents were purely biological. "What are those?" Cain''s knowledge about Gic Coding was equal to a Saint Gic Coder and included a lot of obscure and illegal knowledge obtained from Morgana, the Pseudo Saint Gic Coder from The Association. Yet, this was the first time he had seen this type of Gic Chambers. Yordana''s knowledge about Gic Coding was lesser than Cain''s, so she did not have an answer, nor did Krane or Samantha. Luckily, the old man in charge of the Gic Chambers was able to answer their doubts. "These are Bio Gic Chambers. They are not originally from the Godyer Humankind but pieces of technology stolen from the Legio Eldritch Race. They allow you to bypass Vectors and Gic Chains, directly acting over the individual''s genome." Although those words did not have an effect on Yordana, Krane, or Samantha, they widened Cain''s eyes. A Gic Chamber that allowed you to modify an individual''s genome directly was nothing short of extraordinary. It would permit the level of modifications that one could perform to be much higher. For example, Cain currently could build 1-Star Saint Wave Viruses. Still, if he could directly act over an individual''s genome, the gic modification he could do would not be less than that of a 4-Star Gic Coder. Of course, there were drawbacks. Humans use Wave Viruses for gic modification to act over specific cells and proteins so as to not randomly affect an individual''s genome, causing all sorts of wild and dangerous mutations. Using a Bio Gic Chamber would put the life form in extreme danger due to the many problems that could arise, leading to devastating gic damage. That was not a problem for the Legio Eldritch Race since they most likely used it to enhance their drones, but it was different if you used it in a sentient life form. "How much for one of them?" Cain''s eyes burned with excitement and desire as that Bio Gic Chamber would work perfectly in his hands. Even if it was extremely expensive, he was willing to spend as much money as needed. "Hmph, a neophyte should focus on establishing his foundations, not go around testing equipment that is meant for true Grandmasters."@@novelbin@@ However, before the old man could answer Cain''s question, a booming voice emerged from one of the upper levels in the cube. A cold light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he nced at the voice''s origin and saw a thin middle-aged man with short azure hair and sky-blue eyes looking at him. The middle-aged man did not bother to hide his disdain for Cain as he looked at this one as if it were a clown looking for a new toy. Cain had never met that person, but his eyes narrowed as he saw the azure hair and sky-blue eyes. ''Lord, that is Sman Azure, member of the Azure Royal Family. Do not let his appearance fool you. He is a famous Saint Gic Coder over two thousand years old.'' Krane''s voice echoed inside Cain''s mind, and his eyes immediately narrowed. The lifespan of a Wave King was approximately 1000 to 2500 years old, so it was not odd for Sman to be alive, but his appearance was too youthful. While there were ways to fake that, it was clear by his vibrant vitality that he was far from the twilight of his life, so he must have improved his life force through Gic Coding. ''Dangerous.'' Being old did not mean you were honorable or worthy of respect, but it did mean you had experienced many things, making you a threat. Cain did not bother with the Sman and turned back to the old man so he could get a price for the Bio Gic Chamber. "Hmph! I already told you that a boy can not handle adults'' tools. You are not allowed to buy a Bio Gic Chamber." Cain''s eyes grew colder as he heard Sman''s words. Before, the man was just insulting him, but now, this one wanted to stop him. Yordana also frowned at the middle-aged man''s rude behavior, but she remained silent. Being the daughter of the Prime Minister had many benefits, but she also had obligations, and she needed a proper reason to antagonize the Azure Royal Family. Cain saw Yordana''s attitude but did not care about the woman. What really bothered him was the old man in charge of the gic chambers took a step back. Sman was a big shot in the Gic Coder Association, and there was no way someone would antagonize him to gain an unknown person''s favor. Instead of just making a fool of himself, Cain was ready to turn around and leave this ce. He still wanted the Bio Gic Chamber but would have to use the contacts of the Fourth Imperial Prince to get it. Sman showed a nasty smile as he saw Cain about to leave, but then another voice echoed across the Gic Evolution Cube. "While one of the jobs of the Gic Coder Association is to prevent the misuse of gic knowledge, since when did we deter people from pursuing new paths?" The one speaking was a middle-aged man with short ck hair and silver pupils. It was someone Cain already knew. "Marlon White, what do you think you are doing going against my word?" Sman was full of rage as he saw how Marlon dared to mess with his fun. However, while Sman was a big shot, Marlon''s status in the Gic Coder Association was even more impressive. "Since when do I have to ask for the permission of a corpse to speak?" Marlon did not hide his disdain for Sman and did not bother to hear the rebuke of this one as he turned toward Cain. "Colonel Laurifer, if you want to buy a Bio Gic Chamber, you are free to do it since your military ranks allow you to possess that type of technology. However, you are not a member of the Gic Coder Association, so the price for even the most basic Bio Gic Chamber is ten million military credits." Cain''s face showed nothing, but his eyes burst with red light as he did all he could to contain his shock upon hearing that number. Ten million military credits was an immense amount of wealth. It was even more expensive than what Grandmaster Horteus was charging for fixing ughter. Marlon was surprised to see theposure in Cain''s face, but he was sure that the amount was a lot for the young man. He was not lying or ying tricks since the price for Bio Gic Chamber or any other type of unique technology sold by the Gic Coder Association to non-members was ten times the normal price. What the Gic Coder Association charged in those cases was not the price of the artifact but the investigation behind it. Anyone could get it, but they better have deep pockets if they were not part of the association. "With your abilities, it would not be hard to be a member of the association. I am willing to be your sponsor." Morlon spoke for the third time, drawing the attention of everybody in the cube. The rest of the Grandmasters did not bother with it at first since they took it as a simple sh between Marlon and Sman, but now all eyes turned to Cain, wondering the young man''s identity. Chapter 341 Genetic Trial (II) Cain felt the eyes of the Saint Gic Coders on him, but he showed no reaction, maintaining aposed expression as he nced back at Marlon. While joining the Gic Coder Association would bring all sorts of benefits, and he was sure his talent would be more than enough to excel, he had significant reservations about it. Firstly, joining any organization would prompt it to investigate his past, and all sorts of problems could arise from that, beginning with how he reached such a high level in Gic Coding without any master''s guidance. If he were to reveal the events in Saharo City, that would open another Pandora''s box with The Organization, and he was not willing to do that. Not to mention, they would surely want him to focus more on his Gic Coding than his cultivation. While it was important for Cain, and he did not take it lightly at all, Gic Coding was just a means to an end, and in his mind, what truly mattered was brute power, one that only cultivation could grant. Silence reigned in the cube as people watched Cain, waiting for his answer. "Is there a third choice?" Marlon showed a small smile as he heard that answer, knowing that Cain would not want to join the association. "Yes, there is. We have something called the Gic Trial. You can pay one million military credits to participate. If you seed, you will get a Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber, the type that is even useful for the genome of Apotheosis Realm Masters."@@novelbin@@ Cain was just testing his luck, but it seemed there was a way to get a top-tier Bio Gic Chamber, which would cost him just one million military credits. However, by how the other Grandmasters looked at him, it was clear they did not expect him to seed, so whatever that Gic Trial was, it must be extremely difficult. "What does the Gic Trial involve?" Marlon nodded as he heard that question, seeing that Cain did not lose focus due to the reward. "If you and your friends coulde to this level, I could exin better." There was no reason for Cain, Yordana, Krane, and Samantha to refuse, so they rose to the higher level where Marlon was. Cain noticed the poisonous gaze given by Sman, but he just stared back at the middle-aged man with pure killing intent. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire Since the other party was willing to antagonize him, Cain would not contain himself and would respond with even more ferocity. Make yourself so dangerous that the mere idea of being your enemy would inspire dread in people''s hearts. That was Cain''s philosophy, one that would deter anyone from offending him. While he had not realized it yet, that was the mentality of a ruler, not a hero. Everything was so gradual that he had not realized it, but his ego was slowly growing like a sun above everything. Once they reached Marlon''s room, Cain couldn''t help but be impressed by the sophisticated equipment, impressive Wave Viruses, and life forms growing in different types of Gic Chambers. There was even a Bio Gic Chamber among his devices. "Lady Yordana, Colonel." Marlon saluted the duo again now that they stood before him, and Cain and Yordana did the same, replying to the man''s politeness and etiquette. "Please, apany me." Marlon guided the group to the level''s midpoint, where arge Bio Gic Chamber stood above arge podium. This one was several levels above the ones sold on the first floor, and there was a massive eye in the center of it. "This is Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, a living artifact with a mind of its own. It was taken by the Patriarch of the White Family thousands of years ago. While powerful, it was unruly and only epted orders from members of the Legio Eldritch Race, so we were forced to lobotomize it." Cain''s eyes couldn''t help but narrow as he focused on the Bio Gic Chamber. He knew there were several types of Drones among the poption of the Legio Eldritch Race, and this Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber must have been one of them. As for the knowledge imparted in ss about all Dronescking sentience, that might have been an error or purposefully taught that way to make it easy for soldiers to kill them. Cain did not care either way. They were at war, and there were very few things he would not be willing to do to secure the survival of his race. Marlon allowed Cain to analyze the Bio Gic Chamber momentarily before continuing. "The Gic Trial is pretty simple. The Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber has a record of all previous recipes used on it. You can fuse your Ego Wave into the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, ess the record, and recreate one of the experiments. If you seed, that Gic Form will be unlocked for all, and you will gain a Tier One Bio Gic Chamber." Saint Gic Wave Viruses Forms were not different from Saint Techniques, with their knowledge so immense that just gazing at it was far from enough to truly learn it. That was why it was so important to unlock them. Yordana was shocked to hear that, and her eyes widened. The Gic Trial was incredible in her mind since she was sure the Gic Form stored inside must be extraordinarily precious, and just gazing at them must be more than worth one million military credits. "How many attempts do I have before being locked out of the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber?" Unlike Yordana, who was too amazed by the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, Cain immediately figured out the problem with such a magnificent artifact. If there were no limits, he was sure that the Grandmaster Gic Coders of the association would have long ago unlocked all the recipes inside it. However, that was not the case, and they even allowed total strangers to ess it, making it clear that they needed as many people as possible acting over the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber. The rest of the Grandmasters focused on Cain, nodding as they observed the young man''s behavior. A Gic Coder alters the fundamental blocks of life, and for that, one must have a clear head and always look at the bigger picture, analyzing all factors, even the hidden ones. Marlon was pleased as he saw the calmness in Cain''s eyes, but he kept a stern face. "You have three attempts. After that, the lobotomized Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber will adapt to your Ego Wave and lock you out." Cain stared at the artifact for a long time before approaching the Tier Zero Gic Chamber and taking a deep breath. He stood like that for nearly twenty minutes, but no one dared to interrupt him. Even Sman did not dare to disrupt Cain since the Tier Zero Gic Chamber was a sacred artifact for the Gic Coding Association, and anyone who interfered in the Gic Trial in any way would face dire consequences. ''Hmph, stupid brat. There is no way a meremoner could unlock a recipe from that thing.'' Cain''s mind peaked, and he opened his eyes, bursting with his Ego Wave as hemunicated with Apex. ''Apex, make sure the full power of the [A.I. Chip Module] is on the task, as are the [Gic Coder Module]''s scanning abilities. I will not use [Gic Suppression] to fix ws, but I want to know the type of effect it would have, so I need the information.'' ''Consider it done. I will pause all side tasks and focus the full power of the Absolute Life Form System on it.'' Apex could feel the solemn aura in Cain''s soul and did not take the task lightly. Although for him, this was nothing more than child''s y, it was a fundamental step in Cain''s path to the peak of Gic Coding. Once everything was done, Cain paid the one million military credits to the Gic Coding Association through the military interface. He was ready to use the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber. Cain sent his Ego Wave into the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, and immediately, a plethora of information appeared in his mind. He saw a vast space with hundreds, if not thousands, of light dots; as he focused on them, he could see small descriptions of unique Gic Forms. Some were soplicated that just listing theponents surpassed Cain''s abilities, and even the easiest ones were hard. Cain was not so full of himself as to try the Gic Recipes that were meant to alter the genome of a Divine Ascendance Realm Master and focused on those that were at his current level. Many of them caught his attention, but suddenly, a sh of shock appeared on his face since he saw a Gic Recipe he already knew because he made it and even gave it its name. ''The Avernus Lineage Wave Virus!?'' Chapter 342 Genetic Trial (III) Cain was shocked that his Avernus Lineage Wave Virus was among the forms inside the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber. Of course, the one engraved in this ce was of a much higher level than the one Cain created, but that was not the critical part. The Avernus Lineage Wave Virus was something he obtained from analyzing the illegal human experiments that The Organization conducted to discover an ancient Lineage. Still, he had never expected the bloodline to be traced back to the Dark Races. Cain already understood that The Organization''s influence covered every corner of the empire, including the Silver City. Yet, he was shocked to realize it might also reach into the Dark Races'' domains. Although the information was shocking, to say the least, Cain''s eyes soon regained their focus. This trial was by no means easy, and if he wanted to seed, he needed to keep his mind sharp. ''There is timeter to figure out the secrets behind it. Now, I need to put my mind solely on this task.''@@novelbin@@ Cain marked the Avernus Lineage Wave Virus and focused on other forms until he finally found one that sparked meaningful light in his eyes. After some consideration, he decided and marked it, pushing his mind into the form and obtaining full knowledge. "Manticore Blood, Elder Tree Roots, One Thousand Year Ginseng...." Cain began to mention names, and all sorts of liquids with microorganisms filled the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber. Those were the materials needed to process the enzymes and alter the DNA. All of them were expensive, but that cost was covered with the million military credits that Cain already paid. While those materials had little meaning for Yordana, Krane, and Samantha, the Grandmaster Gic Coders realized just howplicated the Saint Gic Form that Cain wanted to recreate was. Marlon remained silent, but his eyes narrowed as he saw Cain''s choice. ''Even I would have some difficultypleting that evolution, and I am nearing the 4-Star Saint Gic Coder. I doubt this young man could do it, but it is fine. Upon realizing the difficulty, he would pick a new one. Drawbacks are good.'' Although Marlon did not believe Cain would be able to seed, he did not say a word, nor did he influence this one''s choice in any way. The path to sess was full of failure, and there was nothing wrong with it. Once all the materials were deposited in the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, a robotic arm deposited a small beast inside. It was a King Beast, but it was clearly lobotomized by theck of mental waves, making it the perfect test subject. Thanks to Cain''s Ego Wave being fused with the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, he could see the King Beast''s genome in his mind, and without any hesitation, he began to act. The first part was finding the correct set of genes he wanted to change. Considering there were trillions of them, it was not easy. Luckily, not only did the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber help him in that task, but his instincts guided him to the correct destinations. After that, Cain would have to personally alter the gic sequence in perfect order while guiding the change in proteins and enzymes, leading to new cells that would then adjust the organs and so on. It was soplex that even the Old World''s quantumputers could not seed, but Cain''s mind worked even faster than them in this aspect. After all, his soul force was already nearing the level of a Wave King, and he could use his Ego Wave to exponentially enhance his mental capabilities. Cain was pushing his mind to the absolute limits, instantly triggering an intense fever, but it was nothing to worry about due to his immense vitality, so he just ignored it and continued. More and more gic changes urred on the King Beast, but it took less than five minutes before the first problem in the gic sequence appeared. The gic changes in the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber were clear to the Grandmasters through their A.I. Chips, but none of them said a word about Cain''s mistake since they were surprised. The fact it took him this long to make the first mistake was impressive; clearly, his abilities were that of a Saint Gic Coder. Cain was only seventeen, so that type of talent was nothing short of amazing. Still, that did not erase the fact that the Saint Gic Evolution was simply tooplex, and since he made a mistake so early in the evolution, the chances he couldplete it were near zero. Cain understood the task''s difficulty and knew just how hardpleting the Saint Gic Form would be, but the sole purpose of the first trial was to gather information, so he stayed focused and continued. The hours carried on, and changes appeared on the King Beast. It initially resembled a massive Bear with metallic fur, but slowly, its hair was reced by what seemed to be a tree''s bark. Along with that bark was an immense burst in the King Beast''s vitality. Unfortunately, there were not only beneficial changes happening, as parts of the beast mutated in corrupted and disgusting ways, as if tumors were growing inside. While the King Beast seemed fine due to its vibrant life force, the gic ws in its genome were nearing a catastrophic point, and once that was reached, there would be multiple organ failures, leading to death. Cain was aware of this and knew the beast''s genome could only endure a little more. It was at that point that he decided to try something. He took a deep breath and triggered The Flow! Diving his mental faculties into such aplex task could lead to fatality, but Cain did not care. It was just time before the King Beast perished, and since that was the case, he wanted to try it. The Flow was the ability to perceive the vibrations of all things, allowing Cain to gaze into the enemy''s body, predicting every possible move this one could make. He wanted to know if it could help him predict the gic changes that an alteration in the genome sequence could do. Although The Flow had an incredibly effective way of predicting an opponent''s actions by reading the movements of their tendons, muscles, and the impulses of their nerves, Cain did not think it would be of much use when it came to genes. However, he was immediately shocked by the change in his perception. The Flow did not just show him the vibrations and alterations of the genome but even guided his hands, pushing his instincts to the next level. All Grandmasters were sure that the trial would end soon, but shock appeared in their eyes as they saw how Cain''s speed improved, and the percentage of ws was reduced by over 75%! Other than shock, there was confusion in Marlon and every other Grandmaster since they noticed nothing different in Cain, yet suddenly, his skills improved exponentially. Those abilities neared the 3-Star Saint Gic Coder level! People could barely believe what they were seeing since a seventeen-year-old boy could not have that skill. It was more than just a matter of talent; his insights were simply too amazing! Yet, despite the fantastic performance Cain disyed upon using The Flow, there were too many ws in the King Beast''s genome, and thirty minutester, its heart stopped, and the creature perished. A robotic w took the beast out while emptying the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, but other than that, there was no sound in the cube. Everybody looked at Cain with shock and awe. Even Sman, who was full of disdain for Cain due to hismoner background, did not dare to berate this one for that failure since he would not have done much better. Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire Cain did not show anything as everybody looked at him with awe, not due to his sobriety or arrogance, but because his mind focused solely on the previous experience. The fusion of his mind with the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber pushed his skill to the next level. Every moment he spent manipting the King Beast''s genome, trying to replicate the form, was extremely useful, allowing his abilities to advance by leaps and bounds. Not bothered with anything else, he closed his eyes and focused, integrating everything he learned and the knowledge gathered by the Absolute Life Form System. He stood like that for three hours, allowing his mind to wander in those insights. Cain had no way to confirm it, but he was sure that if he were to categorize his current Gic Coding skills, he would at least be able to earn the ssification of a 2-Star Saint Gic Coder. A smile of satisfaction appeared on his face as he finally integrated all the new knowledge gained in the trial before allowing his mind to rest. Chapter 344 True Avernus Lineage (I) Marlon was a little surprised by the question, but while he felt there was something more about Cain''s inquiry than what he was revealing, there was indeed no problem with him using the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber a third time. "You can use it, but I advise you to wait. You shoulde back when your Gic Coding Abilities have reached the Grandmaster level; that way, the type of form you will unlock might be of Divine Rank." All the Grandmasters that heard that slowly nodded since Marlon''s words made perfect sense. Cain was a supreme talent by every measure, and in just a few years, he might be a Grandmaster and unlock one of the top-tier forms stored inside the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber.@@novelbin@@ Since he already obtained the reward and significantly improved his ally''s battle power, there was nothing wrong with waiting. After all, there was no new reward for unlocking a second Gic Form. Cain nced at Marlon and softly shook his head. "I appreciate your advice, but I will use it now." Marlon could only sigh and nod as he heard Cain''s words. Many of the Grandmasters shook their heads, thinking Cain was being too rash and wasting away hisst chance. Of course, there were also some, such as Sman, who only disyed nasty smiles and silently looked down on Cain. ''Hmph, stupid brat. What''s the point of being so talented if you can''t control your drive? That mentality will never allow you to reach the peak.'' Sman thought to himself as he focused on Cain with coldness. There was already significant enmity between his family and the young man, and since thetter was so talented, Sman was more than happy to see this one making foolish mistakes. Cain could feel the intent behind the eyes of everyone in the cube but didn''t care. The Gic Form he was about to recreate was several times harder than the one that gave Krane his Lineage, so his mind had to be in peak condition, and he could not lose focus. He consolidated the new knowledge and insights, pushing his Gic Coding abilities to the next level before resting for a few hours. Finally, he shouted out the name of the material. "Darkness Mountain Heart, Silent Web, Shadow Moon Core..." Marlon and the rest of the Grandmasters were shocked as they heard the materials that Cain was asking for since they were of an extremely high level. A Gic Form of that tier could morph the genome of a Peak Apotheosis Realm Master. Even though the Gic Form that Cain would recreate didn''t seem to reach the Divine Rank, it wasn''t far from it either. However, their shock turned toplete stupefaction when they saw Cain remove his robe and jump into the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber! "What are you doing!?" Marlon shouted as he saw Cain jumping into the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber. The young man was actually nning to alter his own genome! Cain''s face was calm as he turned towards Marlon andmunicated using his Ego Wave. "I am free to choose whatever test subject I want for my trial, and I chose myself." Cain didn''t wait until his skills reached a higher level because he had a perfect use for the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber right now, and that was to evolve his Avernus Lineage into its purest form. If he were to wait to be a Wave King, the effect of such evolution on his Lineage would be minimal. "The dangers are too high. The level of that form is too much even for a 4-Star Saint Gic Master." "I know, but I will be able to do it." Cain''s eyes glowed with red light, and they had nothing but absolute confidence. Not only did he have the system to suppress the gic ws, but he also had a downgraded version of the True Avernus Gic Form, so the number of gic modifications to his genome would be much lower. Marlon saw the determination in Cain''s eyes, but he couldn''t allow such a promising youth to waste away his life like that. He had a favorable impression of the young man from the moment they met. Despite being part of an ancient and respected lineage and among the highest-ranking nobles of the empire, the White Family had always held in the highest esteem those who sided with the military. Marlon had antagonized Cain during the feast to rally him so they could face each other without holding back during the Gic Tournament in a month. He never wanted to generate genuine animosity between them, but now he would have to. Although Marlon knew that someone like Cain might not take this kind of intervention well, it was a price he was willing to pay. "I am sorry, but this trial must..." "Let the trial carry on!" Before Marlon could finish his words, a booming voice emerged from the ceiling of the Gic Evolution Cube. Everyone looked up to see a thin, bald old man in a white robe calmly descending from above. Despite his thin body and old appearance, a bursting life force ran through his veins, and a bloodline force made those with a weak Lineage tremble. "Father!" Marlon eximed, surprised to see his father appear. Sn White was one of the few Divine Gic Coders in the empire, and he typically spent his days engrossed in his experiments, rarely paying attention to anything else. There were times he would spend years, if not entire decades, isted in hisboratory. That was why Marlon was so taken aback to see him appear for a mere Gic Trial. Sn nodded to his son before turning to Cain, and his expression grew sharp as he saw the bursting red light in the eyes of the young man. "Go on. Let''s see how far the drive of youthfulness can take you." Cain met the man''s blue eyes and nodded, blocking out everything else to focus solely on the task ahead. ''System, how much Destiny Force do I have?'' Before proceeding with his gic evolution, Cain reviewed the calctions since they would y a crucial role in this evolution. Despite the help of The Flow, many gic ws were bound to ur, and he would need the help of the [Gic Coder Module] to address them. The Absolute Life Form System immediately answered Cain''s query. [Destiny Force: 245,870] Before his journey into the Blood Sea, Cain had fewer than twenty thousand points, but over the past year, he had battled Titans and influenced a civil war that could have changed the destiny of an entire sector. Hence, his surge in Destiny Force wasn''t surprising. However, he didn''t growcent. While it was true his current Destiny Force measured in the hundreds of thousands, the amount the Absolute Life Form System consumed when involved in tasks rted to energy levels above the Wave King Rank was astronomical. ''System, how much did I spend fixing the ws during Krane''s gic evolution?'' [91,289 points of Destiny Force were spent] Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire Cain had to burn over ny thousand points to avert critical gic ws in Krane''s genome, and the True Avernus Gic Form was more advanced. If Cain had been the target, the cost would''ve been around thirty thousand since using the [Gic Coder Module] on someone other than the Vessel costs three times more. ''ording to the [A.I. Chip Module] calctions, how much will it cost to prevent serious gic ws during this evolution?'' [ording to data analyzed by the A.I. Chip Module, the Destiny Force needed will be between 140,000 to 200,000 points.] Cain silently sighed when he saw that substantial figure. Two hundred thousand points of Destiny Force was an insane amount, and it was not like a civil war would happen every day. However, his eyes showed no hesitation as he set to work. His Ego Wave merged with the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber, and he began his task, analyzing his genes and initiating the alteration. The Gic Evolution Cube was enveloped in silence as everyone intently watched Cain use the Gic Form to modify his genome and awaken a bloodline. Destiny Force was burned by the second, but Cain did not even bother to track the amount as there was nothing else in his mind but the changes to his genome. Cain''s mind was in a state of absolute focus as he altered his genome one gene at a time, steadily pushing it to align with the True Avernus Gic Form. Gic ws arose asionally, some incredibly dangerous, but the [Gic Coder Module] suppressed them every time they appeared. No one knew these ws thanks to the [A.I. Chip Module]. The only thing the Grandmasters and everyone else observed was Cain wlessly recreating a Gic Form that was tooplex for even a 4-Star Saint Gic Coder! A seventeen-year-old boy capable of performing the same type of gic modification as a 4-Star Saint Gic Coder. That was something so incredible that it was worthy of being a legend! Chapter 345 True Avernus Lineage (II) Sn''s eyes couldn''t leave the Tier Zero Gic Chamber as he analyzed the changes in Cain''s genome, which were genuinely shocking. The young man disyed a talent that surpassed everything he had seen in his life. To be fair, Cain''s inherent talent wasn''t anywhere near the level he was currently exhibiting. However, with the aid of the [Gic Coder Module], he was at a level unparalleled in the empire among the young generation. Some mightbel it as cheating, but such a viewpoint would be overly simplistic. First and foremost, Cain expended a tremendous amount of Destiny Force for the module to operate, a force he had earned through hard work. Furthermore, the system was an intrinsic part of his soul. It was no different from a young man from the Old World acing a test due to abination of intelligence and the enhanced focus from caffeine and other not-so-legal substances. As Cain modified his genome, intense pain assailed him. Nevertheless, his willpower was sufficiently robust to suppress it, ensuring it didn''t impede him. His movements and gic modifications only became faster and smoother. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Suddenly, after four excruciating hours of work, Cain''s eyes opened, and they began to glow, the red light in them bursting forth. This sudden urrence surprised and baffled many. However, there were individuals like Sn who perfectly grasped the situation. "The young man''s mind has entered a state of enlightenment. He''s attained a profound understanding of the human genome, allowing his brain to operate several times faster by consuming his Ego Wave in the process. This state is temporary, but upon awakening, his talent in Gic Coding will be even more formidable." Marlon and the other Grandmasters gazed at Cain in sheer awe and amazement. Cain''s talent was already divine, but it escted before their eyes. The young man was simply astonishing! For over thirty minutes, Cain''s proficiency amplified exponentially. However, his bursting Ego Wave began to wane. Sn saw the red light weakening but was not surprised. After all, Cain''s willpower was on par with a Late Wave Champion. The fact that he maintained his state of enlightenment for this duration was already impressive. ''Soon, his mind will revert to its usual state. It''s endured long enough for him toplete the Gic Form.@@novelbin@@ However, it''s unfortunate he couldn''t sustain it longer. There might have been a possibility that, in this enlightened state, he could''ve achieved an evolution even more potent than the form described.'' As these thoughts crossed Sn''s mind, a golden humanoid deep within Cain''s soul noted the Sun Seed''s diminishing force. Apex''s eyes narrowed as he examined the orb before him, cloaked in dark purple mes and ck-white lightning. It contained the condensed soul force of the Astral Blood Beast that had once tried to exploit Cain''s soul for its rebirth. A stream of sky-blue energy emerged from the orb, gently merging with Cain''s soul. The primary reason for Cain''s expertise with blood-rted abilities was Apex nourishing his soul with that of the Astral Blood Beast! While using someone else''s soul for nourishment was highly efficient, consuming the soul of another being was perilous. If even the tiniest fragment of ego remained, it could cause extensive psychological damage. The challengey in the intricate rtionship between the soul, ego, and will. Purging thetter would invariably damage the former. Yet, Apex utilized the unique powers of the dark purple mes and ck-white lightning to circumvent this issue. Apex observed the Sun Seed momentarily before redirecting the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core energy into it. This rejuvenated Cain''s Ego Wave, allowing his enlightenment to persist. From an external perspective, everybody only noticed Cain''s Ego Wave suddenly bursting with energy, extending his enlightenment. The spectacle left Sn bbergasted, as he failed toprehend how the Ego Wave could continue supporting the enlightenment state. He viewed Cain as though he was beholding a monster. For Cain, after entering enlightenment, everything else became inconsequential. He was plunged into a realm where genes transcended mere code, evolving into a universe of wonder, an experience that was nothing short of magnificent. A remarkable transformation urred after ten hours as Cain''s evolution nearedpletion. His soul force exploded with power, his hair attained a chrome pigment, and his eyes became entirely ck, resembling a sea of darkness. However, the most awe-inspiring aspect was the appearance of a rune above his skin. Rune Masters could interpret the Laws'' energy and etch them onto a target''s skin, granting them innate abilities without the necessity for learning. Cain hadn''t suddenly be a Rune Master and inscribed one on his skin. Instead, his Lineage had attained such prominence that its strength manifested as a Blood Rune. Blood Runes differed from Engraved Runes in that the former emerged when a bloodline''s power reached a specific threshold, while thetter resulted from a Rune Master''s intervention. The rune on Cain''s chest, which appeared on his right shoulder, was enigmatic, and its power elusive. Once the rune solidified, Cain regained his focus, emerging from the chamber as shadows covered his body, only for him to scatter into thin air. Observers in the cube were left agog, unable to fathom how Cain simply vanished. Sn was equally baffled, but his attention was abruptly diverted to Sman. The Gic Coder from the Azure Royal Family appeared perplexed by Sn''s gaze, but he soon realized the older man was looking past him. Horror dawned on him as he turned to find Cain right behind him, poised atop his shadow. "This power is incredible!" Dark energy cloaked Cain''s right hand, radiating a destructive aura so potent it seemed to eradicate the very air. The power incinerated both oxygen and carbon dioxide, which mes usually left untouched. Sman focused on the hand, fully aware that, had it targeted him, it would''ve effortlessly pierced his skin, even with the protection of his Wave Cloak. "?BOOM!" A detonation reverberated throughout the room as Sman unleashed the full might of his Late Wave King cultivation. However, Cain remained unfazed. Although facing a Late Wave King was treacherous, Sman''sbat capabilities were average, and Cain didn''t fear confronting him. Of course, Cain wouldn''t attack. He wasn''t so arrogant as to believe he could simply kill someone inside the headquarters of the Gic Coding Association without facing severe repercussions. Although Cain''s mentality had changed after the events of the de Mountain, and he would normally take care of their enemies, not giving them a chance to strike in the future, Sman was just a symptom. The real problem was the Azure Royal Family, and they were too strong for him at the moment. Cain only nced at Sman before his body again melted into a mass of shadows. However, this time, he didn''t vanish. Instead, he moved in that form at an astonishing speed, returning to the Tier Zero Bio Gic Chamber. Now distanced from Cain, Sman''s fear diminished, reced by pure rage. "You dare to sneak up on me?" The old man shouted, filled with anger, ready to call the security forces of the Gic Evolution Cube. "What are you talking about? I just awakened a new power and wasn''t adept at controlling it. Besides, I didn''t harm you in any way." Sman''s rage intensified upon hearing that. He realized he had no valid basis for his usations. Ordinarily, this wouldn''t have deterred him, but considering a potential conflict with Cain, he recognized who the higher-ups would likely support. "Enough, Sman. Don''t create a scene over a misunderstanding," Sn interjected, then turned to Cain with a stern expression. "I''ll give you some leeway since you''ve unlocked a new Lineage for us, but don''t overstep your bounds." Cain met Sn''s gaze and nodded. He knew how to adapt to the situation and would not lose hisposure. Observing the de-escted situation, Sn gave a nod before addressing Cain. "You''ve rendered a great service to the Godyer Humankind Empire, young man. Unlocking those two Lineage Forms will pave the way for many future geniuses. Since you unveiled them, you have the privilege to name them." Marlon and the other Grandmasters looked on in surprise. Naming a Lineage Form was a significant honor for a Gic Coder. From this point forward, individuals adopting the Lineage would bear its name, ensuring the widespread recognition of the Gic Coder throughout the empire. Cain wasn''t overly concerned about naming rights, but gauging the importance others ced on it, he realized it would be disrespectful to appear disinterested. Aplicated expression appeared on his face as he sought the name for the Gic Form that granted Krane''s bloodline. It took a long time before finally a smile appeared on his face. "Due to their powers and nature, they will be known from now on as the ''Life Trent Lineage'' and ''True Avernus Lineage." Cain''s expression was one of pride as he genuinely marveled at the wonder of the names he had juste up with. He was sure that everybody would feel the same way about them. Chapter 346 Change in the relationship Complicated expressions appeared on the faces of the people in the Gic Evolution Cube since those names truly sucked. Krane, thrilled to the marrow by his new Lineage, couldn''t help but show a broken smile upon realizing the name of his bloodline. Sn''s eyes twitched before bursting with silver light. He used all his willpower not to berate Cain for uttering suchme names but managed to hold back and nodded. "Okay, from now on, they are the Life Trend Lineage Form and True Avernus Lineage Form, as decreed by the Honorary Gic Grandmaster Laurifer." Cain''s eyes narrowed upon hearing the title Sn gave him, but he merely nodded and didn''t say much. It didn''t truly make him part of the Gic Coding Association, so he wasn''t particrly concerned.@@novelbin@@ "I am truly grateful for the honor. I don''t wish to be rude, but I must depart now. I must prepare for my Arcane Ceremony of Nobility in less than ten days." Cain wanted his reward, but to leave immediately after receiving it would be seen as impolite. However, his exnation made the Grandmasters nod. The Arcane Ceremony of Nobility was an important rite, and one should use every minute to prepare. There was no need to waste time on pleasantries. Sn thought the same and nodded. A Tier One Bio Gic Chamber appeared, which he sent towards Cain, who promptly stored it in his space ring. "Usually, you wouldn''t receive another reward for seeding a second time in the Gic Trial since just the form would be sufficient pay. However, the True Avernus Lineage is of a high level, so I''ll return the three million military credits you spent and offer this." Sn took a wave crystal from his space ring. It was unlike any Cain had seen before. The energy was so pure it instantly flooded the room. "A high-quality wave crystal!" Cain was surprised. Just one high-quality wave crystal was worth five million military credits, and its energy was so pure that even Titans used it to reestablish their Wave. Using it as a Wave Champion would not only elerate his cultivation immensely but also enhance his foundation. Since it was presented as a reward for the True Avernus Lineage, Cain had no reservations and took it. "You have my gratitude." Cain sped his hands as he stored the high-quality wave crystal. He then showed his respect to Marlon and the other Grandmasters. Once they returned the courtesy, he calmly descended to the first level. Krane silently followed him, as did Yordana and the old Apotheosis Realm Master protecting the young woman. Cain didn''t immediately depart as he purchased a significant amount of material. These would be needed in the future, and in the end, he spent nearly two million military credits again. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Everyone''s eyes remained on Cain, and discussions began once he left the cube. It was evident that the events here wouldn''t stay secret for long. Sn didn''t say much. He simply nodded to Marlon and returned to hisboratory. What he would do there remained a mystery. ... Cain, Yordana, Krane, and Samantha reappeared in the central za of the Silver City. "It has been a great pleasure apanying you on this journey, Colonel Laurifer. I hope we can stay in touch in the near future." Yordana spoke solemnly, sping her hands and bowing to Cain. Cain noticed her changed demeanor but simply reciprocated the gesture. Subsequently, Yordana and Samantha used another teleportation formation and departed. "Lord, are they trying to create distance between us?" Krane spoke coldly, noting Yordana''s change in attitude. "Not really. That woman no longer sees me as her equal. Her attitude is that of a junior addressing a senior. She will likely attempt to ally with me but not as peers." Cain was fine with Yordana''s shift in temperament. It was evident that a genuine friendship couldn''t bloom under such circumstances, but it didn''t concern him. "Let''s go." Cain and Krane approached the teleportation formation and soon found themselves in the domains of the Fourth Imperial Prince. "Colonel Laurifer." Upon arrival, Cain was greeted by Nastor, who had clearly been awaiting him. "Is there an issue?" "Not at all, Colonel. His Highness wishes to see you as soon as you''ve returned. Your associate can apany you." Nastor immediately bowed, disying a subservient stance toward Cain. This made it clear he regarded the young man as superior, treating his guidance more as an invitation than amand. ''That was fast.'' Cain suspected that news of his aplishments in the Gic Coding Association would spread, but he was surprised by how swiftly us Goldsoul acted. Nastor led Cain and Krane to the same room where us had received him and Damian upon their initial arrival. us sat in a grand chair behind a desk and stared at Cain as he saw this one enter. "Colonel Laurifer, you are indeed remarkable, with your name echoing across Eden in less than a week since your arrival." us smiled as he spoke those words and signaled Nastor to discreetly exit before waving his hand, signaling the duo to sit as well. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he saw the demeanor of the Fourth Imperial Prince, and it was nothing like the friendly and easygoing aura he showed when they first met. Still, he did not say a word and sat along with Krane. "It''s challenging to control oues when engrossed in one''s work." Cain replied as he stared right back into us'' eyes. He wasn''t seeking fame, but it was inevitable, given his achievements. us stared at Cain briefly before nodding and presenting a starry gem, saying, "As you had requested, these are the notes and teachings rted to Gic Coding. With them, evolving your orthodox path to the Peak of the Saint Gic Level should be straightforward." Cain examined the gem, a sh of desire evident in his eyes. While the Bio Gic Chamber could bypass the Vectors and Gic Chains process, it could limit his growth. The orthodox path promised a consistent skill enhancement, which he sought. "How much?" From the beginning, Cain had rified his intent to purchase the knowledge, relying on us mainly for his connections. That way, their rtionship would not grow too deep or fall into one of dependence. Cain had chosen that path since he knew nothing about the Fourth Imperial Prince, and there was no reason why he would trust he had never met before. "Hahaha! The price is so negligible that I''d feel guilty asking such a modest amount from you." us chuckled as he hinted for Cain to take the starry gem "I would not feelfortable epting this from the Imperial Prince withoutpensation. If it''s without cost, I can''t ept it." Cain was displeased with us''s attempt to shift the terms and made his stance clear: if us insisted on gifting the gem, he''d refuse it. us maintained his smile, saying, "If that''s Colonel Laurifer''s preference, then it''s two million military credits." Despite the loss of those two two million military credits draining most of his liquid assets, Cain did not hesitate and transferred the amount to us. "Done. I thank the Imperial Prince for his assistance." After obtaining the starry gem, Cain and Krane offered their respects and departed. us did not attempt to stop the duo from leaving, and while his smile remained, there was a sharp light in his eyes as he focused on Cain. As the duo walked to their residence, Cain''s eyes grew cold and his demeanor sharp. ''Lord?'' Kranemunicated silently with Cain via their Ego Waves. Although there hadn''t been a confrontation, he had lived long enough to notice the tension between Cain and us. ''Everything is fine for now. We''ll stay here untilpleting the Arcane Route.'' Cain''s eyes grew colder, reflecting his thoughts. us'' attitude regarding the Gic Coder knowledge revealed much about the Imperial Prince''s nature. Initially, the Fourth Imperial Prince was content treating their rtionship as a simple transaction, given he had the upper hand. However, this dynamic shifted with the emergence of Cain''s dual talents, not just in martial prowess but also in Gic Coding. While there were many powerhouses in the empire, Gic Coders were rare and valuable. Sensing a shift in their power dynamics, us attempted to regain control by gifting the starry gem. This minor gesture spoke volumes about his intent. As they prepared to separate, Cain instructed Krane. ''Use your underworld contacts and wealth to obtain a potent weapon and cultivation technique.'' Krane''s eyes narrowed as he heard thatmand. He would need a new cultivation technique and weapon to draw the full power of his Lineage, and the ones he could obtain through his contacts in the underworld would be superb. However, there were dangers in using those contacts since they could be used as an excuse to go after him and harm Cain. Cain knew about the dangers, but he nced at Krane, signaling this one to do it, before going to his room. Chapter 350 Three Towers of Adam Cain''s Sun Seed was already immensely powerful, being a Duality Alter-Ego. Still, it was growing even more potent, enhancing its potential and allowing his Ego Wave to grow without any restriction until he reached the Peak of the Second Realm. "Haha, Cain, that was amazing! Your mastery over the Blood Wings left me amazed!" Desmond''s voice, the Deus Bahamut, drew Cain''s attention back to the present. There was a fresh smile on the young man''s face as he walked toward Cain. Cain''s eyes refocused as he saw the Bahamut approaching him, and a smile graced his face. Desmond was refreshingly straightforward, unlike the Fourth Imperial Prince and Second Imperial Princess, who always had ulterior motives. Although it was easy for Cain to handle people with hidden interests, that did not mean he liked to spend his time that always was plotting something. If he had to choose, Cain would always prefer to be with those like the young Deus Bahamut who shoot straight.@@novelbin@@ "I have to thank you. The technique is magnificent, and its powers perfectly synergize with my Asura Form." Cain''s words were sincere since the Blood Wings yed a significant role in his recent triumph. By merging its effects with Third Gear, he achieved speeds so swiftly that even a Late Wave King Battle Puppet couldn''t react in time. Of course, there were drawbacks, the most important being theck of control and maneuverability. However, Cain was sure that if he could push his mind and reflexes to the next level, he would have no problem handling thebined speed of Asura Form and Blood Wings. "No need to thank me; after all, it was a transaction. Your Asura Form is truly remarkable, but it''s also veryplex. I''m amazed you achieved third gear years before your cognitive abilities reached the Wave King Rank." Desmond appeared serious about discussing the Asura Form. Clearly, while he showed a rxed attitude, he was very stern regarding his cultivation. While he quickly attained the First Gear due to his genius, understanding the Second Gear was challenging, and mastering it might take months if not years. Regarding the Third Gear, Desmond doubted he''d grasp its principles before bing a Wave King. Cain disyed a contemtive look. The Asura Form was effortless for him because knowledge and insight about it had been etched into his mind from his past life experiences. He didn''t progress faster to the next gears because his body couldn''t handle the pressure of such an overwhelming heart rate. Since that was Cain''s situation, there was little he could do to help Desmond with his problems, and he only offered a piece of simple yet useful advice. "There''s no need to rush. Even if you dominate the Third Gear upon bing a Wave King, the technique will still grant you significant power." Desmond nodded, appreciating Cain''s guidance. The Asura Form''s power wouldn''t diminish with his rank, so taking time to master it wouldn''t pose an issue. Now that was out of the way, another thing came to Desmond''s mind, and he immediately shared it with Cain. "By the way, we''re heading to the Three Towers of Adam. You could join us." Cain''s interest was immediately piqued upon hearing about the Three Towers of Adam. essing them was a challenge, and while he initially considered seeking us'' help, their strained rtionship made him reconsider. That was why he did not ess the Tower of Stars before the Arcane Route, despite that being his initial n. Since he rejected the Second Imperial Princess, Cain knew it would be up to him to find his way to the towers, but he was not worried since there was always a path. He was tempted to ept Desmond''s offer when he noticed the Crown Prince''s group approaching. Cain hesitated, wary of joining the Crown Prince''s faction given their associations. Among the people around the Crown Prince, there were several people with whom Cain had already developed some level of animosity. Not only was the Third Imperial Prince and the Asura Royal Family connected to Michael, but there was also Magnus Hellzer and Iris Xurong in his group. The rtionship between Levi and the Hellzer Family was still a little foggy for Cain, but he knew there was a clear hatred between these two. There was also the fact that Amos Hellzer attempted to mess up with him more than once during the events of de Mountain, like the scheme involving his Cinthy. As for Iris Xurong, while Cain did not have a problem with the young woman, he did not want his involvement in the events around Saharo City to be revealed. "It''s fine; you cane with us if you wish to visit the towers. I don''t have an issue, even if you want that man to apany us. Some of the people around me actually want to speak with you to solve past grievances." Before Cain could decline, the Crown Prince, Michael Goldsoul, interjected. While Michael had his own ns, they didn''t involve Cain. He simply extended a helpful invitation not only to Cain but also to Krane. Krane''s eyes shimmered with anticipation since the Tower of Laws was what he needed to explore the potential of his new Lineage, but he remained silent, awaiting Cain''s decision. Cain weighed Michael''s offer and eventually nodded. Recognizing a genuine offer with no strings attached, he wasn''t so prideful as to decline. "I appreciate the help." Michel merely nodded, not making a big deal out of it, and the group proceeded toward the teleportation formation. A sh of surprise appeared in people''s eyes as they noticed Cain among the group of the Crown Prince. However, those in the group seemed unperturbed by the whispers of people they knew nothing about and simply activated the teleportation device, disappearing from the main za. Rumors would surely flood the Silver City very soon, but neither the Crown Prince nor Cain cared about the passing time of fools who only knew to waste time speaking about others. It took a moment for Cain''s sight to adjust, but a wave of shock and awe overwhelmed him when he grasped the majestic scene unfolding before his eyes. Three towers, soaring thousands of meters, stood majestically before him, each unique in its grandeur. Unlike almost every other structure in the Silver City, these were utterly dark, radiating a solemn and overwhelming aura. While their core structures were simr, each tower boasted a distinct phenomenon at its zenith. One showcased a dark star emitting such potent gravitational force it seemed capable of warping space. Calling it a ck hole would be a mistake since, despite its massive power, its core intent was something else beyond destruction. Another tower had a multicolored fiery sphere that simultaneously emitted myriad meanings, resembling a force of both overwhelming destruction and infinite regeneration. Each intent was immensely powerful on its own, butbined, they grew to a level that was nearly impossible to describe. However, the one that captured Cain''s utmost attention was the central tower, where a colossal beating heart pulsed at its peak. "That is the Emperor''s Heart. It''s believed to have been left by the First Titan," the Crown Prince mentioned, drawing Cain''s attention momentarily. Cain was sure that the Ego Wave used to generate that phenomenon had a power beyond the limits of Aether! "The Three Towers of Adam are among the great treasures left behind by the greatest Emperor of the Godyer Humankind. They are named the Tower of Laws, Tower of Concepts, and Tower of Stars," Michael borated, ncing at Desmond and the young man from the Anima Mechanicus Race. Though Cain had some understanding of the Three Towers of Adam, he paid keen attention to Michael''s exnation. "The Tower of Stars is designed for Astral Cultivation. It helps cultivators familiarize themselves with the principles governing the Astral Rebirth Path of Power. While it might not seem essential now, it bes pivotal as you traverse the Apotheosis Realm and the set of rules that will guide your cultivation beyond the Divine Ascension Realm." Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire Both Desmond and Cain listened intently. Both understood that the potential of an Astral Rebirth Cultivatorid on the foundation they developed with each step they took. However, after surpassing the Wave King Rank into a new realm, things evolved. Michael did not wait long before his eyes turned to the next tower. "The Tower of Laws offers insights into the Five Daoist Elemental Laws. Additionally, it provides ess to the Laws of Space and Time. Although more elusive, their formidable power can refine your Essence Wave. At the very least, every Essence Cultivator should gain some insights into them to achieve the Divine Ascension Realm," Michel continued. Although Cain did not take the Essence Evolution Path of Power, that did not mean he would just ignore it, and his eyes grew sharp as he focused on the tower. After letting his words sink in, Michael directed their attention to the final tower. "The Tower of Concepts is distinct. There''s no true guidance or insights offered within. The Ego Eternal Path of Power follows the principles behind Visualization Techniques, each unique in its own right. Inside this tower, you''ll confront the Ego Waves of ancient Gods vanquished by the First Titan." Chapter 351 Realm of Stellar Synthesis Cain''s eyes widened with awe and shock as he focused on the Tower of Concepts. He expected to find a cultivation heaven from which he could draw inspiration toward the power born of the collective mind of Aether''s sentient life forms. Yet, it was actually a training ground that would put him against the Ego Waves of Gods! A bursting red light emerged from Cain''s eyes as the desire to fight burned inside his soul, and he felt his Sun Seed beating with energy, ready to engage in fights against the Ego Wave left behind by Divine Ascension Gods! However, Cain did not lose focus nor act rashly. After all, he was a guest of the Crown Prince and could not just ess the tower at will. Luckily for Cain and everybody else, the Crown Prince did not leave them waiting. "Two people can ess each tower at the same time. I and ck will head into the Tower of Concepts. You six should figure out who would first enter the Tower of Stars and Tower of Laws." Michael did not say anything else before he and the three-meter-tall military criminal, who went by the moniker of ck, touched the dark tower and vanished inside. As soon as Michael vanished, two groups formed. One group with Cain, Desmond, and Magnus, who sought to enter the Tower of Stars, and the other with Iris, Krane, and the Anima Mechanicus Race''s genius, which aimed at the Tower of Laws. Cain, Desmond, and Magnus look at each other with fighting will. Since the tower could only hold two people at the same time, one of them would have to wait. There was no need for words as the trio put their right hands behind their backs, and three secondster, they released them. "Papper." "Rock." "Papper." Following a tradition of the Old World, the trio yed an ancient game to decide who would have to wait, and Desmond could do nothing but show a downcast expression as he saw his clenched fists and the open palms of Cain and Magnus. Krane, Iris, and the young Anima Mechanicus Race''s genius yed the same game, and the young woman was the one who lost. Cain saw that Krane won, and a small smile appeared on his face as he nodded to this one before calmly walking toward the Tower of Stars along with Magnus. The duo nced at each other, but none said a word. While there were many things to discuss, this was not the time, and both of them cleansed their minds of everything other than the tower. Cain touched the Tower of Stars, immediately teleporting into this one, appearing in a void empty of any color or source of light. Just as Cain was wondering what happened, a will with a power like nothing he had ever felt flooded his body and mind. "!WE ARE MADE OF STARDUST. THE UNIVERSE IS IN YOUR VEINS!" Those words made Cain''s soul tremble as the ck void around him burst to pieces, revealing a dense concentration of celestial bodies and mysterious energies. Cain''s mind could not process such a wonderful scene, and the only way he could describe it was like watching a gxy from the point of view of a cosmic entity. The next second, he saw his entire body crumble into dust particles, bing one with the surroundings. It did not take long for them to agglomerate, fusing with streams of ster energy and transforming into a drifting meteorite. There was no fear in his heart since, for some reason, he felt that this was the purest state that his body could attain. Every cell that made his flesh and blood longed for this state, and now that he had achieved it, he felt freer than ever before in his entire life! Cain''s meteorite body moved across the vast expanse of space. Despite theck of any form of sentience, he had never felt more surrounded by life than at this moment. Space was alive with swirling nebe, pulsating stars, and distant gxies that gleamed like diamond clusters. Every second that Cain spent inside this cosmic tapestry raised his mind to a higher level of understanding regarding his body and how there were no real limitations to this one, not even the ones engraved in the Laws that rule the world! It was impossible for Cain to tell the flow of time in his current state, but after what felt like years, one phenomenon captured his attention more than any other. Cain saw a distant supernova in its final stages of life, showcasing the spectacr death of a star. The vibrant blue, gold, and crimson hues painted an ethereal tapestry against the inky ckness of space. Feeling a profound connection to this cosmic event, Cain used the full power of his will, allowing his particles to leave the meteorite and fuse with the dying star! Immediately, he found himself at the very heart of that dying star, feeling its tumultuous energy, the immense pressure, and the searing heat. As he delved deeper into his meditation, the boundary between himself and the star began to blur. The phenomenon''splexity was so high that Cain''s mind could notprehend it, so he shut down the part of his brain that attempted to understand it, allowing his soul and body to perceive it at an intuitive level. As he let go of the self, Cain felt a rush of insights flooding his consciousness. He visualized the intricacies of nuclear fusion, witnessing atoms colliding and fusing to form heavier elements. Finally, the star could not endure anymore, triggering a st that unleashed more energy in a few seconds than what the Old World''s sun could do in billions of years. As the star went supernova, the materials unleashed by its explosion spread across the gxy and fused within them were also Cain''s particles. Cain''s brain hadpletely shut down, and he could not think. Normally, at this point, the cultivator would have woken up since they lost consciousness due to their souls being unable to endure the pressure of the new knowledge. At this point, the power of the Tower of Stars would have gently restored Cain''s body, but someone intervened. Apex saw how Cain''s soul sea was shaking due to the pressure of such overwhelming knowledge. His eyes narrowed as he increased the amount of soul force emanating from the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core. The infusion of soul force allowed Cain''s soul to stabilize, allowing his journey inside the Tower of Stars to continue. The materials mixed with Cain''s particles spread across the gxy by the supernova, generating new heavenly bodies! --- As Cain lost himself in that wonderful journey, he hadpletely forgotten about the outside world, but the same could not be said about the people outside the Tower of Stars. Michael and ck emerged from the Tower of Concepts, their eyes glowing with a bursting Ego Wave. The duo was tired, but their minds immediately grew sharp as they saw everybody gathered outside the Tower of Stars. "What is happening?" The Crown Prince knew there was a problem when he saw the worry and concern in Krane and Desmond''s faces. "It is Cain. He is still inside the Tower of Stars." Desmond immediately answered, making shock appear in the eyes of the Crown Prince and ck. Due to his power and background, the Crown Prince knew what would happen once you were inside the Tower of Stars.@@novelbin@@ Once you touch the Tower of Stars, you do not enter the tower but something much more profound. Your mind and body would be one with it, granting you a truly transcendental experience. Your body would be one with the heavenly bodies, allowing your soul to grasp the Realm of Ster Synthesis, the first of the Three Great Realms that Astral Cultivators must master in their path beyond their mortal shell. In the Realm of Ster Synthesis, a cultivator understands the birth and death of stars, the primary architects of existence. These stars, much like gigantic nuclear reactors, experience nuclear fusion in their cores. This fusion of lighter elements, mainly hydrogen and helium, results in the creation of heavier elements. Grasping this concept of ster nucleosynthesis allows a cultivator to understand the foundational process of how elements are created. Understanding that principle would allow an Astral Rebirth Cultivator to harness the power of the stars inside their bodies, granting them the might that surpassed nuclear weapons. However, the process must be gradual and steady since the full knowledge of the Realm of Ster Synthesis is too much for the soul of someone beneath the Apotheosis Realm. Normally, a Wave Champion would only remain within the Tower of Stars for two to three days before the tower expelled them to ensure no harm was done to their souls. Even the exceptional talents like Desmond and Magnus onlysted four and a half days. However, Cain had already been inside the Tower of Stars for over ten days! Chapter 354 Emerging from the Tower of Stars "You two will kill Cain Laurifer."@@novelbin@@ A wide smile appeared on the bloodied face of the Blood King as he listened to the Void King''s words. There was no way he would have forgotten the young man who thwarted his n to seize the Blood Astral Beast''s soul and blood. However, the other Dark Kings frowned. They were at the peak of the Aether, with power that could surpass the Old World''s H-Bomb, yet they were tasked with dealing with a mere seventeen-year-old. The Void King noticed their dismay and offered an exnation for targeting such an insignificant character. "Cain Laurifer has interfered with The Organization on multiple asions. He not only disrupted the Blood King''s ns, but I''m 99% certain he was behind the upheaval in Saharo City." The Dark Kings looked at the Void King in surprise upon hearing this. While the gic experiments in Saharo City weren''t of significant concern, they were part of arger strategy, and its disruption set back their agenda by several months. "That boy''s destiny continues to soar, and he has already be a shining star among the Empire''s youth. That alone wasn''t reason enough for us to act. However, he''s spent nearly fourteen days inside the Tower of Stars." Surprise, awe, and killing intent shed in the Dark Kings'' eyes upon learning this. Fourteen days in the Tower of Stars implied that Cain''sprehension of the Realm of Ster Synthesis approached the threshold for Divine Ascension. Understanding something and harnessing its power are two different matters. Yet, if Cain went unchecked and his cultivation base reached the Wave King Rank, and then his battle power would be formidable. While they could still easily eliminate him,plications often arise with prodigious talents. The Blood King''s cold smile vanished, reced by sheer coldness and killing intent. He was sure that just as he wanted Cain dead, the boy harbored the same intent. If Cain''s power grew unchecked for another century, they might be equals, a scenario the Blood King wouldn''t tolerate. "I am more than willing to end the boy''s life, but even entering the Prometheus Sector undetected poses a challenge, let alone infiltrating Eden." The Void King nodded, turning to the Shadow King, the likely candidate for such covert tasks. "I can get the Blood King into the Prometheus Sector, but Silver City''s defenses are too formidable, even for me." The Void King nodded, pausing to formte a strategy. "Shadow King, you will escort the Blood King into the Prometheus Sector and extract him once he''spleted his mission." The Shadow King nodded. While he was keen to showcase hisbat prowess against the Aegon Family for other objectives, he primarily acted as a conduit. "Blood King, the assassination is your responsibility. Do you have a n to lure the boy out of Eden?" The Blood King paused, then responded, "I could exploit the Azure Royal Family. From what I know of him, the boy is typically cautious but acts decisively against atrocitiesmitted against the weak and innocent. However, this might expose our ties to the Azure Royal Patriarch." The Void King''s gaze sharpened as he weighed the proposal, then turned to an incarnation on his left. "Chimera King?" The incarnation referred to as the Chimera Kingcked distinctive features like all the others. However, his form was truly odd and definitely not that of a human. "They''ve reached the final phase of the experiment, but the data they''ve been sending is wed. Their test subjects keep umting issues, and I doubt they can be useful anymore. I have no problem with eliminating them." The Void King nodded, then turned to the Blood King. "You have authorization to utilize them, but regardless of their current worth, they remain a piece on the chessboard. If you''re going to sacrifice them, ensure it guarantees mission sess. Despite his youth, Cain Laurifer is cunning and astute; any obvious trap will be detected." The Blood King''s eyes sharpened, his expression solemn. "I understand. I won''t underestimate him." "Good. You four know your tasks. As for the others, continue expanding our influence. Our lives will be on the line when the Great Cataclysmes, so we must be at our peak." The Dark Kings nodded, and in the next moment, the Ego Wave Incarnation faded. The Shadow King ced a hand on the Blood King''s shoulder, then disappeared. The Soul King and Undying King didn''t leave immediately. They both delved into the ocean. Preparing tobat the Patriarch of the Aegon Family, they needed to hone their battle prowess and instincts to their zenith. "BOOOOOMMMMM!" Immediately, the ocean entered a state ofplete chaos, with powerful explosions whose shock waves extended for thousands of kilometers. The Wave Beasts that inhabited this part of the ocean were extremely powerful, but dozens of them perished every second under thebined might of the Soul King and Undying King. Blood tainted the waters as the aura of death spread to every corner, and the power of the duo performing the ughter just kept growing. --- It was the fifteenth day since Cain entered the Tower of Stars. His mind hadpletely shed the ego, erasing allplex thoughts, allowing his soul to meld with the ster cycle. The knowledge and insights of Ster Synthesis integrated with his spirit. Although this was a tremendous stroke of luck that would benefit him in the future, it also posed a significant risk, overwhelming his soul. Apex continually used the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core to stabilize Cain''s soul sea, but after fifteen days, even that proved insufficient. The Golden Humanoid noted the trembling of the soul sea and its diminishing spiritual energy output. This thrust Cain into deep unconsciousness, cing him in peril. Before any harm could befall his soul, the Tower of Stars sensed his condition and began reconstructing his body and spirit, gently rousing him from the transcendental state he''d submerged into. Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Outside the Three Towers of Adam, over a dozen people waited. When Cain arrived, it had been empty, courtesy of the Crown Prince''s influence, but typically, individuals of high standing queued for entry. While the Towers of Concepts and Tower of Laws functioned normally, the Tower of Stars faced an issue: its capacity had been reduced to one user. Clearly, someone upied it, and as days went by, onlookers grew curious about who could endure such an extended stay. A middle-aged man exited the Tower of Stars with profound insight gleaming in his eyes and a satisfied smile on his lips, having advanced his understanding of the Realm of Ster Synthesis. Almost immediately, another individual approached the Tower. However, before he could touch it, the Tower of Stars shone once again, signaling another departure. All eyes turned to the neer, eager to identify the individual who''d managed such a long tenure in the Tower of Stars. Most expected an ancient powerhouse, considering the fortitude required. Yet, to their astonishment, they saw a young man with chrome hair and dark eyes. Cain''s eyes were bursting with red light as waves of information and insights flooded his mind. Everything around him went nk as he could only focus on the transcendental experience he had just undergone. Although his mind went nk very soon during the process, the feelings of being part of a celestial body, experiencing a supernova, and his particles generating new astral structures were vivid inside his soul. Yet, Cain''s eyes soon grew sharp as he felt powerful people looking at him, some not bothering to disguise their probing gazes. Cain was confused as he did not understand where the Crown Prince and the others had gone, but as he looked at the date with his [A.I. Chip Module], a wave of shock assaulted him. ''Fifteen days!'' He was aware that the more time he spent inside the Tower of Stars, the greater the benefits, but that also meant more tremendous pressure on his soul. Cain did not think he wouldst more than five days but made a mistake. ''How?'' There was no damage to his soul, confusing Cain on how he could have stayed inside the Tower of Stars for so long without any bacsh. The obvious answer was the Absolute Life Form System, but he still felt there was something more about it. Many questions assaulted Cain''s mind, but the first thing he needed to do was to leave this ce. "Young man, could youe here for a moment?" Unfortunately for Cain, it was not so simple since he had yet to take a step when an old man summoned him. The old man had long gray hair, and a gargantuan energy pool was inside his body. While he expressed his words as a question, the intent in his eyes made it clear that he would not allow Cain to simply leave. Cain''s eyes grew cold, but before things escted to something else, the teleportation formation in the area glowed, showing the presence of Krane. The middle-aged man drew people''s attention, not only due to his timely arrival but his powerful aura. Chapter 355 Genetic Tournament (I) Krane immediately noticed the tense atmosphere between Cain and the old man. Moving quickly, he positioned himself in front of Cain and bowed. "Lord, I am thrilled to see you have emerged. The Crown Prince has been inquiring about you; we should inform him of your condition." As soon as the Crown Prince''s name was mentioned, everyone adopted a cautious demeanor towards Cain. Michael Goldsoul was among the Empire''s most influential and powerful figures. Opposing him was a move only a fool would consider. Even though they were all interested in Cain and how he remained inside the Tower of Stars for so long, no one was willing to offend the Crown Prince to satisfy their curiosity. Cain perceived the shift in attitudes and simply nodded to Krane, signaling him to rise. He then proceeded to the teleportation formation. This time, no one dared to obstruct him. Casting a final nce at the old man who had presumed tomand him, Cain stepped into the teleportation formation, departing the area with Krane. Whispers erupted among the bystanders, specting about the young man''s identity while also sending mocking nces toward the old man. An unseemly expression appeared on the elder''s face. He had tried to assert his dominance but only seeded in making a fool of himself and might have drawn the animosity of a young genius. Cain wasn''t one to dwell on such trivialities and just stared at the old man before leaving to make sure he remembered the face of this one in case they crossed paths in the future. Upon reaching the main za, Cain turned to Krane, who immediately briefed him on everything that had happened since he set foot inside the Tower of Stars. While initially everything seemed unremarkable, Cain was taken aback to learn that the Golden Emperor had intervened, dying the Gic Tournament for an entire month. Cain did not attempt to understand the motivations of someone atop the Godyer Humankind Empire, so he just silently thanked the Golden Emperor. "I need a ce to rest." Although Cain''s body and soul were in good condition, his mind required rxation. He could walk and talk without a problem, but there was immense pressure on his brain due to the ocean of knowledge he had been exposed to. "The Crown Prince has lent us a vi for our stay until the Gic Coder Tournament." Krane had been proactive, securing afortable location for Cain. After a moment of contemtion, Cain nodded in agreement. The Crown Prince had assisted him before, and lending a modest vi was minorpared to the privilege of entering the Three Towers of Adam. The pair utilized another teleportation formation and soon found themselves within a great castle staffed with individuals ready to cater to their needs. However, Cain''s only desire was rest. He promptly retreated to his quarters for a night of deep sleep. Upon awakening, Cain''s priority was to organize the knowledge and insights imprinted upon his soul by the Tower of Stars. Yet, another issue weighed on his mind. "Apex, what''s happening with my soul?" Speaking solemnly to the System Spirit, Cain felt Apex would have the answers. Actually, his instincts suggested that Apex was the reason behind the strange behavior of his soul. Apex remained silent briefly before responding, "I hesitated to tell you initially to avoid distraction and to ensure you didn''t underestimate the importance of your soul force. However, the truth cannot be hidden any longer." After uttering those words, the golden humanoid inside Cain''s soul sea waved his hand, teleporting the Astral Blood Beast''s Soul Core to the center of the dimension. Cain''s eyes widened as he observed a shining sphere enveloped in chains, radiating spiritual energy into his soul sea. His face turned white as he saw how a foreign soul force fused with his''. Although his knowledge about the soul was limited, he understood the dangers of merging a different soul force with yours. In the best case, he would develop a split personality, and in the worst, a severe case of psychosis and schizophrenia. However, after taking a moment to see things more clearly, Cain noticed how the new soul force was empty of any form of ego or will, which would avoid any problem.@@novelbin@@ Apex gave Cain a moment to adapt before exining things. "This is the condensed soul force of the Astral Blood Beast. The creature attempted to invade your soul. Still, I managed to harness the Absolute Life Form System''s full power to contain it. Now, it''s enhancing your soul. This is why your blood-type skill is so potent and how you endured the Tower of Stars for fifteen days." A smile emerged on Cain''s face. The soul, the essence of an individual, was notoriously challenging to enhance. Now, he not only had a direct source but also seemed to possess a defense against spiritual assaults. "Hmph, brat, don''t get cocky. I had to use the system''s full power to protect you from the Astral Blood Beast''s possession. If it were to happen again, who knows what might transpire." Apex quickly discerned Cain''s thoughts and promptly countered them. He didn''t want the young man to becent or undervalue the importance of mental defenses, which is why he had stretched the truth about the difficulty of managing the Astral Blood Beast. If Apex were to say that it took less than a second to take care of the Astral Blood Beast''s soul invasion, Cain might unconsciously neglect the importance of his soul defenses. After all, why would he need to worry if there was an unshakable shield protecting his soul? Cain''s expression darkened, and he immediately nodded in understanding. The soul was both precious and fragile and demanded constant vignce, so he must never lower his guard. After grasping the essence behind the recent alterations, Cain could finally concentrate on his cultivation and the experiences in the Tower of Stars. "Realm of Ster Synthesis." His Sonic de Fusion Cultivation Technique referenced this realm, but only after navigating the Tower of Stars did he begin to fathom a fraction of it. ''A cultivator firstprehends the birth and demise of stars, the primal architects of existence. Like colossal nuclear reactors, stars undergo nuclear fusion at their cores. This fusion of lighter elements, mainly hydrogen and helium, begets heavier elements. Understanding ster nucleosynthesis aids a cultivator in grasping the elemental creation process.'' Following hours of meditation, this was the epiphany Cain achieved. He only had to close his eyes to recall the sensation of merging with a meteor, bing a supernova, and initiating the birth of new stars. While this knowledge would be instrumental in his future cultivation, it wouldn''t enhance Cain''s current battle power. The Realm of Ster Synthesisprised the Understanding Stage and the Harnessing Stage. Cain had just scratched the surface of Understanding, and even if he could consolidate that knowledge, his current physique was not prepared to wield that power. It was akin to owning aputer equipped with state-of-the-art software but restrained by hardware that couldn''t fully showcase its capabilities. ''After achieving the Wave King Rank, my body''s cellrposition will be capable of harnessing the Realm of Ster Synthesis''s power. Until then, my focus during the Wave Champion Rank is to reinforce my foundation as robustly as possible. If everything goes well, I might reach the Harnessing Stage in the Early Wave King Rank.'' Pondering his next move, Cain dispatched a message to Krane. "Secure ten tons of Golden Level Metals." Cain''s Blood Rebirth was reaching the peak of the Golden Stage. Once that happened, he could evolve his Biometal Herculean Technique to the golden level, attaining a body as resilient as a Golden Wave Artifact. "Immediately, Lord." Find adventures on My Virtual Library Empire Krane responded instantly, allowing Cain to resume his tasks. He procured a high-quality wave crystal, the blood apple, and the starry gem containing knowledge on Gic Coding. The Gic Coder Tournament wouldmence in fewer than twenty days, and he was ready to disy the full might of his abilities. Cain divided his focus into three areas: honing his cultivation foundation, fortifying his body, and deepening his insights into Gic Coding. Twenty days might appear extensive, but for Cain, they passed in a sh. Before he knew it, the Gic Coder Tournament was upon them. Adorning his noble attire, he exited the vi with Krane. The pair arrived at the main za and used the teleportation formation to ess the Gic Coding Association''s grounds, where the tournament would be held. Unlike his initial appearance, Cain''s presence now captivated many young Gic Coders. His reputation had burgeoned, especially within the Gic Coder Association. He was the first Honorary Grandmaster of the association in ages, all the more remarkable since he was not even seventeen. Cain didn''t pay much attention and simply walked toward the teleportation formation that transported him and Krane into the Gic Evolution Cube. As soon as the duo appeared, they noticed that the cube''s center now boasted a grand tform with improved Gic Chambers. Chapter 356 Genetic Tournament (II) Cain arrived just in time and observed that dozens of people were already present. He immediately recognized the Crown Prince, Third Imperial Prince, Second Imperial Princess, and the Fourth Imperial Prince, along with many other figures exuding formidable auras. All the Imperial Children had their eyes on Cain, as did everybody else in the cube. There was nothing odd with it. After all, he was the reason the tournament was dyed by an entire month, and the news of him remaining inside the Tower of Stars for nearly fifteen days wasmon knowledge. It seemed like there was no day that a shocking piece of news about the young man would spread across the Silver City. Without further ado, Cain calmly approached the Fourth Imperial Prince. He would be participating in this tournament under his banner. ''I assume those two are my partners.'' Cain observed two individuals standing behind the Fourth Imperial Prince. One was a younger man, and the other resembled a middle-aged man at the Wave King Rank. Both had short silver hair, pale skin, and matching physical features, suggesting they were likely rted. For the tournament, the groups were supposed to consist of one Elder Gic Coder, someone under five hundred years of age, and two Novice Gic Coders, individuals under thirty. While the Novice Gic Coders would take the initial tests of the Gic Tournament, the main events would have all three Gic Coders working together. At that point, it was expected to have the Elder Gic Coder take the lead and the two Novice Gic Coders assisting him. Numerous eyes turned toward the group of the Fourth Imperial Prince, eager to witness the interaction between the Elder Gic Coder and Cain. While the middle-aged man would normally assume the lead, many considered Cain to be at least a 4-Star Saint Gic Coder. Cain was aware of the attention but paid it little mind. He bowed to us before focusing on the twopanions. "Cain, I''m relieved to see you''re well. These are Grandmaster Dimento Yoria, a 3-Star Saint Gic Coder, and his apprentice, Severin Yoria, a 4-Star Grand Gic Coder." us spoke with a friendly smile as he introduced the pair, but a hint of tension lingered on his visage. While Cain might be participating in his team, the Imperial Prince was acutely aware of how tenuous his influence over the young man truly was. Cain gave Severin a brief nod and then set his piercing gaze on Dimento. The older man met his stare without flinching, exuding an unwavering resolve. A burst of red light appeared in Cain''s eyes as he stared at Dimento, who promptly responded with a blue glow. The room went silent as the two exchanged Ego Waves, and it was evident to all that despite the significant gap in their ages and cultivation bases, both stood on the same level. Cain''s eyes settled, and a smile graced his face. He sped his hands together, bowing to the middle-aged man.@@novelbin@@ "Cain Laurifer offers his respects to the Elder Grandmaster. I consider my abilities to be on par with a 1-Star Saint Gic Coder, so I am at your service." Many were surprised by Cain''s behavior; after all, one could make the argument for him to take the leading role in the main event since his skills were considered superior to those of Dimento. While it would have been unorthodox and embarrassed Dimento, few would have opposed it since what the Godyer Humankind respected was not age but power. However, not only did Cain not take that path, giving Dimento the leading role without a fight, but he self-assessed his skill as a 1-Star Saint Gic Coder. Young prodigies often exuded arrogance, but Cain seemed to downy his own status. Truthfully, without the aid of the [Gic Coder Module], these were Cain''s real capabilities, at least before histest training session. Cain didn''t mind taking guidance from Dimento. In fact, he hoped to learn from the man. Hundreds of years of experience were at his disposal, and there was no reason to deny it, just to inte his ego. Dimento grinned at Cain''s words and also sped his hands. "It''s an honor to have a Grandmaster of your stature as my teammate. I will strive to harness your abilities to their fullest." He then shot a stern look at the young man beside him. Severin caught Dimento''s gaze and promptly bowed. "I''ll do my utmost not to let Grandmaster Laurifer down." Although Severin was older than Cain, having been raised in a family that prized Gic Coding, he was taught to respect skill over age. us breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Cain would coborate and was willing to y a supporting role to Dimento. With no immediate controversy, attention on the group led by the Fourth Imperial Prince waned. Momentster, a figure descended from the upper tiers of the Gic Evolution Cube. The individual was none other than Sn White, someone at the peak of the Gic Coder Association. Sn acknowledged the members of the Imperial Family, but that was the extent of his courtesy. Given his age and power, he wasn''t inclined to show excessive deference to a group of younger individuals. The Imperial Children responded with smiles and nods, none acting pretentious, even the Third Imperial Prince. Sn was not only a powerhouse but would also referee the Gic Tournament. Only someone with Sn''s power and status could ensure the tournament was judged fairly and that outsider influence could not affect the oue. "Wee all to the One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Gic Tournament. We gather to showcase the talents of uing Grandmasters and the younger generation, hoping to unearth future pirs of the empire. All teams, please take your positions before the designated Gic Chambers." Following Sn''s direction, teams positioned themselves. There was a palpable fighting spirit as they prepared to disy their prowess. The Gic Tournaments happen once every ten years, and while their reward for the number one spot was not overly remarkable, the Gic Coders that participated aimed at something else. What they sought was fame since it could open many doors, allowing their Gic Coding abilities to jump to the next level. Sn showed a small smile as he saw the fighting spirit of the Novice Gic Coders. "The individual trials are for the Novice Gic Coders. The younger generation must prove themselves. Teams, choose your champions." Although each team had two Novice Gic Coders, only one would partake in the individual trials. Nearly all the teams had already discussed who would participate in the solo trials, except for us'' team. Luckily, no problem arose this time either, as Severin sped his hand and performed a small bow toward Cain, indicating this one should take the stage. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire "I will do my best." With those words, Cain moved forward. Once all ten participants stood before the Gic Chambers, Sn nodded and continued, "While Gic Coding is an art of finesse, time is invaluable. Whether in war, cultivation, or daily life, speed is crucial. The first trial is to assemble Pseudo Saint Vectors as swiftly as possible." The participants grinned upon hearing the challenge. Despite their internal confidence, none believed their skills surpassed Cain Laurfier''s. But in assembling a Vector, speed was paramount. Their cultivation base suggested reflexes and cognitive speeds superior to Cain''s since they were all either Late or Peak Wave Champions. Cain noticed thepetitors'' smirks. A mischievous smile and a glint of ambition emerged on his face. Sn waved his hand, filling the Gic Chamber with materials for the Vectors. "Enough materials are provided to form one hundred Vectors. The participant who finishes fastest with the fewest errors will take first ce and earn 10 points for their team. The second earns 5 points, and the third only 2." As Sn prepared to signal the start, Cain raised his hand. "Yes, Colonel Laurfier?" "I wonder if making bets with my fellow participants is permissible?" Some frowned upon hearing this, but many smirked. Greed was the characteristic emotion of the Godyer Humankind, and while looking it down, many considered it a virtue. After all, it was humans'' greed that led them to Aether. Usually, Sn would discourage interruptions, but given Cain''s title, he permitted it. "If they''re within reason." Cain thanked Sn and unveiled his Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber. All participants'' eyes gleamed with envy, recognizing the value of the chamber and desiring it for themselves. "I''m willing to wager my Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber and the form for the Life Trent Lineage. You only need to offer something valued at 25% of the chamber and form. If any of you secures the 1st position, that individual will im the prize and other bets will be returned. However, if I win, I take everything." The youths couldn''t help but clench their fists at Cain''s proposition. If Cain triumphed, his gain would substantially outweigh his initial stake. Yet, the allure of the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber was toopelling to ignore. Chapter 357 Genetic Tournament (III) The Novice Gic Coders exchanged nces and nodded, deciding to take the bet. A silent agreement formed among them: one of them had to win.@@novelbin@@ An awkward expression appeared on the faces of the people watching the tournament as they saw the youth trying to amass the massive amount of wealth needed to participate in the bet. The Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber was more expensive than a full set of tinum Tier Artifacts, so many of them were forced to ask their elders and family for assistance. Everybody who came to this ce had a wealthy and powerful background behind them, so even if the amount they had to gather was immense, they all did it quickly. Finally, all nine youths managed to amass enough wealth and ced their bets. After that, everybody adopted a meditative position before the Gic Chambers as they unleashed their Ego Wave, ready to act as fast as possible. If before they were motivated, now there was fire emerging from their eyes as they pushed themselves to the peak. No matter what, they could not allow Cain to take the first ce. Cain smiled as he saw that and calmly fused his Ego Wave into the Gic Chamber. "Begin!" Sn''s voice echoed across the cube, and a set of virtual numbers appeared above each Gic Chamber, indicating the amount of Vectors the Novice Gic Coder had managed to assemble. The Novice Gic Coders began to manipte the vectors, constructing one at a time as fast as possible. All of them were pushing their minds to the limit and burning their Ego Waves to enhance their cognitive abilities. However, there was one who was not assembling the Vectors. Cain continued to spread his Ego Wave into the chamber and had yet to start. People grew confused as no matter how good he was, the others were advancing at a shocking speed. There were even some that sneered, thinking that Cain was being too conceited. They did not understand that Cain was spreading his Ego Wave to touch every one of those vectors. Unlike the other Novice Gic Coders who were assembling one Vector at a time, Cain would take a different path. He would take control of everyponent inside the Gic Chamber and act on all of them simultaneously. Usually, assembling one hundred vectors at the same time would be impossible due to the effort required, but Cain was different. Not only did the pieces automatically arrange themselves in his mind, but with The Flow, he could perceive the connection between them, making everything much more straightforward. Of course, this also required an Ego Wave that reached the Second Realm, and only Cain had reached that level among the Novice Gic Coders. Once Cain''s Ego Wave touched every single Vector, the red light in his eyes burst, and he pushed his mind to the limit. In less than five seconds, the score above Cain that read zero changed to one hundred! When the other young geniuses saw that, they all froze and stopped working on their Vectors. The second fastest had not evenpleted fifteen Vectors, so calling it apetition would be a little too much. Cain''s speed was in apletely different league! Silence reigned as people witnessed that incredible feat of skill, but it didn''tst long. "He is cheating!" The one who shouted was a young man with azure hair and sky-blue eyes, part of the Third Imperial Prince group. The Grandmaster behind him was none other than Sman. Clearly, this one was part of the Azure Royal Family. The young man''s face was full of indignation as he shouted and pointed at Cain. Unfortunately, the young man''s words did not have the effect he expected. Instead of focusing on Cai, all eyes turned on him with either disdain or pity. It was only at this point that the man from the Azure Royal Family realized his mistake. He couldn''t ept Cain''s skill, so he shouted without evidence, making himself look foolish. There was no way Cain would have cheated with so many Grandmasters present and inside a grand artifact like the Gic Evolution Cube. And even if Cain had somehow cheated, unless the young man from the Azure Royal Family could provide evidence, it did not matter. A nasty expression appeared on the Third Imperial Prince''s face as he saw the young man''s disy, further reducing his opinion of the Azure Royal Family. Sman noticed this, and fury appeared in his eyes as he stared at the young man, making a mental note to teach him the weight of his actionster. Cain remained unperturbed by all this and simply smiled, rxing his Ego Wave to let his body rest. While assembling all 100 Vectors at the same time was impressive, it pushed his mind to the limit, and he needed a break. Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Sn said nothing, merely ncing at the youth, then turned to the others, reminding them that second and third ce was still up for grabs. The youth silently cried as they thought of the wealth they had just lost, but they clenched their teeth and pushed themselves forward, aiming to at least get something from this. It took an hour before they all finished. The second ce went to the Second Imperial Princess'' team, and the third to the Crown Prince''s group. The youth from the Azure Royal Family was skilled, but the mental pressure of his mistake threw him off his rhythm, and he was the slowest toplete the 100 Vectors. "First ce. Cain Laurifer. Fourth Imperial Prince''s team. Second ce. Jordan Simion. Second Imperial Princess''s team. Third ce. Salion Gamen. Crown Prince''s team." Sn''s voice echoed across the cube as he dered the winner of the first contest. Cain smiled as he heard the verdict and used his Ego Wave to condense the Life Wave around the treasure and wealth gained, making it levitate before depositing it in his space ring. That was just part of it since he also gained millions of military credits. ''Hahaha, I am filthy rich.'' Cain could not help but show a smile unlike any he had shown before as he saw the immense amount of wealth he had amassed. He was now rich even by the standards of Eden, and it came just in time since he had spent nearly all the military credits he had left amassing the tons of Golden Level Metals. Sn allowed the youth to rest for thirty minutes, going through the experience before waving his hand and filling the Gic Chamber again. "A w might not seem much, but when ites to our genes, they are paramount to catastrophe. The next trial focused on figuring out the ws in the Gic Chains inside the Gic Chamber." Once again, a sharp light appeared in the youths'' eyes. When it came to detecting ws, more than talent, experience came into y. Cain was young and divided his talent into his cultivation and Hypnosis Master, so they all believed they should be better than him since they spent nearly every hour of their life amidst Gic Coding. Just as the rest of the Novice Gic Coders gained a sense of confidence, Cain''s voice echoed once again. "I can see the pride in your faces, meaning you have absolute trust in your abilities. If that is the case, who is willing to bet one more time? This time, I will only ask you to put something equal to 15% of the worth of my Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber and Life Trent Lineage Form." Cain''s face was calm, and there was nothing odd about it, but those who focused on his eyes could clearly see the greed in them. By now, there was no one who failed to recognize Cain''s tendency towards gambling. Even if one considered it a disgusting habit, there was little you could say about it if he always won. "Ahem!" Just as some of the Novice Gic Coders were mustering the courage to take the bet, their elders either coughed or signaled that they should refrain from it. None of them would be willing to lend any more money, so they should not even ask for it. Cain saw that no one was willing to bet this time and could only sigh before shrugging his shoulders. He had already won a lot and was just trying his luck. Sn could only shake his head as he witnessed this, but there wasn''t much he could say about it. Cain was just seventeen years old, so it was normal for him to have entricities. Not to mention, there was no cultivator without their own peculiar behaviors. After all, what is the point of strength and fame if you do not enjoy it, acting ording to your heart''s desires? "You have one hour. Find as many ws as possible. Once you find and mark them, the counter above your Gic Chambers will change." After those words, Sn gave the youths a moment to focus before waving his hand, indicating the start of the trial. Chapter 358 Genetic Tournament (IV) This time, Cain began as swiftly as the others and his eyes immediately burst with a red light as he began to decipher the ws in the Gic Chains. Not even a minute had passed, and the counter above his Gic Chamber had already reached the one-hundred mark! Shock and awe appeared on the faces of the other Novice Gic Coders as they witnessed this, especially since the second ce had only reached 15! It was clear to all that Cain Laurifer''s Gic Coder abilities were in apletely different league. Asking him topete with other Novice Gic Coders was like asking an Apotheosis Realm Master to discuss cultivation with a Wave Champion. Still, no matter how much it frustrated the other teams, Cain had the right to participate in the two trials since he was under thirty. In fact, of the ten Novice Gic Coders, he was the youngest by far. Cain focused solely on the Gic Chamber, analyzing every Gic Chain. The Flow yed a crucial role as it allowed him to perceive the frequency of each chain, and anything that was out of tune was clearly a mistake. The more he learned about The Flow, the more Cain realized that it was not an ability made for only the battle. It could reach every aspect of a cultivator''s life. Cain was sure he was just touching the surface of The Flow, but his cultivation was still too low to delve deeper into it. Although The Flow was an extremely important subject, Cain kept his mind focused. Cain''s eyes and hands moved faster and faster, and the number above his Gic Chamber kept increasing. By the time the one-hour limit was reached, the second-best Novice Gic Coder had detected 1203 ws, while Cain''s score surpassed 15,000! The difference was just too significant. To the point that even if the other Novice Gic Coders added their marks, they would still lose. Sn wore aplicated expression as he observed the reactions of the other Novice Gic Coders. They were truly in apletely different league, making them question their skills. However, the man did not offer words ofpassion. Gic Coding was full of struggles, and if they couldn''t surpass this challenge, they were never meant to be Grandmasters to begin with. "First ce. Cain Laurifer. Fourth Imperial Prince''s team. Second ce. Jordan Simion. Second Imperial Princess'' team. Third ce. Niron Azure. Third Prince''s team." The first and second ces remained unchanged, but this time, the Novice Gic Coder of the Third Imperial Prince Team imed the third ce. It seemed that the young man from the Azure Royal Family only needed time to rx in order to showcase his true skills. Cain nced at the young man from the Azure Royal Family and was surprised. He had never expected that man to take third ce since many others disyed greater Gic Coder abilities. ''How odd.'' There was no reason for someone to be an expert in gic ws while failing in other aspects of Gic Coding. However, Cain didn''t dwell on it. While Cain was talented in Gic Coding, his knowledge was still limited to the mainstream path. Perhaps the Azure Royal Family had insights that improved certain aspects, allowing their mastery over gic ws to surpass others. Of course, there was also the possibility that the Azure Novice Gic Coder had cheated. Still, Cain did not have any evidence of that, and he would not go around making a fool of himself by using someone of a crime without proof. Sn was also a little surprised about the third-ce winner, but since the cube detected nothing wrong, he moved on. He gave the participants an hour to rest before signaling the Elder Gic Coders and second Novice Gic Coders to step forward, assembling the entire teams. Then, he waved his hand, projecting a virtual screen with the teams'' scores above him. [Fourth Imperial Prince: 20 points. Second Imperial Princess: 10 points. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire Crown Prince: 2 points. Third Imperial Prince: 2 points.] Smiles adorned the faces of the Imperial Family members, but the brightest shone on the Fourth Imperial Prince. us nodded appreciatively, receiving praises from other contestants. For the Fourth Imperial Prince, the prize of winning was insignificant, but the acim that came with victory was invaluable. With Cain on his side, his win seemed inevitable. Sn allowed everyone a moment to strategize before speaking again. "The next test involves the entire team. Each team must create Wave Viruses. One must be a Wave Talent Enhancer, the other a Life Span Enhancer, and thest, a Battle Survival Enhancer. You can choose your viruses, but they must fall into those categories. We will evaluate each Wave Virus and give a ranking ording to their efficiency. The first ce in each category will gain 10 points. Second ce earns 5, and third ce gets 2." Solemn expressions gripped each team, especially the one led by Marlon White of the Second Imperial Princess'' group. They still had a shot at winning the tournament. If they secured first ce in two out of the three categories, their score would surpass that of the Fourth Imperial Prince''s team. "You all have ten minutes to prepare your forms and gather the necessary materials. The first Wave Virus will be the Wave Talent Enhancer." Sn uttered those words before adopting a meditative position in the air, waiting for the teams to decide.@@novelbin@@ Like the other teams, Cain, Dimento, and Severin began discussing their strategy, using their Ego Waves to maintain privacy. "Before I make a suggestion, does Grandmaster Laurifer have any unique forms that could be useful in this situation?" Dimento asked Cain, hopeful for any advantage. It would not be odd for a divine talent like Cain to have ess to a unique inheritance with special forms to deploy better effects than others at the same rank. That would actually exin the young man''s sudden rise as a Gic Coder. Unfortunately for Dimento, Cain''s talent relied on the [Gic Coder Module] and The Flow, neither of which granted him ess to unique forms. "The only Saint Forms I have are for the Life Trent Lineage and True Avernus Lineage. I was hoping to acquire a Wave Talent Enhancer Form for the Saint Level after this," Cain answered honestly. Dimento nodded, epting the response. "I have several forms at my disposal. Some I''m confident in, while others are too challenging for me alone. I have a Peak 4-Star Gic Form for a Wave Talent Enhancer Wave Virus, but sess will heavily depend on Grandmaster Laurifer''s assistance since it surpasses my current abilities." Cain''s face grew solemn. "I will do my best." Dimento smiled, appreciating Cain''s humility. The Elder Gic Coder did not want an overly confident youth who did not understand the difficulty of a 4-Star Wave Virus and whose arrogance could lead to mistakes. "That will be enough." Dimento then turned to Severin. "Severin, you''ll assist me and Grandmaster Laurifer. Stay focused. We might only require your assistance a couple of times during the entire project, but that could make the difference between sess and failure." The young man''s face was as serious as it could be as he nodded, and his eyes burst with golden light. "I will not fail you, Father." Upon hearing that, Dimento showed a brief smile, but it quickly faded, reced by a stern expression as he nodded to the young man. Next, he shared the Gic Forms with Cain. Cain couldn''t help but frown as he analyzed the Gic Form. It was trulyplex, and there was no way he could seed alone. Luckily, he would only y a supporting role, so he nodded in understanding. Sn opened his eyes, signaling the time to start. "Start!" Each team beganmunicating with their Gic Chamber, silently demanding the materials required for their Wave Viruses. Cain observed the Gic Chamber filling with liquid as Dimento requested materials, and his eyes narrowed as he looked to the other teams. A meaningful light appeared in his eyes as hemunicated with Apex. ''Apex, can the [A.I. Chip Module] scan the process of the others without altering the cube or alerting anyone?'' The current capabilities of the Modules of the Absolute Life Form System matched aplexity equal to the Apotheosis Realm. However, the [A.I. Chip Module] was special as it grew stronger alongside his soul force and didn''t require a direct upgrade. ''It can, but that would mean there won''t be a chance to use the [Gic Coder Module] to fix the ws of the next Wave Virus you and the others are going to make. It would require the full power of the system.'' Cain smiled upon hearing that answer. He never nned to use his Destiny Force in the tournament, so there was no issue with the module being inactive. ''Do it.'' As soon as Cain uttered those words, the Absolute Life Form System focused its entire power on the [A.I. Chip Module], deploying an invisible force field that engulfed the other Gic Chambers. Chapter 359 Genetic Tournament (V) If everything went well, Cain could use the data to replicate the Gic Forms the other teams would use. It took only a minute for the Gic Chamber to fill with the materials needed. The next second, the Ego Waves of Cain, Dimento, and Severin fused, allowing the trio to establish a telepathic link as they began their work. The first step was the creation of the Vector, the vehicle for the future Gic Chain. The better it was constructed, the easier it would be for the Wave Virus to alter the correct genomic sequence. Dimento handled the brunt of the work, while Cain ensured that the pieces were handed over in a perfect sequence, significantly reducing the task''s burden. Severin stood vignt, ready to intervene if needed. No sound could be perceived inside the Gic Evolution Cube, as everyone was intently focused on their Gic Coders. Virtual images appeared in the sky, showcasing the macroscopic work all were undertaking, and even those with the power to emte nuclear weapons could not help but feel awe and wonder at such a marvel. All those powerhouses could level entire cities with a wave of their hands, but to control the building blocks of creating was an ability that required years of hard work and absolute dedication. How could someone not feel respect for the disy of such devotion to a craft? There was no time limit in this round, so every team was working at a steady pace, ensuring no ws arose. Of course, it still required a certain speed since once the creation of the Vector or Gic Chain began, there could not be prolonged dys as it could lead to instability and ws. While Cain used the system to gather information about other teams, his primary attention was on his own Gic Chamber. His eyes emitted a brilliant red light as he urately handed the Vectorponents to Dimento. An hour passed and smiles crept onto the faces of both Dimento and Cain when they finally saw theirpleted Vector. Though they couldn''t be sure, it seemed to be a Golden Saint Vector, possibly wless! Had they crafted a weaker Vector, no matter how good the theoretical efficiency of the Wave Virus was, it could only offer a subpar effect in reality. Their excitement notwithstanding, the team remained focused, knowing that crafting the Vector was the easiest part. Now, they had to create the Gic Chain, the Wave Virus''s core, which was far more challenging. The Vector would reach the cells that needed to be altered, but it was the Gic Chain that would perform the gic modification. Knowing that, it was easy to understand how even the slightest ws in the Gic Chain could lead to disaster, not only failing to improve the Wave Talent of the individual, but diminishing it. Dimento resumed the lead role, while Cain worked diligently to preempt any potential errors. Both pushed their minds and abilities to the utmost limit. asionally, minor instabilities would appear in the Gic Chain. While they were not serious, they could lead to severe problems, such as unwanted mutations, if left unchecked. Luckily, Severin would swiftly stabilize the gic code until Cain or Dimento could rectify it. The trio was working in perfect harmony, each taking care of their role with absolute focus while at the same time making sure the other two did not miss something. Of course, Cain''s team was not alone since everybody was pushing their limits, their Ego Waves burning rapidly to enhance cognitive abilities. As hours went by, the Gic Chains grew more and more refined, nearing thepletion point where they would be inserted in the Vector,pleting the Wave Virus. After thirty-one hours, the first team to finish was that of the Third Imperial Prince. The group,posed solely of members from the Azure Royal Family, hadpleted their Wave Virus. It was difficult to gauge its power at a mere nce, but all Grandmasters nodded in approval, discerning it was at least a Peak 3-Star Saint Wave Virus. Despite the arrogant nature of the people of the Azure Royal Family, the trio led by Sman did not grow cocky for finishing first since that did not mean their work was better than the others. The silence continued, and half an hourter, the team led by Marlon White also unveiled their masterpiece. Just watching the Wave Virus on the screen was enough for all those present to understand just how impressive the White Family''s skills were. Cain''s team was the third to finish. Judging by the Wave Virus''position, their product was of exceedingly high quality. Exhausted yet satisfied, Dimento, Cain, and Severin shared a moment of relief and pride in their aplishment. After forty-nine hours, the final teampleted their task. Only then did murmurs and discussions resume among the observers, specting on the victor. The Fourth Imperial Prince, Second Imperial Princess, and Crown Prince look at each other. In their minds, the top three positions could only belong to them, and the only question was who would be on top. Sn allowed a brief respite before signaling, causing a powerful force field to emanate from the Gic Evolution Cube. "The Gic Evolution Cube will determine the level of Wave Talent enhancement your Wave Viruses can offer to an Apotheosis Realm Master." All teams nodded in agreement, trusting the cube''s objectivity in measuring the oues. After roughly ten minutes, a virtual screen materialized, revealing the results.@@novelbin@@ [Third Imperial Prince: 29.3% Wave Talent Enhancement Second Imperial Princess: 28.2% Wave Talent Enhancement Fourth Imperial Prince: 28.1% Wave Talent Enhancement Crown Prince: 25.6% Wave Talent Enhancement ...] Surprise appeared in many eyes as they read the virtual screen, and us, Emerald, and Michael could not help but turn toward the Third Imperial Princess with surprise and shock. While the teamposed entirely of Azure Royal Family members performed well, it was unexpected that their Wave Virus would outperform the ones deployed by the teams with Marlon White and Cain. From the expression on the Third Imperial Prince''s face, even he seemed taken aback and had not anticipated such a result. Regardless of the shock, he immediately puffed out his chest with a cocky demeanor. Cain shared the general surprise, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the Azure Royal Family team. Two of the Novice Gic Coders appeared smug, but although Sman tried to emte their confidence, a trace of concern and nervousness betrayed him. ''There is something wrong with that Wave Virus.'' Cain''s instincts whispered the suspicion, but he wouldn''t hurl usations without proof. His suspicions were well founded since the Wave Virus that the team of the Third Imperial Princess generated was of a minor grade than the ones made by him or Marlon White''s team. Although the effect of a 4-Star Wave Virus should not necessarily be better than that of a 3-Star Wave Virus, that was the case 99% of the time. Sn was also surprised by the effect of the Azura Royal Family''s Wave Virus, but he fulfilled his role as a referee and updated the scoreboard. [Fourth Imperial Prince: 22 points. Second Imperial Princess: 15 points. Third Imperial Prince: 12 points. Crown Prince: 2 points.] While the Fourth Imperial Prince''s team maintained the lead, the Third Imperial Prince saw a significant leap in his standings. And if the Second Imperial Princess''s team secured first ce in the next round, they could potentially overtake the lead. Everybody expected the Fourth Imperial Prince team to have an easy road ahead since there were two Saint Gic Coders in it, but that doesn''t seem to be the case. The winner of the Gic Tournament was now in contention, and it was impossible to know who would take the trophy, but something was clear. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire The Third Imperial Prince''s team was in the race! "All teams have five hours to rest before the next test." Sn''s announcement was met with immediate action. Everyone on the tform assumed meditative postures, channeling their Wave energy, rejuvenating their physical and mental states, and dispelling fatigue. Cain followed suit, but part of his mind remained active. He pondered the intricacies of thest Wave Virus, internalizing newfound knowledge and insights. Any refinement, no matter how minor, could be pivotal. "It''s time for the Life Span Enhancement Wave Virus!" Four hours passed in what felt like a mere moment, and all Gic Coders refocused, pushing their concentration to its zenith. Although the Gic Chain differed this time, the overall process remained consistent. Each team began constructing the Vector. Cain and Dimento coborated seamlessly, with Severin assisting whenever needed. The Elder Gic Master''s eyes gleamed with a blue luminescence as he stretched his capabilities to their utmost. Though he remained steadfastlymitted, he couldn''t mask his astonishment at the noticeable improvement in Cain''s movements. Evidently, Cain''s skills had surged in the brief interval, a development that brought a smile to the middle-aged man''s face. Their chances of sess just got better! Chapter 361 Genetic Tournament (END) When the rest period ended, the teams reconvened, a mixture of determination and energy evident on their faces. Sn stood at the center of the chamber, a profound aura enveloping him. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire "The final test begins now. Remember, the Battle Survival Enhancer Wave Virus is not about longevity. It is about enhancing the very essence of a warrior. If there is one piece of work that you can not fail, it is this one since it involves the life and death of our brothers on the battlefield. Begin!" With Sn''s words, the atmosphere became charged with intense concentration. Cain and Dimento, with their newfound understanding, began working on the Gic Chain. Every twist, every turn, and every sequence was crafted with precision and purpose. The creation of the Vector was not the same as in the previous two tests, since this time, the duo managed to make a truly wless vehicle for the Wave Virus, one that would allow the Gic Chain to disy its full power. Hours passed, and the chamber was filled with the subtle sounds of coding, each team deeply engrossed in their task. Cain''s recent enlightenment proved invaluable. That, plus the power of The Flow, allowed him to predict potential instabilities even before they appeared, allowing for corrections in real-time. The Third Imperial Prince''s team, which had been leading so far, seemed to falter slightly. Theplexity of the Battle Survival Enhancer Wave Virus was evident, challenging even the most skilled coders. As the final moments approached, Cain and Dimento inserted thest sequence into their Wave Virus. They exchanged a confident look, believing that their creation was unparalleled. A few hours passed after Cain''s team finished their Wave Virus for all time to end their work. Sn signaled the end of the test, and once again, the Gic Evolution Cube assessed each Wave Virus. The results would determine not only the winner of the test but the entire tournament. A hushed silence enveloped the chamber as the scores began to appear on the floating virtual screen: [Fourth Imperial Prince: 93% Battle Survival Enhancement Third Imperial Prince: 92% Battle Survival Enhancement Second Imperial Princess: 89% Battle Survival Enhancement Crown Prince: 84% Battle Survival Enhancement...] Cheers erupted from the group around the Fourth Imperial Prince since Cain''s Wave Virus showcased an even better effect than the Third Imperial Prince''s team. It was clear now that the Fourth Imperial Prince''s team had improved during the tournament, and the final scoreboard reflected their victory: [Fourth Imperial Prince: 37 points Third Imperial Prince: 27 points Second Imperial Princess: 19 points Crown Prince: 2 points] Cain could not help but smile, and there was a profound sense of satisfaction in his eyes since all the hard work and effort paid off. Of course, where there was a winner, there must be a loser. The one that experienced failure the hardest was none other than the teamposed of the Azure Royal Family, who worked under the banner of the Third Imperial Prince. In the beginning, the Third Imperial Prince participated in this event as a mere formality and never expected the Azure Royal Family''s team to perform so well. But they surpassed expectations, and the thrill of victory became intoxicating. With that taken away, rage clouded his mind as he red at Cain. Kamel Goldsoul''s animosity towards Cain might be new, but it was intensifying daily. Now, unmistakable hatred gleamed in his eyes. Cain''s eyes narrowed as he turned to face the Third Imperial Prince, meeting his gaze without fear. The prince''s status mattered little to him since he was no meremoner. While Cain rarely unted his background, he had the entire Imperial Lightning Fort backing him. That was already proven when the Copsing Lightning Duke had assigned the First Copsing Lightning Pir for his protection during his stay in the Blood Sea. "Everybody, the Gic Tournament hase to an end. We will now proceed to crown the top three positions," Sn announced, his voice echoing through the cube. Sensing the tension between the Third Imperial Prince and Cain, he acted quickly to prevent any disruptions. With a wave of his hand, Sn raised threerge pirs in the middle of the tform where the tournament had unfolded, signaling the teams to take their rightful positions. Marlon''s team gracefully moved to the smallest pir, iming their third-ce position. Even in defeat, they held their heads high, embodying resilience. Defeat wasn''t the end but merely a step on the path to greatness. This sentiment was shared by the team of the Second Imperial Princess, who remained stoic despite their ranking. In stark contrast, the Third Imperial Prince''s team struggled to mask their frustration, flying to the second-highest pir. Sman seemed the most upset, but his eyes also betrayed a hint of fear. Clearly, the worries of the Elder Gic Coder of the Azure Royal Family extended beyond the tournament''s oue. Cain felt minimal concern toward the hostility of others as he, Dimento, and Severin ascended to the highest pir. Their faces beamed with pride, celebrating their remarkable achievement. Humans might not excel at Alchemy, Rune Crafting, Enhancement, or Wave Crafting, but when it came to Gic Coding, they were unparalleled in Aether, rivaled only by the Legio Eldritch Race. Dimento, Severin, and Cain, representing the new generation, could rightfully proim themselves as peak achievers.@@novelbin@@ Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the cube, Sn presented medals to the top three teams. Those bestowed upon Cain''s team gleamed with a shining #1. --- A few hours after the Gic Tournament, Cain and the Fourth Imperial Prince, us, sat in a quiet room. Their expressions were calm, a stark difference from the tension of their previous private meeting. us no longer regarded Cain as a member of his faction. With the need for establishing hierarchy gone, their conversation flowed more amicably. "You''ve been instrumental in our sess," us began. "It''s only fair to say our victoryrgely hinged on your involvement. A reward is in order." Cain nodded, acknowledging his pivotal role. From the start, his main request from us was this one''s support during the Arcane Ceremony of Nobility. But if us intended to reward him further, it would set a favorable precedent for future coborations. us, having anticipated this, was already prepared. "I''ve transferred 20 million military credits to your ount, mirroring Dimento''s reward. But for your exceptional contribution, I have this." Chapter 362 Third level of the Biometal Herculean Technique us waved his hand, and from his space ring, a small crystal glowing with a sky-blue energy appeared. Cain''s eyes immediately narrowed as he saw that crystal. Within it, he felt an extremely pure energy and sensed how his Astral Wave instinctively reacted to it. "Its name is Goldsoul Crystal, a family treasure. Its power radiates from its ability to set your Astral Wave aze, burning the impurities within it, while simultaneously reinforcing it and improving its quantity and quality." us gave Cain a moment to analyze the crystal before continuing. "You can only use one during each Cultivation Rank. This one is more than enough for a Wave Champion like you. Normally, people wait until they have reached the peak of the rank to use them, but I gather that you intend to use it right away and hope to acquire something even better by the time you approach Wave King status."@@novelbin@@ Cain''s eyes narrowed when he heard the words of the Fourth Imperial Prince, and he just shrugged his shoulders, as that was precisely his n. He intended to use the treasure immediately and then strive with even more vigor to obtain a better one in the future. us didn''t know whether tough or cry. The Goldsoul Crystal was a treasure that some would store for decades, waiting for the perfect moment, yet Cain was prepared to use it instantly. "Well, I suppose that''s why you''ve achieved so much at such a young age. It''s yours, so use it as you see fit." Cain nodded as he stored the crystal in his space ring. While he was prepared to use it immediately, he would first seek a state of focus and meditation. Although their business was concluded, Cain sensed that the Fourth Imperial Prince had another topic to broach. us wore a solemn expression as he locked eyes with Cain. "Tell me, Colonel Laurifer, how adept are you at detective work?" Sensing the gravity of the subject, Cain took a moment before replying, "I specialize in assassination and espionage. Currently, I can infiltrate and gather information on entities up to the level of Wave King with ease." us nodded, trusting Cain''s assessment. "What I''m about to disclose is ssified. If you reveal it without my explicit permission, you''ll be branded a traitor." Cain met the Fourth Imperial Prince''s gaze, signaling his eptance of the burden of knowledge. "I am the current Vice-Head of the Secret Imperial Police. We''ve been investigating a series of disappearances in the Prometheus Sector. Over the past two years, more than three million people have vanished without a trace." The news stunned Cain. It was challenging to make someone disappear in a world of Cultivators with their myriad tracking abilities. The sheer scale of the event implied the involvement of the greatest power of the underworld. "The scale of this event suggests the involvement of The Organization. The reasons are unclear, but such actions can''t continue unchecked. The rate of disappearance has been consistent across the Sector, but recently over 100,000 individuals vanished from the Azure State alone. Disturbingly, the Azure Royal Family, responsible for the safety of the state, reported nothing. I learned of it through my spywork." Cain''s expression hardened. The Azure Royal Family''s inaction made them suspect at best andplicit at worst. "I need you to investigate this matter. Employ any means necessary, provided you leave no trace. Seed, and I''ll award you fifty percent of the confiscated assets." As tempting as the offer was, Cain couldn''t ignore the potential underlying motives. Still, the sheer number of disappearances invoked his sense of duty. "I require all the data you''ve amassed so far. I''ll begin my investigation after addressing some pressing matters." "As we speak, the data is being transferred. I expectplete transparency regarding your findings." Both men nodded in understanding, and with that, Cain took his leave. Momentster, the Crown Prince materialized in the room. "I see you took my suggestion to heart, little brother." The Fourth Imperial Prince was not surprised to see Michael Goldsoul''s appearance and merely nced at him. "I understand the reasoning behind giving that young man the task, but I''m not so naive as to overlook your ulterior motives, Big Brother." The tone us used to address thosest words made it evident that he was not pleased with the Crown Prince''s interference. Michael simply smiled, nodded, and departed. --- Cain was in his room, a solemn expression on his face. He managed the surging Blood Energy inside his body, heightened by the blood apple, while simultaneously enhancing his Astral Wave using the Goldsoul Crystal. His vitality and energy pool increased at a shocking rate as both his body and Astral Wave kept improving. His Blood Core became increasingly potent as the blood within him advanced, and his Astral Wave refined to an overwhelming level. After meditating for over a week, his eyes suddenly opened, revealing a newfound strength. Though he had not evolved to the next stage and remained a Middle Wave Champion, his Rebirth Blood had attained the pinnacle of the Golden Blood Stage! A satisfied grin crossed his face as he felt the power coursing within him. He eyed the crystal. More than 70% of its energy had been utilized, but a considerable amount remained. ''My Astral Wave has been fully purified. I should conserve the remaining energy for my progression to the Late Stage.'' Storing the crystal and the blood apple, Cain waved his hand, revealing a massive cauldron. He filled it with tons of Golden Level Metal and activated its matrix, increasing its interior temperature. ''It will take several hours for the metal topletely melt.'' Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire Ensuring everything was in ce, Cain rested, preparing himself for the subsequent task. When he awoke and the metal had melted entirely, he stripped down. Since his Rebirth Blood had achieved the pinnacle of the Golden Stage, Cain''s physique was robust enough to undergo the fusion of Golden Level Metal into his bloodstream, attaining the third level of the Biometal Herculean Technique! Chapter 363 Blade and daggers Not wasting time, Cain submerged into the pool of molten metal. Immediately, he felt immense pain due to the heat, and he dared not open his eyes for fear of blinding himself. Yet he did not lose focus, drawing on his willpower to maintain control throughout the ordeal. The first three levels of the Biometal Herculean Technique were named Bronze Infusion, Silver Integration, and Golden Resilience. Transitioning from Peak Silver Integration to Golden Resilience could take weeks, if not months, even for a prodigy. However, less than five hours after immersing himself in the cauldron, Cain felt his body tremble as his blood evolved, acquiring the properties of Gold Level Metals. The reason behind that talent was no longer a mystery for Cain as he knew it was due to the soul force of the Astral Blood Beast nurturing his soul sea. Just the fusion of the metal into his bloodstream significantly improved his constitution, but that was just the beginning. It did not take long for a profound transformation to begin inside Cain''s body. Cain''s Blood Energy began to extend and solidify, creating an intricatework of biometal fibers beneath his skin. This bolstered his defense, shielding him against various attacks. The procedure was excruciating, yet Cain couldn''t help but smile as power surged through his veins. After another week of intense training, he finally rested, having integrated all ten tons of the Golden Level Metal into his bloodstream. ''System, scan me.'' Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire Impatiently, Cain instructed the system to analyze his progress. [Scanning Vessel...@@novelbin@@ ... Scan of Vesselpleted. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: High Tier 8 (Peak Tier 8) Stats: Strength: 39.2-->47.5 Agility: 24.2-->26.5 Vitality: 41.5-->50.2 Wave: 25.2-->32.9 Blood Energy: 41.4-->45.2 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Note: Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] Cain beamed, ecstatic with his updated stats. His Biometal Herculean Technique augmented both strength and vitality, with thetter being the primary focus. However, his True Avernus Lineage boosted the former, propelling both stats to unprecedented heights. His Astral Wave was already on par with a Late Wave Champion, yet there was still a long time before he reached that stage. On the other hand, his Blood Energy was already nearing the peak of what his body could hold. The enhanced Wave Talent stemmed from the Wave Virus he and Dimento generated during the tournament. The Elder Gic Coder was so happy with the victory that he did not mind handing the Wave Virus to Cain. Cain stood with a smile full of pride as he stored the cauldron and exited the room. Outside, Krane awaited, sporting a peculiar artifact on his back resembling a thick tree branch and a peculiar wooden sword at his waist. A single nce told Cain these were invaluable treasures. The sword seemed to be a tinum Tier Wave Artifact, but the object on Krane''s back was even rarer. ''?A Holy Weapon?'' That was the thought in Cain''s mind as he gazed at the thick tree branch that had fused with Krane''s back. Unlike Wave Artifacts, which require certain energy pools to be activated, Holy Weapons adapt with their users, bing more formidable as the wielder grows. This means even a Wave Warrior can harness a Holy Weapon''s power destined to attain Peak Apotheosis Level. In contrast, a tinum Grade Artifact requires a user with the energy to tap into its full potential. Recognizing the rarity of a Holy Weapon, Cain concluded Krane must have secured it through underworld connections. After a nod of approval, the duo teleported to the headquarters of the Wave Crafter Association. Two months had already gone by, and Cain sought the return of his weapon. Walking purposefully, Cain and Krane approached the Endless Pyramid. They entered unhindered, having scheduled an appointment with Grandmaster Horteus, and swiftly made their way to the master craftsman''s chamber. Like their prior visit, Grandmaster Horteus was engrossed in his work but paused upon noticing Cain. He acknowledged the young warrior with a nod. "In just two months, your name has echoed throughout the realm. It appears you''re the talk of the town." Cain merely shrugged, fixing his gaze on Horteus. He could not hide his desire for his weapon. Without further ado, the Grandmaster waved his hand, revealing a red saber and a collection of 33 daggers. Intrigued, Cain studied the weapons, noting the marked difference from his previous weapon, ughter. The new weapons did not adjust to his battle style, but instead of leaping to conclusions, he awaited Horteus'' exnation. Horteus nodded as he saw Cain''s control and began to talk. "Given the damage it sustained, reconstructing ughter as a single entity was unfeasible. However, this design suits you perfectly. I''ve named the saber ''ughter'' as a nod to its predecessor. While it no longer morphs to your whim, its durability is unparalleled." Horteus channeled his Essence Wave into the de, which began to hum. Cain felt an instinctual wariness since he was sure the de''s power could threaten his reinforced body. "It harnesses both Astral and Essence Waves," Horteus continued. "By channeling energy, I awakened itstent Lightning and Sonic Laws. The oscition weakens molecr bonds of whatever it slices, amplifying its cutting power proportionally to your energy pool." Cain and Krane listened in awe. Not only was the weapon incredibly powerful, but Horteus had managed to draw forth the power left behind by the Lightning Law of the Copsing Lightning Duke. Clearly, the man had reached an extremely high level in his craft. After hearing that exnation, Cain was more than satisfied with the de but did not lose focus and turned his eyes to the daggers. Horteus noticed Cain''s eyes shift to the daggers, and he infused them with his Ego Wave. With a gesture, they began to move around the room with incredible proficiency. Things escted when Horteus used the matrix in the daggers to draw the Life Wave from the air. Cain and Krane looked at the dagger with awe as they were nothing short of extraordinary. Chapter 367 Walk to Heaven (II) Cain didn''t notice the expressions on people''s faces as he used every ounce of strength and focus on his body and energy, preventing it from spiraling out of control. He endured the pressure that assaulted him from every direction. His Astral Wave, which usually flowed with the vigor of a racehorse, now moved sluggishly. It took all his strength to push it forward. He chose not to sit, fearing that if he did, he wouldn''t be able to rise again and keep moving the Astral Wave through his meridians,pelling his Rebirth Heart to beat with increasing intensity. While he adjusted to the ninth step in an hour, the tenth step took him nearly six. However, the color eventually returned to Cain''s face, and his Astral Wave flowed powerfully through his meridians. With determination in his eyes, he looked at the eleventh step. Taking a deep breath, he jumped onto it. Immediately, his knees buckled, and his entire body began to shake. A metallic taste filled his mouth. The pressure was overwhelming, threatening to freeze his Astral Wave, which would have caused significant damage. Yet, Cain''s eyes burst with red light, utilizing his Ego Wave to its maximum, forcing his Astral Wave forward and aiding his Rebirth Heart in enduring the pressure. Observers at the base could see the ordeal Cain was experiencing. Still, they remained silent. Their admiration grew when, after a full day, Cain stood tall, his Astral Wave coursing powerfully through him. Their amazement intensified when Cain leaped to the twelfth step. Despite the pressure, the young man persevered. Imperial Princesses and Schrs watched in awe, recognizing this meant Cain''s talent could reach the pinnacle of the Apotheosis Realm. Hours passed, and while Cain adapted more to the pressure of the Stair to Heaven, he hadn''t fully limated. Although he regained control of his body, his Astral Wave remained sluggish. Cain''s eyes radiated red as he adjusted his breathing and set his sights on the 13th step. Witnessing this, the spectators were awestruck. Reaching the 13th step signified a talent suitable for bing a Divine Ascension Cultivator, the highest rank in Aether. Cain calmly approached the end of the step, the red light in his eyes intensifying. Yet, instead of advancing to the 13th step, he retreated, immediately feeling the pressure from the Stair to Heaven dissipate as he descended to the ground. Seeing this, many felt a pang of disappointment that Cain didn''t challenge the 13th step. Cain saw their reactions but remained unfazed. He could have taken the step, but the immense pressure would''ve overwhelmed him, risking severe injury. Why risk harm just to prove something to onlookers? What truly mattered to Cain right now was the state of his Astral Wave. Cain''s eyes shimmered meaningfully, sensing the speed of his Astral Wave through his meridians. The Stair to Heaven served as both a test and a training ground, with immediate effects. With his enhanced Astral Wave, his proficiency in the Four Basic Wave Arts would improve, further boosting hisbat abilities. A smile spread across his face, feeling his power surge ever since he arrived in Eden. Dominguez, as stunned as the others, consulted with the two other Imperial Schrs. They quickly reached a consensus based on Cain''s performance. "Having observed and evaluated every facet of your performance, we are pleased to grant Colonel Laurifer the mark of High Marquis. We would like to mention, and it will be on record, that your feat reached the boundary of Vice-Duke. However, due to your age and military rank, we are unable to grant it at the moment." us, Michael, and the others were surprised to hear that. A Vice-Duke was an extremely high title, and the fact that Dominguez mentioned it meant it was just a matter of a few years before Cain could attain it. Cain wasn''t overly concerned about the title of nobility, but he understood its importance. He extended his gratitude to Dominguez and the other two Imperial Schrs. "I thank you for your efforts." "It is our duty. We will see you again in two months for the final test: The Ascension to the Stars."@@novelbin@@ Dominguez spoke those words and nodded to Cain before he and the other Imperial Schrs departed. "Hahaha, well done, Colonel Laurifer, you''ve done an excellent job." us approached Cain, offering his hand for a shake. After a brief handshake, he added, "There''s a small party at my home if you''re interested." Although the Fourth Imperial Prince didn''t say it directly, the party was to celebrate Cain''s achievements. Cain smiled but gently declined, "Thanks, but I have important matters to attend to at the moment. Maybe next time." us''s eyes narrowed, sharing a meaningful nce with Cain. Clearly, the matter concerned the investigation. The brief exchange ended, and both men resumed their pleasant demeanor. "I understand. I hope to see you soon, Colonel." With that, us turned around and departed while others approached Cain. Just like with us, Cain engaged in small talk but declined any further invitations. Soon after, he left the venue, heading to his residence. Once home, Cain''s exhaustion took over, and he went straight to sleep. Upon awakening, he activated his [A.I. Chip Module]. "How did it go?" He sent the message, and within seconds, a reply came in Krane''s voice. "Asmanded, I''ve inspected the Azure State. Just as stated by the Fourth Imperial Prince, thousands have vanished. They''re primarily from remote viges, orphanages, or areas where their absence would create minimal disturbance. That''s why, despite the high number of disappearances, there''s no real uproar or concern; the changes have gonergely unnoticed." Krane had apanied Cain to the Cicada Forest, but his departure wasn''t for training. Instead, he stealthily left Eden to investigate the Azure State and the mysterious disappearances. As Cain went through the list of those missing, his expression grew increasingly somber. Themon thread behind each disappearance was the presence of children. "And the Azure Royal Family''s involvement?" "I''ve searched their facilities and did some recon. I found no direct connections, but I made a startling discovery. There''s a high chance of an intercontinental teleportation formation in their main castle." Chapter 368 Metal Flame Roc Cain''s eyes widened upon hearing the revtion, as it was a truly shocking piece of information. Intercontinental teleportation formations were incredibly expensive, to the extent that even powers with Titans backing them might not possess one. Moreover, they were strictly regted, with only the Imperial Court having ess to them. Each and every one of these formations was situated in Eden and monitored around the clock. Although they were vital for maintaining the Godyer Human Race''s alliance with the Deus Bahamut Race and Anima Machinarium Race, they also posed a grave threat, as they could serve as a gateway for the Dark Races to invade Gaia. Given his rank as a Colonel in the Imperial Army, Cain was acutely aware of the magnitude of the crime associated with secretly creating an intercontinental teleportation formation. The repercussions would be dire, leading to the branding of an entire family as traitors, their minds tampered with, and turned into war puppets until their demise. "How certain are you about this?" Cain struggled to grasp why the Azure Royal Family, descendants of the Azure Emperor, wouldmit such an act, prompting him to seek further confirmation. "Although I didn''t directly witness the intercontinental teleportation formation, through my underworld contacts, I discovered that the Azure Royal Family has been procuring the necessary materials along with the help of Rune Masters and Wave Crafters." Krane was no simpleton and grasped the ramifications of concealing an intercontinental teleportation formation from the Imperial Court. Hence, he immediately ryed this critical information to Cain. Upon hearing about the Rune Masters and Wave Crafters, Cain''s brows furrowed. If it were just the materials, there could have been a possibility that the Azure Royal Family acted as intermediaries. However, the involvement of Grandmasters in inscription and crafting suggested that they likely intended to control the teleportation formation. "Krane, how feasible would it be to gather these materials without ties to the Dark Kings?" For the first time, Krane hesitated, indicating theplexity of the inquiry. "Although most of the materials can be procured with enough wealth, the coreponents of the intercontinental teleportation formation are items traded exclusively by the Dark Kings. Unless they obtained them independently through some lucky chance, it''s improbable for the Azure Royal Family to have constructed the formation without engaging with one of them." A chilling sensation enveloped Cain as he processed this revtion. Numerous individuals maintained connections with the underworld, him included, but there was a vast distinction between such dealings and affiliations with the Dark Kings. After all, anyone linked to the Dark Kings was, to some degree, affiliated with The Organization. After pondering for a brief moment, Cain''s resolve intensified. "Meet me at the portion of the Cicada Forest close to the Azure State." "Yes, Lord." Departing his residence and Eden, Cain ventured into the Cicada Forest. Engaging inbat with King Beasts, he refined his sword techniques with ughter and honed his mastery over Blood Nails. asionally, he would unleash the power of the Sundering Concept, amplifying his offensive prowess to such an extent that he could y a Late King Beast in a single blow. Despite the astounding capabilities of Concepts, they exacted a heavy toll. Although Cain had attained the Second Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power not long ago, his willpower lingered at the Peak Wave King Rank, yet to transition into the Apotheosis Realm. It wasn''t due to Cain''s lethargy or weakening will, but the steeper challenges faced with ascending ranks. The notion of someone possessing Apotheosis Realm willpower before the age of eighteen was preposterous, with no historical precedent, even among past Emperors of the Godyer Humankind. Therefore, to invoke the power of Concepts, Cain had to ignite his Ego Wave, momentarily boosting hisbat strength but leaving him vulnerable afterward, necessitating caution. ... On the third day following the conclusion of the Walk to Haven, Cain confronted a gargantuan fiery avian creature. Enveloped in red mes, its metallic feathers gleamed menacingly, moving with surprising agility despite its immense size. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire Known as the Metal me Roc, this formidable creature harbored the potential to ascend to the ranks of a Grand King Beast! Cain, augmented by thebined might of his Blood Wings and Asura Form''s Second Gear, disyed remarkable speed, shing repeatedly with the Roc''s talons and wings. His Blood Nails deftly deflected the searing balls of me and razor-sharp metallic feathers hurled at him. "BOOOMMMMMM!" A deafening explosion resonated throughout the expanse as Cain''s de met the Metal me Roc''s beak head-on. Even with Cain''s robust physique,parable to a Golden Wave Artifact and fortified by his Radiance of Strength, the impact was overwhelming. The taste of metal filled his mouth as he recoiled from the sh, being hurled backward. Although the Metal me Roc yearned to pursue the audacious human who had dared challenge it, the confrontation had not spared it either. It took several moments to regain itsposure and control. However, once it did, a fierce killing intent radiated from its eyes. The mes enveloping it intensified, reaching temperatures so high that the surrounding oxygen ignited, setting the sky ame for tens of thousands of meters. "Kyeeer!" The Metal me Roc unleashed a formidable cry as it dashed toward Cain, resembling a ming meteor, carrying the destructive force akin to a nuclear weapon. Just as Cain regained control over himself, he discerned the beast''s ear-piercing cry. His gaze turned steely upon witnessing the fiery onught, powerful enough to have obliterated arge city in the Old World. Taking a deep breath, the obsidian aura surrounding ughter intensified, and his heartbeat amplified. "THUMP!" The moment Cain''s heart shifted to Third Gear, he surged forward at an even greater velocity. His Ego Wave ignited, summoning the might of the Sundering Concepts.@@novelbin@@ "SHHHHH!" No explosion, nor a burst of energy marked the moment Cain and the Metal me Roc confronted each other in the sky. Neither halted their momentum, continuing their trajectories for hundreds of meters before eventuallying to a standstill. Chapter 369 Back to the Azure State A grimace of pain distorted Cain''s features, and he struggled to maintain his position in the sky. A gaping wound emerged on the right side of his chest, so profound that his ribs were exposed. The flesh surrounding the injury was charred,plicating the healing process. Meanwhile, the Metal me Roc remained eerily silent, its wings pping weakly. The once-luminous glow in its eyes had dimmed, and momentster, it started to plummet, seemingly devoid of strength. At first nce, the beast appeared unharmed, but upon closer inspection, a slender incision could be discerned on the upper part of its skull. Cain''s de had sessfully prated the skull of the King Beast, cleaving its brain in two, obliterating its soul dimension with a surge of dark force. That was a strike utilizing every ounce of Cain''s power. Not only did he push his body to the limit by triggering Third Gear, but he also unleashed his Astral Wave and Blood Energy to enhance his physical might. Furthermore, he set his Ego Wave aze to gain the power necessary to pierce the beast''s skull. Cain clenched his teeth to endure the pain, swiftly returning to the Metal me Roc and cing his hand over it, sending it to his [Devourer Dimension]. To any onlooker, it would appear that Cain simply stored the corpse in his space ring. Although taking time to devour the entire body would have been more beneficial, Cain was pressed for time and opted to use the [Gluttony Module] that would constantly flood his body with energy and vitality without the need for active participation. After handling this, Cain''s body morphed into a mass of shadows, sshing onto the ground and vanishing from sight. Those observing the battle from a distance or through supernatural methods were stunned as they lost sight of the young man. Some spected whether they had been detected, but most concluded that Cain simply concealed himself due to the severity of his wounds. A few powerhouses attempted to locate him, but finding him from their hidden positions proved impossible, and thus Cain vanished from everyone''s sight. Half an hourter, Cain emerged from the shadow of a tree nearly five hundred kilometers from where he fought the Metal me Roc. While his face was pale due to energy depletion, the wound on his chest was nearly healed already. Although the wound was serious, it had not affected any vital organs, and the Radiance of Life was more than capable of healing it once Cain focused solely on it. As he sensed the state of his body, a small smile appeared on Cain''s face. ''Good. After attaining the third level in the Biometal Herculean Technique, my body can endure Third Gear for a few seconds without suffering crippling bacsh. As for the Sundering Concept, while powerful, I am still too weak to use it without drawbacks, so I will save it as a trump card.'' Sensing the state of his body, Cain sat down and began to recover, using a high-quality wave crystal to regenerate his Astral Wave while taking advantage of the energy and vitality that the [Gluttony Module] flooded his veins with to push his body back to its peak. Simultaneously, Cain''s Ego Wave silently flooded the surroundings, ensuring there was no one watching him. The main reason he vanished into a stream of shadows was to lose those who were observing him. After an hour, Cain regained enough strength and, having made sure no one was watching, he made his way through the Cicada Forest, nearing the Azure State. Although Cain couldn''t use his full speed since he was concealing his aura, it took him less than a day to reach his destination and soon notice Krane. The middle-aged man''s eyes narrowed as he sensed a presence and turned to the left, only to see Cain less than one hundred meters away from him. Krane had grown very powerful after his Evolution Core was healed and with his new Lineage, but he was still surprised to see that Cain had managed to conceal himself so well from his senses. Not to mention, he was certain that the young man wasn''t really trying to hide from him. "My Lord," Krane sped his hands and performed a bow as he saw Cain, who nodded before looking into the distance, towards the Azure State. "How confident are you in the fact that the intercontinental teleportation formation is inside the main castle?" Krane didn''t answer immediately and thought for a moment beforeing up with an answer. "An intercontinental teleportation formation is not easy to hide due to the energy waves it unleashes and the strong presence of the Space Law. I doubt there is another ce in the entire Azure State where they could hide it, as I am sure they do not want anyone to know about it."@@novelbin@@ Cain nodded, agreeing with Krane. He stood silent for a few minutes before the final parts of his n came to mind. "You have surveilled theings and goings of the Azure Royal Family from the State as I instructed, right?" "Yes, my Lord. Every time they exited, it''s registered. I have even used the Wood Law to keep track of their presence inside the Cicada Forest." Cain couldn''t help but look at Krane with surprise when he mentioned that. The Wood Law might not sound as impressive as the Fire Law or Lightning Law, but that was clearly the mentality of a novice when it came to the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire There was no such thing as a weak Law, only cultivators whocked imagination and the dexterity to use it well. "Great. Tell me, is there an Early Wave King present in the Cicada Forest?" Krane didn''t know Cain''s n, but he didn''t need to, and immediately provided an answer. "Yes. Right now, there is an old man named Ocius Azure guiding a young girl into battle not very far from our location." Cain nodded, and the duo immediately set off in the direction of the members of the Azure Royal Family. Chapter 371 : Infiltrating the Azure State Cain''s face was pale from the mental exhaustion, but he had no time to rest, as there was still much to do. However, before continuing with Ocius, he turned to the side. "How is the woman?" Cain asked as he focused on the wooden cocoon holding the young member of the Azure Royal Family. "She is unconscious. My branches are releasing a powerful drug that will erase her short-term memory, ensuring our presence and this event are forgotten." Krane had protected the woman not out of kindness but because it would have been difficult to exin how Samira perished fighting Wave Beasts while under the surveince of a Wave King. "Good, bring her to me." Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire Cain walked over as the cocoon opened, revealing the unconscious Samira. His Ego Wave acted again, invading the young woman''s mind and putting her into a state ofpulsion as he altered her memories. Having be a Saint Hypnosis Master, Cain did not need to use verbalmands to affect someone, and it was not difficult to manipte memories in people whose willpower had yet to reach the Wave Champion level. "She will not cause us problems. Now, let''s finish with the old man." Cain was tired but did not let that stop him as he took one of the Blood Nails and made a deep cut in Ocius'' head. Krane looked on, his eyes widening as he witnessed Cain''s actions, and he could not help but regard the young man as a true monster. He had lived in the underworld for a very long time, but Cain''s behavior truly shocked him at times. Although Cain had a strong sense of justice, when it came to evil people, he showed no moral or ethical restraint whatsoever.@@novelbin@@ --- A few hourster, as the sun was setting, Ocius and Samira calmly made their way back to the Azure Estate. "It''s not fair. I was having such a good time, yet we already need to return home." The young girl eximed as she pouted, her cheeks puffing. "Hahaha, Samira, it is safer this way, or your parents might grow worried." "But Master, with you by my side, nothing can harm me, so I don''t understand why we can''t spend the night in the forest training." Ocius smiled, but a devious light appeared in his eyes at the young woman''s words. "If it''s fine with you, next time, we could spend the entire night training. Of course, we must ask your parents, but I am sure they will ept." "Really!? Yes, Master, that would make me very happy!" Samira nearly jumped with excitement at those words. Clearly, the young woman did not truly understand what was going on or the kind of man her Master was. The duo entered the Azure Estate without issue and made their way to arge mountain at the city''s core, where a massive castley. Not all members of the Azure Royal Family lived in the Azure Castle, with many having residences around it, such as Samira''s family. "I will be going. We''ll see each other soon." Ocius spoke to the young girl with a smile as he walked toward the castle. "Ehh, already? See you soon, Master." Samira was a little surprised since her Master would always chat with her for a while once they returned to the Azure Estate, but she did not overthink it and went back to her house. Not everyone could enter the Azure Castle, but as a Wave King, Ocius had no trouble. He immediately went to a remote corner before knocking on a door. "Alderman Timothy." "Come in." A voice came from the other side, and Ocius entered the small room where a man stood among a set of thick books. The presence of books was an anomaly in the Godyer Humankind Empire since every child had an A.I. Chip imnted from birth, capable of storing a near-endless amount of information. However, books could not be hacked, an important quality if the information they contained was sensitive. "What brings you here, Ocius?" Alderman Timothy looked much older than Ocius but was actually hundreds of years younger. The reason for his appearance was that he was just a Peak Wave Champion and had failed to reach the Wave King Rank. There was a bored expression on the alderman as he looked at Ocius. There was a lot of work to be done, but while his job granted him a certain status, it was not wise to ignore a Wave King, so he paid the man attention. Ocius could see the disinterest in Timothy, but while he might have made a fuss any other time, now he adopted a solemn expression. "I need your assistance in a matter that requires a certain finesse." Timothy''s eyes narrowed as he heard those words, and he waved his hand, activating a formation in the room that sealed sound and ensured that no Ego Waves could eavesdrop. He was ustomed to this type of conversation, so after making sure they were alone, he nodded to Ocius, signaling he could continue. "It hase to my possession certain items that I cannot use right now, but it would be unwise to keep them on me since they could be tracked. I need a ce where I can stash them for now." Ocius'' face was calm, but there was no hiding the sense of trepidation in his eyes. Timothy focused on the Wave King for a moment, analyzing his words. If it were a simple treasure gained by luck, there was no problem keeping it in your space ring, but if it was stolen, the rightful owner could be searching for it through all sorts of supernatural means. "Even if you took it from other noble families, you could hide it in the main vault. It doesn''t matter if they track it to this ce since they would not dare to fight with us for it." Although Timothy''s answer was arrogant, it was also correct, as the number of noble families that could offend the Azure Royal Family was very few. Ocius looked at Timothy briefly before clenching his teeth and waving his hand, revealing a small crystal glowing with sky-blue energy. "A Goldsoul Crystal!" Chapter 372 Trap (I) When Timothy saw the Goldsoul Crystal, not only was there shock in his eyes but also a sense of profound greed. These treasures could purify your Wave, solidifying your foundations, exactly what someone needed to move from the peak of a rank to the next stage. As he grew older, Timothy had sought many treasures that could help him improve his cultivation, but none of them had been able to forcefully push him to the Wave King Rank. He was aware of the miracles that were the personal treasures of the Goldsoul Imperial Family, but while he wanted to get them, they were beyond his reach. "Where did you get it!?" Timothy demanded. Ocius'' eyes grew cold at the question, and he waved his hand, making the Goldsoul Crystal return to his space ring. Timothy nearly jumped out of his seat when he saw the sky-blue crystal vanish, but he managed to get a hold of himself and took a deep breath before calming his heart. "I am sorry for that question. I know better than to ask someone to divulge their secrets; it''s just that you showed me something very appealing." "No problem," Ocius softly nodded as he stared at the old Wave Champion for a long time before speaking again. "I need your help to store them since if the Imperial Court were to discover I have them, I would get into serious trouble. Of course, I will pay you for it. I currently have 300 Warrior Goldsoul Crystals, 25 Champion Goldsoul Crystals, and 4 King Goldsoul Crystals." Timothy''s eyes widened as he heard the words from Ocius since that amount of wealth was shocking beyond belief, at least for him. Although the greed in his heart was burning, the alderman did not lose focus and could keep a cool head. That was one of the reasons he had secured a position on the Azure Royal Council despite his weak cultivation. "I am ttered that you sought my assistance, Ocius, but I must ask, why me? There are many others with a higher profile and means that could help you." Ocius stared at Timothy for a moment before showing a small smile and nodding. "Simple, you are weak." Timothy''s eyes narrowed at that answer, but he did not speak, knowing it wasn''t the end. "Had I gone to anyone else, they would have taken the Goldsoul Crystals for themselves or, in the best case, allowed me to keep a small fraction. But you cannot push me around." Timothy stared at Ocius for a long time before finally nodding and smiling. "You are right. I have the means to help you but not the strength to push you around." The alderman paused at that point as he thought for a moment before finallying up with an answer. "There is a ce that is safe enough that even Apotheosis Realm Masters use it to hide their stolen wealth. It is not easy to ess, but as an alderman of the Azure Council, I have the required authorization." "Great!" Ocius smiled as he heard that answer since it meant that Timothy could help him, and there was no need to involve someone else. "Now, about my payment." Ocius'' smile immediately faded as he heard that, and an annoyed expression appeared. "Yes, yes. I will give you 10 million military credits and one Champion Goldsoul Crystal."@@novelbin@@ "Please, Ocius, you offend me. Let''s forget about the military credits since I have no real use for them. What I want are ten of the Champion Goldsoul Crystals!" "What! Ten! Are you mad!?" Ocius immediately shouted, and a sh of killing intent appeared in his eyes, making it seem as if he was ready to take Timothy''s life. Although the threat of a Wave King was significant, Timothy had lived a long life and knew how to maneuver through challenging scenarios. "Please, do not lose control. I want ten, but that doesn''t mean I will get ten. We are just negotiating." Ocius'' killing intent calmed as he heard those words, and he stared at Timothy for a moment before speaking again. "25 million military credits and two Champion Goldsoul Crystals." "Eight Champion Goldsoul Crystals, and I will give you 20 million military credits." The duo carried on with their negotiation for nearly half an hour before they finally came to apromise, with Timothy getting four Champion Goldsoul Crystals and paying Ocius a total of 40 million military credits. "Good, now that we''re done, we should move. We must store the Goldsoul Crystals before anyone notices they are missing and starts searching for them." Timothy spoke with a voice full of excitement, as one could expect since four Champion Godsoul Crystals would be more than enough to refine his Essence Wave to the point he could forcefully push his cultivation into the Wave King Rank. Ocius showed just as much impatience as the alderman, so both left the room the next second. The old Wave King calmly followed the alderman as they walked through the castle that was asrge as a small town. "First, we must reach the lower levels of the Azure Castle, and from there, we will descend even further." Timothy guided Ocius to a part of the Azure Castle devoid of people. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire Ocius calmly nodded as he followed the Wave Champion, seemingly not worried about this one trying something due to the difference in their strength. "By the way, Timothy, I found it very odd not to see any Elders present. Is there a problem I am not aware of?" Timothy nced at Ocius and didn''t find anything odd in the question since, usually, one would see at least a couple of Apotheosis Realm Masters inside the Azure Castle from time to time, but right now, there was none in sight. "I don''t really know about it, but I heard rumors that there are no Apotheosis Realm Masters currently inside the Azure Castle. It seems they all left for some important mission under the order of the Azure King." "All of them? What about the safety of the castle?" Chapter 374 Trap (III) Ocius used his energy to remain in the air as he looked at the people above the metal gate, wrath evident as he focused on Timothy. "What is the meaning of this!?" Timothy showed a mocking smile as he heard Ocius''s question and did not bother answering. Instead, the Middle Wave King responded. "Are you really so naive as to not understand your position, Ocius? Did you believe that reaching the Silent Vault with the help of a simple alderman was possible? Timothy never had ess to this ce, and I opened the gate to the tunnel you just went through." Ocius focused on the Middle Wave King, fear in his eyes, yet he clenched his teeth and shouted. "Alderman Farius, do you think you can take my belongings without anyone noticing? The Elders will punish you for this!" "Hmph, there are no elders present in the castle, and even if they were, I would simply share a portion of the wealth with them. That is how things work. Timothy knows this, which is why he contacted me while you were negotiating. You, on the other hand, let greed cloud your judgment and want to keep the treasure for yourself." Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire Farius'' face was expressionless as he and the other two Wave Kings ascended, approaching Ocius with coldness in their eyes as their Wave cloaked their bodies. Ocius rose further and further until he reached the metal gate above him. The old Wave King could feel the endurance of the metal gate and knew he could not break through it, so there was no way to escape from the trio. Timothy watched everything with a smile on his face as he pushed his Essence Wave to the limit, activating his armor and enveloping himself in a strong current of revolving water. He would not participate in the fight, but that did not mean the coteral damage would not affect him, so he had to be careful. "Wait, I will hand the treasure over to you and forget about this. There is no need to escte things. Please, we are all members of the Azure Royal Family and have the blood of the Azure Emperor running through our veins." Ocius shouted, but his words seemed to have zero effect on the trio as they surrounded him. The fear in his eyes was evident as his heart beat faster and faster.@@novelbin@@ "Our fight will draw attention, and people will know that you have killed me!" The trio only smiled as they heard Ocius'' warning. They had already made sure to erase any evidence of the old Wave King''s arrival into this ce. "Let''s end this!" Farius shouted as his Astral Wave exploded, making him incredibly powerful as azure mes covered his body He, along with the other two, charged toward Ocius, full of killing intent. They activated their armor and burst their Waves. Even if Ocius was weak, one could never underestimate a cornered animal. The trio was prepared for an intense fight, but what happened next left them in total shock. Just as they were less than ten meters from Ocius, his head exploded! ''Suicide!?'' That thought appeared in the trio''s mind, but it immediately faded as they spotted a golden object amidst the burst of blood. "A space ring!" The reason for Ocius'' head exploding was the activation of that space ring, and before they could recover from the shock, two masked figures emerged from the ring. One wore a red helmet wielding a red saber, and the other a ck helmet with branches emerging from his back. The man in the ck helmet extended the branches from his back to cover the ceiling and ground in a fraction of a second, epassing the entire battlefield into a wood prison, while the man in the red helmet charged toward Farius. Despite the shock, Farius was a seasoned warrior and made the Astral Wave on his arm burst as his gauntlets glowed with azure energy, reinforcing them as he struck at the red saber. The other two Wave Kings attacked the man in the red helmet from the sides. The trio did not know what was happening and could sense that the aura of the man in the ck helmet was much greater than theirs. Luckily, he seemed focused on preventing anyone from escaping, allowing them to concentrate on the man in the red helmet. Unlike the man in the ck helmet, the one in red seemed to have an energy pool that did not surpass the Early Wave King Realm, so they immediately decided to eliminate this one quickly before working together against the other person. Cain figured out the trio''s battle n immediately, and his only response was to make his Ego Wave burst as the edge of his de grew monstrously powerful, summoning the power of the Sundering Concept. Farius'' fist shed with the de, and the strength behind it was immense, protected by a Golden Wave Artifact, so he did not fear being harmed. It was not the first time he had faced a cold weapon, and he was sure he could push it away. However, all confidence shattered as the de pierced his gauntlets before carrying on through Farius'' hand, severing his entire right arm! Shock overwhelmed Farius, and the same happened with the other two Wave Kings. When the duo saw the wound on their leader, their first thought was not to help but to do everything in their power to escape. Unfortunately, before they could even move, daggers moving at a shocking speed pierced their lungs! Thest time Cain confronted a Middle Wave King was less than a year ago. He had to exert his full power just to be on par with the opponent despite thetter''s Evolution Core being wounded. Now, Cain could cripple a Middle Wave King in an instant and deal with two Early Wave Kings using his secondary weapon at the same time! Cain''s eyes were focused, and there was no sign of excitement for his immense burst of strength as he clenched his left fist. Concentrating his Astral Wave within, he delivered a punch straight to Farius'' heart with all his might, crippling his opponent''s energy pool. Chapter 378 Alarm All the pieces were arranged in Cain''s mind as he realized the true purpose of the intercontinental teleportation formation. Secretly holding intercontinental teleportation formation was a grave crime, and it did not make much sense for the Azure Royal Family to risk it. While moving through continents was hard, a Divine Ascension cultivator could do it with enough effort and safety, not to mention that due to their status, the Azure Royal Family could ask to use the ones in control by the Imperial Court. Therefore, it did not make sense for the Azure Royal Family to possess an intercontinental teleportation formation just to reach another continent. Still, things changed if the goal of the formation was not just to go to another continent but to escape from the wrath of the Imperial Court. If you have enough power, there were many crimes the Imperial Court would be willing to turn a blind eye to, but working for The Organization was something they could never forget. Cain took a deep breath as he processed all that information and realized how deep the connection between the Azure Royal Family and The Organization was. Even for him, it was hard to calm down when he understood that The Organization was the puppeteer of the bloodline of a former Emperor of the Godyer Humankind. The red light in his eyes burned with incredible might as he regained control of his emotions. Exposing the Azure Royal Family was important, but there was something even more crucial. Cain''s eyes glowed with determination as he nced at Farius. "If you can tell me the exact location where Elder Gorius took the children, I will let you live." Farius'' eyes glimmered with hope as he heard those words, and he immediately began to nod. If it weren''t for the branch covering his mouth, he would have already started shouting. Cain only stared at the Middle Wave King briefly before his eyes grew emotionless while the red light in them burst with killing intent. "Your heart squeezed when I asked that question, which led me to believe you don''t know." Farius'' eyes widened as he heard that, and he attempted to speak with all his might, trying to convince Cain otherwise, but the young man was not in the mood to listen to him. Before he could do anything, the branches pierced into his body, making him tremble in pain while at the same time injecting a powerful drug that left him unconscious. Krane retracted the branches as Cain sent Farius to the same space ring that held the bloody Zn.@@novelbin@@ There was nothing but killing intent in Cain''s heart for these people, but he could not do it right now. After all, the death of a guard would not go unnoticed, especially in a ce like this. Cain controlled one of the daggers to make an incision in Timothy''s head, as he intended to leave this ce in the same way he came, inside the brain of a member of the Azure Royal Family. Timothy did nothing to resist as he had already lost control of his body and mind, and the only train of thought he had was to obey Cain''smand. Once the incision was done, Cain turned to the hypnotized Early Wave King, and his eyes burst with red light. "In thirty minutes, blow your head off." It was impossible to erase the fact that he and Krane came to this ce, so the best path was to erase any evidence of their presence, and that meant killing everybody who saw them. Cain was not a ruthless murderer, but when it came to the Azure Royal Family, a force capable of killing millions of humans and kidnapping children for experimenting, he had no reservations about them. The Early Wave King did not make a gesture and remained silent, as there was nothing he could do other than obey themand given. He would die, and the one whomanded it did not even bother to learn his name. That was a truly pitiful death. Cain and Krane entered the space ring, which silently pierced into Timothy''s brain before a burst of golden me closed the wound. The gates to the exterior were open, so the alderman had no problem leaving the secret vault. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire Cain''s Ego Wave allowed him to see what Timothy did, and as they passed through the ndestine prison, an annoyed expression appeared on his face. He wanted to save those people butcked the authority to open the gates, and there was no way he could force his way through. In the end, Cain could only sigh and had to admit that his strength was simply not enough. He would report everything to the Fourth Imperial Prince and attempt to breach this ce as fast as possible, but there was a good chance that these prisoners would be either mobilized or killed once the Azure Royal Family learned there was a break-in. Timothy was able to exit the prison, and the azure force field detected nothing. It was powerful but not enough to perceive the presence of people inside a space ring in the brain of someone. Once the alderman exited the prison, he flew up the stairs and reached the dungeon''s exit quickly. Timothy had initially walked to give Farius and the others time toy the trap for Ocius. The alderman reached the dungeon''s exit and activated the matrix, emerging from the statue in the empty room back in the Azure Castle. Cain could not help but sigh as he saw they finally left that ce. ''There is still danger since I am sure the Azure Castle is monitored, but even if something goes wrong now, we should be able to escape without much problem.'' Cain was not a fan of fairy tales since he found them so predictable, which was why he did not detect the irony in the fact that as soon as that thought crossed his mind, an rm went off in the Azure Castle! "RMMMMMMM!!!" Chapter 379 Existential threat to the Azure State The rm went off, and it echoed across the entire Azure Castle. Timothy showed nothing since Cain controlled his every action, but the young man and Krane inside the space ring looked at each other with shock and dread. Cain and Krane did not understand what was happening. They had been very careful, making sure to cover their presence. However, even if they were discovered, why wait until they left the dungeon? It would have made much more sense to attack them while they were inside the dungeon since it would have been easier to get rid of the evidence. "RUMBLE!!!" Before the duo could understand what was happening, they felt the ground beneath their feet trembling, and through Timothy''s A.I. Chip, they heard a message. [All people at the Wave Champion and Wave Warrior ranks must evacuate into the Azure Castle. Cultivators at the Wave King level must form a defensive formation around the perimeters. This is amand from the Azure Royal Council!!!] Cain frowned as he heard thatmand, and it became clear that the rm was not rted to him, Krane, or the events in the dungeons and Secret Vault. It was rted to the tremor that kept growing stronger. Timothy was a Wave Champion, so he should have waited inside the Azure Castle, but Cain needed to know what was happening. No matter how he felt about the Azure Royal Family, they were powerful, so something that would force them to evacuate must be extremely dangerous. "?BOOM!" As soon as Timothy emerged from the Azure Caste, he heard a powerful explosion in the distance. The alderman turned to the origin, and what he saw left Cain and Krane shocked. The alderman saw what could only be described as a sphere of dark golden energy the size of a mountain! Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire It was located on the periphery of the Azure State, near the northwest. "?BOOM!" Another explosion emerged from the sphere of dark golden revolving energy.@@novelbin@@ "?BOOOOMMMM!" The explosions seemed to have a pattern, as the sphere would shirk before unleashing a powerful st, growingrger and stronger the next second. "BOOOOMMMM!" It happened again and again, and the sts were too much for the outer walls of the Azure State as cracks had already formed in them. If left unchecked, the walls will fall, allowing the energy st to reach the poption, and hundreds of thousands will die. Cain could discern the power of the revolving sphere of dark golden energy and knew it was an existential threat to the entire Azure State. They needed to act fast, or else it would result in countless deaths, but as he looked around him, it was clear that the Wave Kings of the Azure Royal Family would not risk their lives. The energy level of the sphere was beyond that of a Wave King, and the st at the epicenter carried more than enough power to endanger their lives. Cain knew that none of the Wave Kings would risk their lives for themon people of the Azure State. Apotheosis Realm Masters were the only ones who could intervene in such a powerful phenomenon safely, but for some reason, all of them were gone. Whatever those Apotheosis Realm Masters were doing, Cain doubted they would suddenly return to the state to save themoners. They might appear once the Azure Castle was in danger, but by then, millions would have perished. ''Dammit!'' Cain shouted in his mind as hemanded Timothy to leave the Azure Castle and march toward the sphere of dark golden energy. The old alderman did as he was told, using all his strength to rise into the sky as he shed out of the Azure Castle at full speed. "Alderman Timothy?" "What are you doing!?" The Wave Kings guarding the periphery of the castle shouted as they saw the old Wave Champion marching toward the sphere of energy. None was willing to risk their lives by going near the sphere of energy, so they just watched as this one vanished in the distance. If the old man wanted to kill himself, they would not join him. Timothy, of course, did not care about those Wave Kings as he was under the control of Cain. As soon as he moved far enough away from the sight of the people of the Azure Royal Family, he entered a small alley, where his head exploded into pieces, allowing Cain and Krane to emerge. The duo donned their helmets to cover their identities as they nodded to each other and silently made their way to the city''s walls, getting near the roiling sphere of dark golden energy. "?AHHHH!" "HELP!" ?SAVE ME!" Screams of pain, fear, and desperation surrounded the duo as the energy sts emerging from the phenomenon were about to break through the walls, killing the people in the zone. "BOOMMMMM!" The sphere of energypressed again before unleashing another st, growing stronger and finally breaking apart a piece of the wall on the periphery of the Azure State! Terror, absolute and overwhelming, appeared in the eyes of the people watching, for without the wall, the next energy st would reach them directly, and none would survive. A young woman looked at the sphere of dark golden energy as she held her daughter in her arms. When she saw the spherepressing again, she knew that the next st would be the end for them, and tears fell from her eyes as she hugged her child. "BOOOOOOMMMMMM!" Another energy st emerged, but just as this one was about to reach the poption, giant trees emerged from the ground, sealing the hole in the wall and saving the people from the st! Shock and awe appeared in the eyes of those who were ready to face death just a moment ago as a man with a ck helmet created a wall made of giant trees that saved all of them. And their awe only grew mightier as another man with a red helmet, bathed in golden fire and wielding a red saber in his hand, dashed toward the sphere. Chapter 381 Impossibe choice (II) Cain''s body couldn''t stop trembling as his mind processed what was happening. "Apex, where is the core of the phenomenon!?" Cain''s subconscious already knew the answer but could not ept it, so he asked the System Spirit to scan the ce, hoping he was wrong. "Ahhh, you are seeing it. The core of the phenomenon that is about to destroy the Azure State and kill millions of people is no other than that small child." The golden humanoid inside the soul dimension could feel how Cain''s soul was in a state ofplete upheaval as this one came to the realization of what he needed to do. "No. There must be another way!" Cain''s mind was in such disarray that he uttered those words aloud, drawing the attention of the little boy who looked in his direction. There were metal pipes embedded in his head, making it clear that the level of experimentation done on him was beyond just gic. Cain stared into the little boy''s eyes and could see the pain and fear in this one, as he could not stop crying. "It hurts. I escaped. I don''t know what is happening." The little body cried as he spoke with Cain but did not move a muscle, clearly terrified and traumatized by whatever had happened to him. Cain clenched his fists as he heard those words, and his eyes burned with determination as he stored ughter. He approached the little boy, kneeling to look at this one directly into his eyes. "It is okay. You don''t need to worry about that anymore, but you need to stop this, or a lot of people will be harmed." "I can''t, I can''t. I don''t know what is happening." Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire The little boy cried even harder as the fear in his heart and the pain he endured only kept growing. "It is okay, it is okay. I will fix it." Cain attempted to calm down the little boy as he spoke with Apex. "There must be a way to help him. What about the [Gic Coder Module]? We could suppress his gic mutation and take care of the restter." Cain had already used the [Gic Coder Module] to save people''s lives, and this time should not be different. However, as he noticed that Apex was not answering immediately, a bad feeling made his heart clench. "Cain, I have already analyzed the boy with the [A.I. Chip Module]. Whatever they did to him made him evolve to the Apotheosis Realm but riddled his body and brain with gic ws that had already started a chain reaction. The metal pipes inside his brain must have been to help his mind endure the mental burden of such a massive energy pool, but they are not useful anymore. He will die, but before that, he will release all the energy in his body, triggering an explosion that will destroy the entire Azure State and everybody in it." ''No, no, no, no, no. There must be another way!'' Cain could not ept what he was hearing. He was willing to march into an impossible battle and stood proud even in the face of an attack from a Titan, but what Apex told him to do was simply too much. Apex could feel the state of Cain''s soul growing increasingly unstable, but he did not me the boy since, even for someone like him, it was simply an impossible choice. "If the [Gic Coder Module] had evolved into the next realm, there might be a chance, but right now, there is nothing you can do." Cain''s mind raced as his brain thought faster and faster, trying to seek a way through this, but time was not on his side. "My Lord, I will not be able to hold on for much longer!" Krane''s voice reached Cain through their A.I. Chips, and he understood that in just a matter of seconds, the revolving sphere of energy would ovee the tree wall and kill hundreds of thousands. "DAMMIT! GOD DAMMIT! WHY? WHY IT MUST BE LIKE THIS!" Cain shouted, unleashing all the rage, hatred, and frustration that flooded his soul and heart before finally taking a deep breath and taking out his red helmet. All the rage and hatred in Cain''s eyes faded, leaving only peace as he took the little boy''s head in his hands. As the boy saw those serene red eyes, he felt all the pain and fear vanishing, and he finally stopped crying. "What is your name?" "An." The boy uttered that word while looking at Cain''s red eyes. "An, you are dying, and you are releasing all the energy in your body right now, which will kill millions."@@novelbin@@ The boy heard Cain''s voice and showed a determination and resolution that Cain would never forget as he uttered the following words. "It is okay. Do it." Cain''s eyes burned with red light stronger than ever before in his life as he channeled the Sundering Concept into his index finger and touched the little boy''s forehead. --- "BOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" A st had just erupted from the sphere of revolving energy, nearly obliterating the tree wall to pieces, and Krane burned thest iota of his energy to keep it in ce. Krane couldn''t regte his breathing as he felt he would pass out at any second, but the Late Wave King clenched his teeth as he focused on the revolving sphere, waiting for the next st. Just as Krane prepared for the explosion that would shatter his wall to pieces and send him flying away, potentially killing millions of others, the sphere of revolving energy froze, only to disperse the next second as someone slowly descended to the ground. "My Lord!" Krane couldn''t help but shout as he saw the sphere vanishing and Cain descending to the ground. "We are safe!" "It''s over!" "We are alive!" People shouted in happiness as they realized the phenomenon was gone and they would survive. They couldn''t help but hug their family with tears in their eyes. Krane was just as excited as the others, but his smile froze as his perception showed that Cain had a small body in his arms. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!" However, Krane didn''t even have time to process what he saw as a giant pir of Azure Lightning falling from the sky with more power than a nuclear bomb,nding straight on Cain! Chapter 384 The power of the Laws "?AHHHHH!" The Azure King couldn''t suppress a cry of agony as Cain''s punchnded squarely on his chest with force surpassing a nuclear st. Despite his incredible resilience from his cultivation stage and auxiliary techniques, the Azure King was still fundamentally an Essence Cultivator, and his body was not designed to endure a melee battle of this level. "CRACK!" Though the Azure Cosmic Net managed to diminish the kic force behind Cain''s fist, it still caused his ribs to crack, forcing the Azure King to spew blood as he hurtled uncontrobly across the sky. "?BOOMMM!" Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire Before the Azure King could regain control of his body, an explosive sonic boom resounded, and in the next instant, the dark purple monster with red eyes appeared above him. ''What!?'' The Azure King couldn''t believe the speed of this monster. He barely had time to think before Cain sped his hands together, forming a hammer-like shape, and struck his chest again. "?BOOOOMMMM!" The impact of Cain''s strike sent the Azure King crashing into the ground at such velocity that it generated a st, destroying everything within several kilometers. Fortunately for the citizens of the Azure State, the battle had been pushed into the Cicada Forest, sparing thousands from bing coteral damage. "?BOOOOMMMM!" The cataclysmic sonic boom echoed across the sky once again. This time, the Azure King managed to perceive the cause.@@novelbin@@ Cain had created a solid surface in the sky bypressing air particles, allowing him to leap toward his target with the full might of his monstrous body. It followed the same principles behind Air Walk but was executed on a far grander scale. Usually, those at the Wave King level and above no longer use Air Walk since they can levitate, creating their own gravitational field due to the massive energy pool in their bodies. However, Cain hadn''t reached that level. Despite his monstrous appearance, Cain''s battle awareness was acute. He not only managed to devise a way topensate for hisck of speed in the sky but also created a method that allowed him to move even faster than the Azure King! The Azure King''s brain could process all this in a fraction of a second. Still, his immediate concern was surviving the onught of the dark purple monster charging toward him with energy and momentum matching a nuclear weapon from the Old World! A burst of golden light ignited in the Azure King''s eyes as he finally shook off his shock, treating this as a fight to the death and unleashing every ounce of power within his Evolution Core and Law. "Azure Thunder Domain!" These words left the Azure King''s mouth as a massive force field of azure lightning flooded the surroundings for hundreds of kilometers! "?BOOOOMMMM!" Cain collided with the ground the next second. Although his entire body was covered in muscles made of Astral Wave, rendering his facial features indiscernible, his eyes were still visible, and he frowned upon realizing that the Azure King had vanished just before hisnding. However, Cain immediately looked up to the sky and saw the Azure King''s body materializing, surrounded by arcs of Azure Lightning. The brute might of an Astral Wave Cultivator was incredible, capable of mimicking the power of a nuclear weapon with their fists. But one must never underestimate the power of Essence Wave Cultivators, as the power of the Laws allows them to perform what can only be described as magic. Unlike the fear or dread seen before, the Azure King''s eyes were now calm as he held his sword to the side and adopted a strange battle stance. Cain showed no concern for the Azure King''s stance and simply kicked the ground beneath his feet, shattering it as he shot into the sky at a shocking speed. Cain''s lunging speed was so immense that the Azure King could barely keep up with his eyes, but the man had not reached his level without facing physically stronger opponents in the past. "Infinity de Ballet!" The Azure King uttered those words as his body seemed to phase between flesh and lightning, allowing his reflexes to reach a shocking level. They were high enough to move to the side at thest second, dodging Cain''s lunge before sending a sword strike to the left side of the monster and sending this one flying away. Cain regained control of his body immediately and showed no concern for the scorched dark purple muscle left by that strike as he marched again toward the Azure King, this time with even greater speed. The Azure King saw the minor damage his attack caused and how new Astral Wave muscles reced the wounded ones almost instantly, but he did not lose focus. He once again dodged the charge of the dark purple monster and struck with his sword. Cain hurtled through the air due to the lightning strike, but he simply ignored it, generating a new tform of solidified air particles, and shed toward the Azure King again. There was a constant sh in the sky between a dark purple sh and a small azure figure. The Azure King constantly dodged the blows of Cain, and while he was doing minor damage to the mass of dark purple muscles, he knew that no matter how much energy Cain had, it could not be endless. In less than one second, Cain had marched toward the Azure King over ten thousand times but failed tond a single blow. Clearly, thebination of the Azure Thunder Domain and Infinity de Ballet allowed the Azure King''s power to evolve to a whole new level, capable of facing the dark purple monster. The power-up of the Azure King was a perfect example of the might that the Laws could allow you to achieve, granting the power to face opponents that were faster and stronger than you. As the battle carried on, the Azure King closed his eyes. That was not a disy of arrogance or disdain toward his opponent, but the fact he was now focusing all his power on the next strike. Once again, Cain shed toward the Azure King, and this one managed to dodge the blow, but this time, he did not respond with a simple strike from his sword. The Azure Lightning in the weapon exploded before being immediatelypressed into the sword''s edge. "Azure Heart Detonation!" Chapter 385 The Flows evolution "Azure Heart Detonation!" The Azure King unleashed nearly a quarter of the energy in his Evolution Core in the next attack before using his Law to contain it and direct it into a single st, focusing the destructive force solely on the intended target. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" From the Azure King''s sword, a cannon of azure lightning emerged with power that even the most potent nuclear weapons of the Old World would have had difficulty matching. Cain took the st head-on, and his body was propelled into the ground at a shocking speed. Even after crashing, the attack did not lose its strength, pushing him deeper and deeper into the ground as it attempted to destroy his body and soul. It took around five seconds for the energy cannon to lose its momentum before finally dispersing, showing a hole in the ground that extended for nearly several kilometers, and everything around it was crystallized due to its immense power. The Azure King''s face was pale, and he had a hard time regting his breathing as thatst attack put his Sacred Organ under immense stress, but he still smiled as he saw the monster''s body in the hole. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire Cain''s armor of Astral Wave muscles had suffered immense damage, as the left side had been vaporized, and the damage was so much that it managed to reach his real body, destroying his left arm as well. However, despite the damage and pain of losing an extremity, Cain''s eyes showed nothing more than pure and chaotic wrath as his Ego Wave fused with the Astral Wave, regenerating the armor. The Azure King saw how the dark purple monster seemed to go back to hisplete form but was not disheartened. He had managed to harm Cain''s body, which was not as easy to fix, so as long as he could carry on, he would be the winner. Of course, the Azure King stayed focused as the battle was far from over and prepared to receive the monster''s onught, but something odd happened.@@novelbin@@ The dark purple monster did not blindly march as before and instead kept looking at the Azure King. There was still pure and chaotic wrath in his eyes, but now something else appeared in them, something much more profound. A bad feeling assaulted the Azure King as he saw those eyes since he felt they could see deep inside his body, all the way into his energy pool and mind. It was a terrifying feeling that all the people who had faced The Flow could rte to. Although the Azure King knew the best path was to keep countering the lunges of the dark purple monster, the pressure of those eyes was too much, and he made his energy again, flooding the sky. "Ster Sword!" The Azure King''s sword melted into streams of lightning that flooded the sky, forging hundreds of copies, but it did not end there. The weapon began to mutate, generating the illusion of celestial bodies of immense power. Cain saw how the Azure King prepared his spell, but he did not march forward, only allowing his sight to epass the entire sky. Facing an enraged monster was challenging as it came at you despite the damage it could endure, firing suicidal attacks. Still, the Azure King would much prefer that than to face an enemy that could keep theirposure in the face of one of his most powerful attacks. "DIE!" The Azure King shouted as he waved his hand, sending the sword strikes toward the dark purple monster. The sword strikes mimicked the paths ofets and meteors,bining the power of the Law with the ster imagery to bring forth a barrage of cosmic energy-infused sword strikes from above. The Azure King showed a cold smile as he expected to see the barrage of sword strikes resembling the fall of meteorites sting the dark purple monster, but what happened next was so shocking that it twisted his view of reality. Cain bent his knees and put both hands forward, and his entire body seemed to achieve a state of pure tranquility. Just as the first meteorite-like sword strike was about to impact him, he sent his right palm forward, touching the surface of the spells and then changing its trajectory, sending it flying far away. "BOOMMMM!" The sword strike unleashed a massive st dozens of kilometers away from Cain, and that was just the beginning as he did the same with every single one of the heavenly body illusions falling from the sky. "BOOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" The Azure King was stupefied as he saw his sword strikesnding everywhere but where they were supposed to, and he could not understand how a monster whose eyes were full of chaotic rage could perform such a disy of supernatural technique. Cain showed nothing in reaction to the Azure King as he kept using the power of The Flow to deviate every single spelling at him. In his current form, he could shift and counter more than just physical strikes; he could do the same with energy! That feat was enough to put The Flow in a ssification above every single technique in Gaia, and who could say that was its final form? "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!" Cain deviated thest sword strike away, and only then did his eyes focus again on the Azure King, making him tremble. The Azure King thought he had seen all Cain could unleash, but he just realized he was fighting a creature that grew more powerful as they fought! Cain bent his knees as he enhanced the strength in his legs, preparing to march forward, to which the Azure King responded by immediately reforming his sword in his hand and adopting the stance of Infinity de Ballet. The Azure King''s eyes widened as he saw the even higher speed that the dark purple monster could unleash, but he was able to dodge the punch aimed at his head and prepared to release a counter-strike with his sword bathed in lightning. However, just as the Azure King was about to wave his sword, his heart froze as he saw the dark purple monster focusing on him. The shocking part was that the monster had been looking at that point in space before he even reached it, essentially predicting where he would be before he even moved! Chapter 387 Countering The Flow The Blood King''s eyes were calm as he stared at Cain. The fact that this young man, only seventeen years old, managed to achieve such incredible power from one moment to the next might be shocking for everybody, but not for him. When the Void King ordered him to end Cain''s life, he did not take the mission lightly. Although the Blood King might seem wild, there was no way someone could reach the peak of the underworld and take one of the ten thrones of The Organization without an incredibly powerful mind, intellect, and wisdom. Using all the resources of The Organization at his disposal, the Blood King conducted deep research on Cain''s life. The first weeks of his life were a mystery due to the fact he was an orphan baby taken from a battlefield by his father. After that, Cain''s life was very average, even mediocre. While he was hardworking, hecked any talent, so he was bullied in school. However, everything changed after a special day in the forest near the slums of his original home. Cain had taken the life of a schoolmate who had attempted to kill him, and from that day on, he underwent a massive change in his destiny. Not only did he awaken a Lineage, but his entire aura and nature experienced an impressive boost as if he was someone new, or at least older. The more the Blood King investigated, the more he came to the conclusion that Cain Laurifer was just like him. "I haven''t met a fellow Rebirther in a very long time. I wonder if you would like to tell me your name since I would like to know the person I am going to kill." The Azure King could not hide his shock when he heard the term Rebirther. They were individuals who had honed unique and incredibly powerful abilities that allowed them to restart their lives from a young age while retaining their insight about their cultivation path. Of course, such a technique was not wless and had several shorings, but that was something people of such low power and status as the Azure King would not know. As for Cain, those words meant nothing to him, and the only thought in his mind was to kill that man covered in blood energy. "ROOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!" The dark purple monster unleashed a new sonic scream that carried the full might of his Ego Wave, and while it almost made the Azure King pass out, it did not affect the Blood King. "Mmm, it seems that something went wrong, and raw and chaotic emotions overflow your mind without any sense of order. How odd, but I guess it doesn''t matter since you will die regardless." The Blood King was eerily calm as he stared at Cain before opening his palm, sending a burst of Blood Energy into the Azure King, helping this one stabilize his condition and life force. "Thank you, my Lord." The mighty Azure King, leader of the Azure Royal Family that held the bloodline of a former emperor of the Godyer Humankind, bowed to a member of the underworld. That was a crime that would have the entire family butchered to pieces if people of the Imperial Court were to find out. "Take care of the evidence, and then reinforce the ck Box. Your battle with Cain nearly broke it, and I cannot allow any leak." A sharp golden light appeared in the eyes of the Azure King as he nodded and shed toward the Azure State. Cain''s gaze turned to the Azure King, and his eyes widened. Even while his mind was in a state of pure madness and chaos, his Ego Wave allowed him to perceive the killing intent in the Azure King as this one near the area of the Azure State where he and Krane stopped the revolving dark golden sphere of energy. The murderous wrath in Cain''s eyes exploded as the Ego Wave he unleashed grew even more potent, and he shed toward the Azure King at full speed. "BOOMMMM!" Unfortunately for Cain, the Blood King intercepted his path and connected a blow on his chest that sent him crashing into the ground. Cain immediately stood up, but his chest had a deep indentation. A single blow from the Blood King did nearly as much damage as the most potent strike from the Azure King, making clear just how massive the difference between their powers was. Since that was the case, Cain should solely focus on the Blood King, or else he might lose his life, but that rational thinking did not enter his mind, and the only train of thought right now was to kill the Azure King before this one could reach the Azure State. The dark purple monster shed again toward the Azure King, but the Blood King intercepted his path just like before. Yet, things were different this time. Cain''s eyes glowed with a meaningful light as he used The Flow to predict the attack of the Blood King and dodge it before sending a blow of his own. The Blood King''s eyes narrowed as he saw how Cain dodged his right hook before countering it with a kick to his face. However, unlike the Azure King, who was powerless before those types of counters, the Blood King reinforced his right hand with Blood Energy, allowing him to catch the leg before sending a new blow to the dark purple monster''s chest. Cain''s figure once again plummeted into the ground, and that blow to the chest not only managed to damage his Astral Wave muscles but generated a shock wave that reached his real body! "Hmph, do you really think that technique that could predict movements by perceiving the movement of muscles, tendons, and energy pools was unstoppable?" Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire There was a cold light in the Blood King''s eyes as he uttered those words. He still remembered how that technique was the one that helped Cain win the Blood Champion Tournament, which was the first step in the copse of his ns for the Blood Sea.@@novelbin@@ "You cannot counter a strike when you are sending one, and I can simply use my greater power and technique to stop your limbs and send my own blow." Although the Blood King made it sound easy, the truth was that the level of skill and constitution needed to perform that feat was something even Titans and Gods would find hard to master. Cain did not care about the words of the Blood King, but all of a sudden, his eyes widened as he saw a sh of light in the distance. Chapter 390 Embracing Order (I) The Blood King was sent flying away while blood leaked from his mouth. He was lucky that was all the damage he took since, had he not made his Blood Energy explode and put his arms up for defense, the injuries would have been much worse. ''What the hell? His power rose again, and this time, reached the level of a True Titan!'' The Blood King could not hide his shock as he realized that Cain''s physical might manage to reach the true peak of Aether, but he did not have time to wonder about it as he saw how space above him broke to pieces and a figure emerged from it. ''Force Teleportation!'' The shock in the Blood King only kept growing as the dark purple monster managed to teleport above him and then sent a ferocious downward kick. He managed to use his arm again to block the kick but felt his bones cracking under the strike as his inner organs trembled, and he plummeted to the ground. "?BOOOOMMMM!" Cain''s ming eyes focused on the crater that made everything tremble and the earth split apart before shing down. This time, he did not teleport as he intended to enhance his momentum to crash into the ground with more power than an H-Bomb could trigger! "Do not look down on a King!" However, before Cain could reach the ground, he heard that shout full of rage as a pir of golden force emerged, along with a draconic figure bathed in blood lightning. The dark purple monster and the humanoid blood dragon shed in the sky, generating cracks in space for thousands of meters, splitting apart everything in their range. "BOOOOOOMMMMMMM!"@@novelbin@@ The kic st made the earth and sky tremble as both figures shed in opposite directions before regaining control over their bodies nearly at the same time. Cain''s eyes focused on the humanoid blood dragon, and his eyes narrowed as he saw the burning golden me in his eyes. Clearly, the humanoid dragon was none other than the Blood King, who was unleashing his full power. The Blood King''s face contorted in rage as a sh of pain assaulted him. "My Ego Eternal Matrix had notpletely adjusted, but you forced me to use it, hindering my healing. For that, I will make you pay!" Cain''s killing intent only exploded as the Blood King grew stronger, and he showed no hesitation as he shed toward this one. The Blood King did not show any fear either as he dashed toward Cain, ready to kill him by any means necessary. "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" "?BOOM!" sts that shattered space filled the sky of the Cicada Forest as Cain and the Blood King unleashed an explosive might released by H-Bombs with every single full-power attack of their bodies. Had this battle carried on in the Old World, it would have dested the, ending all life! Cain received a kick to the face that nearly ripped off his head, but he managed to endure. He grabbed the tails of the Blood King and spun with all his strength before sending him crashing into a mountain. "BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" The mountain and everything in a radius of hundreds of kilometers were obliterated. Luckily for the people in the Azure State, it seemed that neither the dark purple monster nor the humanoid dragon wanted to bring their fight into that area. Cain took a step forward, forcefully shattering space and appearing right in the crater the next instant, but just as he did, his eyes widened since a beam of red energy appeared the next second,nding directly on his chest. "BLOOD DRAGON BREATH!" The voice of the Blood King echoed as the energy cannon sent the dark purple humanoid into the sky at a shocking speed. While the dark purple muscles managed to endure, the power still reached Cain''s true body and burned his skin and muscles. Normally, that would have put the young man in agonizing pain, but right now, Cain''s mind could only process rage, so as he regained control over his body, he focused on the Blood King and shed to him as the muscles of Astra Wave re-forged. The Blood King''s breathing was rough as the headache only kept worsening since his Ego Eternal Matrix was having difficulty enduring the pressure and could not stabilize. Still, he clenched his teeth and shed toward the dark purple monster. The sh between the dark purple monster and the humanoid blood dragon carried on in the sky, shattering space and unleashing so much energy that a cataclysmic storm formed above them, filling the surroundings with lightning bolts of immense power. It was a truly fantastic fight, one whose sight could inspire legends for thousands of years, and while the Blood King was formidable, the dark purple monster just kept growing stronger as if the Ego Wave he unleashed had no limit at all. Such a sight would make one think that Cain would be the victor, but if you could see inside his soul sea, you would notice how the Alter Ego was about to shatter due to the torrent of energy emerging from the gate and coursing through it. Apex clenched his fists as he saw all that, and he knew it was just a matter of time before Cain''s willpower and ego would copse. As he saw the ending near, a decisive light appeared in the golden humanoid. "Cain, hear my voice." Apex''s voice reached every corner of the soul sea, but there was no response. However, he did not worry since he knew the boy would hear it. "There is a path you can take, a path where the pain you feel right now will never again harm you, a path where there is only determination and focus, a path where everything will follow your might." Apex''s voice froze for a moment as he spoke, but the determination in his eyes only grew as he carried on. "I am talking about the Path of Order!" Chapter 393 The Scarlet King Although Cain had lost most of his power by this point, he was still strong enough to forcefully break into the secret dimension, so he just shed forward, shattering the ground to pieces, and appeared in front of the massive metallic gate. "?BOOM!" Cain could use the system to try and hack the gate''s formation, but he did not have time for that, so he just clenched his fists and punched forward, battering the gate open and shing to the other extreme of the ndestine prison. The first time Cain appeared in this ce, his mind immediately went to the people in those cages. He now had the power to break them open, but that would endanger his life, so the calction did not evenpute in his mind.@@novelbin@@ "?BOOM!" With another punch, Cain shattered the metal gate at the other end of the ndestine prison, giving him ess to the hole that led to the Sacred Vault of the Azure Royal Family. The rm had triggered the metal gates that sealed the way, but Cain just carried on with his path of destruction, breaking everything apart. It took but a moment for Cain to reach the Sacred Vault of the Azure Royal Family, and his eyes immediately went to the storage dimension of the Azure King. There was no one in this ce but the Early Wave Champion that Cain had hypnotized. Cain hadmanded the man to kill himself after thirty minutes, but this one was still alive. It was not that the man had managed to resist thepulsion but the fact that everything that happened since Cain left this ce had transpired in less than thirty minutes! Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire For Cain, the man''s life had no importance, and he just focused on the storage dimension. His Ego Wave had yet to lose the power to manipte matter. Still, if he were to use it to open the storage dimension with a teleportation formation inside, there was a good chance that the dimension would copse. "Apex!" "?Yes!" Since just forcing his way into the storage dimension was not wise, Cain had to hack the formation matrix to gain ess to it, and for that, he needed the power of the [A.I. Chip Module]. Apex was ready and immediately used the full power of the Absolute Life Form System to hack into the storage dimension. Cain noticed how his Destiny Force was reduced to a shocking speed, but none of that mattered. He could always get more Destiny Force but could not buy a second life. Seconds passed, and Cain''s Ego Wave grew weaker and weaker. His eyes were calm, but it was impossible to hide the small trace of anxiety in them since every second counted. "BOOOMMMMM!" Finally, after nearly a minute, the Absolute Life Form System managed to hack the storage dimension of the Azure King, granting Cain ess to this one. Just as Cain smiled, he saw how the underground dimension began to tremble! "RUMBLEEEEEEE!" The tremor did not emerge from the dimension, but due to an explosion far away. Cain knew it could only have one reason. The Blood King managed to break free of the artificial moon! Cain did not hesitate for a second before essing the storage dimension, appearing the next second in the sky of arge field full of grass. Luckily for Cain, he did not have to look hard for the intercontinental teleportation formation. There was no way to hide the massive formation the size of a small city in the center of the storage dimension. He immediately shed toward it, and before even putting a foot on it, he had already triggered it using his Ego Wave. Cain''s eyes grew sharp as he saw the formation glowing, but just as he was about to reach it, he heard space shattering. "CRACK!" The Blood King forced his way into the dimension, and his eyes widened as he saw the massive teleportation formation and Cain shing toward this one. His first instinct was to destroy the formation, but it was not so simple. An intercontinental teleportation formation had an immense amount of space energy, and destroying it would trigger a st that would consume the entire dimension, endangering his life, so the Blood King could not break it unless he wanted to die alongside Cain. "You will not escape." The Blood King shouted as he shed toward Cain at full speed, shortening the distance in a fraction of a second. Cain saw the blood humanoid dragon appear behind him and immediately turned around, using his power to defend against the attack. He had lost most of his power, so the palm strike from the Blood King managed to reach his real body beyond the smallyer of Astral Wave muscles. Cain''s eyes widened as he felt a force reach his heart and was about to shatter it, but even in that situation, he did not lose focus. He gathered thest of his Ego Wave in his right hand and generated a cannon of kic energy that sent the Blood King into the sky and pushed his body strength into the intercontinental teleportation formation. The Blood King immediately regained control over his body. Still, just as he intended to sh toward Cain and finish the job, this one vanished in the light of the intercontinental teleportation formation. However, while Cain''s body vanished, a small sphere of re Ego Wave remained behind, only to explode the next second, unleashing a sonic wave that pierced out of the dimension and spread across the entire Azure State and its surroundings. "I WILL RETURN, AND WHEN I DO, YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU HOLD DEAR WILL BURN. I SWEAR IT ON MY NAME AS THE SCARLET KING!" Cain''s previous sonic attack had knocked out or killed most of the people, leaving only a very few conscious to hear his message, but it did not matter since they were the ones for whom it was intended. The Azure King and the Apotheosis Realm Masters that put the ck Box in ce heard those words clearly, and a sense of utter dread filled their souls as the name Scarlet King was branded in their minds. The Blood King also heard it, but unlike the others, the only sentiment in his heart was rage, pure and unrestrained. He wanted to unleash a rampage that would burn everything, but before he could do that, his eyes narrowed as he looked to the sky and felt the disturbance in space. The ck Box was impressive, but it was not wless. The battle between Cain and the Blood King pushed it to the limit, and the triggering of an intercontinental teleportation formation was the straw that broke the camel''s back. "DAMMIT!" The Blood King shouted before using a space ring on his hand that covered his figure and shadows, vanishing from the ce. --- End of Book 5 - The Awakening of a new king. Chapter 394 9X9 Ego Destruction Tribulation Book 6 - In the skin of the enemy. --- In the sky, a man with short ck hair and blue eyes gazed into the distance at an extensive mountain range, and he was not alone. By his side stood a bald man in a golden robe. Both of them were powerful, with the first being at the peak of the food chain in the entire world. They watched the storm of multicolored mes forming in the sky in solemn silence.@@novelbin@@ "Amazing. It has reached 81 kilometers. A true 9X9 Ego Destruction Tribtion." Luther''s face could not hide his awe and admiration as he observed the multicolored mes in the sky. There was also a sense of dread since he knew that if he were to get close to those mes, his mind would shatter in a matter of seconds. "That boy has always been rash, but this is over the top. He should have prepared for a little more time." The Copsing Lightning Duke''s eyes were sharp as he gazed at the multicolored me in the sky. While he could resist it, that was because his willpower had already surpassed the peak of the Third Realm, while the man at the mountain peak was still in the Second Realm. "The danger of a 9X9 Ego Destruction Tribtion is something even the First Lightning Copsing Pir took two years to prepare for." Luther heard the words of the Copsing Lightning Duke and could not help but sigh. "There is nothing we could have done. After finding out about the military criminal''s report, he already decided his path, and not even Your Highness could convince him otherwise." The Copsing Lightning Duke nced at Luther before staring at the mountain on which the man had decided to take his tribtion. It was none other than de Mountain. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!" Before the duo could say another word, a torrent of multicolored mes fell from the firestorm in the sky with the momentum and power of lightning, drowning the man''s figure and de Mountain''s peak. Despite the mes having a power capable of drawing caution from even Titans and Gods, there was no damage whatsoever to the ground or earth. The reason for that was that the mes did not target the body but the mind and ego, with a power capable of shattering the very essence of oneself. No other humans were in the area, and all Wave Beasts had run away at the first sign of the Ego Destruction Tribtion, as their instincts told them just how dangerous they were. The Copsing Lightning Duke focused on the man receiving the full power of that multicolored firestorm, and as he saw the killing intent and resolution in his eyes, a small smile of approval appeared on his face. At the same time, his own Ego Wave had already spread for hundreds of kilometers around, and with a single wave of his hand, he would unleash a torrent of dark lightning that could shatter space! If anyone tried to interrupt the man''s evolution, no matter who they were or their background, the Copsing Lightning Duke would incinerate their souls to ashes with his ck lightning. "BOOOOMMMMM!" "BOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" "BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The st of multicolored fire continued falling with overwhelming force from the sky, bathing the mountain and everything around them. Vegetal life survived since theycked will or ego, but small insects and the fauna immediately froze. Their bodies might still work, but there was no longer a mind that could operate it. The Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther watched silently as the multicolored firestorm kept striking the man on the mountain peak until it suddenly began to contract, reducing its size. The duo knew this was the most dangerous time, but they could do nothing other than wait. "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" Finally, all the power left in the multicolored firestorm descended from the sky, covering the entire de Mountain Range, extending for thousands of kilometers! The Copsing Lightning Duke saw how the mes spread everywhere, including their direction, and he immediately raised his right hand, generating a white force field that protected him and Luther from the tribtion''s power. A sh of pain assaulted the Titans since, while he could resist the mes, he still felt like they were burning his mind. Luckily, they did not remain for long and soon vanished, leaving an intactnd but without any form of sentient life in it! The Copsing Lightning Duke and Luther immediately focused on the mountain peak and saw how the man was not moving. Just as a sh of concern appeared in the duo''s hearts, a monstrous blue force field emerged from the man''s brain, with so much power that it crushed the de Mountain''s peak! Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire The blue force field was so potent that it could alter matter, meaning that the person at the mountain''s peak had reached the Third Realm of the Ego Eternal Path of Power, Mind Over Matter! The man stood up and clenched his fists before staring at the Copsing Lightning Duke. "?SHHHHHH!" At an overwhelming speed, the man shed toward the Copsing Lightning Duke, appearing in front of him before coalescing all the power of his body and mind into his right fist. "BOOOOOMMMMMM!" A deafening shock wave appeared in the sky as the man fired his fist, whichnded straight in the Copsing Lightning Duke''s palm. The Copsing Lightning Duke smiled as he felt the fist''s power and how it carried a rotational force that seemed to want to destroy the bones and muscles inside his right arm. As he saw the eyes of the man that attacked and noticed how there was a tiny blue ember at their center, his smile only widened. The one that attacked was none other than Zarak, and after the sh, he pulled his arm back and stared straight into the eyes of the Copsing Lightning Duke with pure and unrestrained killing intent. The Copsing Lightning Duke focused on Zarak''s eyes, and after a moment, a serious expression appeared on his face as he nodded. "Complete your first tribtion of the Apotheosis Realm with a wless mark, and I will give you your chance to kill the Azure King." Zarak stared at the Copsing Lightning Duke for a moment before nodding, turning around, and vanishing in the distance. Luther saw Zarak vanish in the distance before turning toward the Copsing Lightning Duke. "My Lord, killing the Azure King would incite the wrath of the Imperial Court." "Hmph, so what if they grow furious? If they think that we will not do anything after they attack one of our brothers, then they are sorely mistaken." The Copsing Lightning Duke''s eyes brimmed with killing intent as a fierce expression appeared on his face as he looked toward the Prometheus Sector. Chapter 395 Righteous wrath "AZURE FAMILY!" A young woman stood in the center of a storm atop a massive sea of blood. Her face was extraordinarily beautiful, but right now, it twisted due to the immense wrath in her heart. Shura''s eyes burned with killing intent as torrents of Blood Energy coursed through her body, pushing her flesh, blood, and energy to the next level. She was currently in the midst of her evolution to the Wave King Realm, and the storm of blood around her was a phenomenon due to the response of the Law of Blood to her evolution. In the distance, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 stared at the woman with aplicated expression. They couldn''t help but worry as she didn''t hide her desire to kill one of the families that carried the bloodline of a former emperor. Unfortunately for the duo, they could do nothing about it since Shura had experienced a transcendental change over thest couple of months. At first, it started slowly, but it didn''t take long for everybody to notice the metamorphosis in the young woman. Shura''s entire body, Sacred Organs, and energy pool had experienced an incredible transformation, with her talent skyrocketing along with her battle power. Not only did her Essence Wave experience a qualitative change, but her Lineage also evolved to the point that it was even more pure than the Blood Duke''s. That was not all; she also experienced what could only be described as a godly enhancement in one of the most critical aspects of the Essence Evolution Path of Power: the perception of the Laws. The Law of Blood had enhanced her body to the point of runes appearing on her bones, a feat that even Apotheosis Realm Masters would have difficulty achieving. No matter how much effort the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 put into finding the cause, it was futile. How could they have known that the vessel that the Blood Astral Beast created inside Shura''s body to help its reincarnation was reabsorbed by the woman''s body due to theck of a soul? In the end, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 could only take it as a divine stroke of luck and put their total effort and resources of the Blood Sea at Shura''s disposal to help her grow stronger. Due to her current talent and power, the Blood Duke and Bloodless #1 could no longer control Shura, but the duo did not think that was a problem until now since it was clear that the woman would not rest until drowning the entire Azure State in blood. "What should we do?" The Blood Duke spoke as he observed Shura''s state and sensed the killing intent in her heart. "What can we do? She will not stop; if we try to persuade her, she will leave. Besides, many in the Blood Sea consider that boy our hero," Bloodless #1 spoke solemnly, and the intent behind the word "hero" made it clear that he was among those who saw Cain as the savior of the Blood Sea. The Blood Duke also noticed the killing intent in Bloodless #1 and couldn''t help but sigh. He was a Titan and could kill the Azure King, but it was not as simple as starting a battle in the Prometheus Sector. "When her battle power reaches the Divine Ascension Realm, I will help her exact her revenge, but until then, she must endure it." Bloodless #1 stared at the Blood Duke for a moment before softly nodding. "She will ept." --- Jonathan''s eyes were resolute as he entered the chamber of the Patriarch of the Aegon Family. He walked until five meters away from the Patriarch before performing a slight bow. "My Lord, youmanded my presence." The Patriarch of the Aegon Family stared at Jonathan for a few seconds before speaking.@@novelbin@@ "I have heard you are particrly keen on taking assassination contracts against the Azure Royal Family." Jonathan was not surprised as he knew that was why he was summoned. He showed nothing but coldness as he nodded. "That is correct. There are plenty of assassination contracts against them, and I personally carried them out." "You know that going overboard like that could incite the wrath of the Imperial Court, right?" The Patriarch focused on Jonathan and saw howmitted the man remained, clearly not intending to stop his actions. After a few seconds, a smile appeared on the Patriarch''s face. "Jonathan spread out the new executivemand. Members of the Aegon Family will no longer touch any member of the Azure Family in the Prometheus Sector." Jonathan was surprised when he heard that, and just as a sh of irritation appeared in his eyes, the Patriarch spoke again. "However, they must also kill all members of the Azure Family outside the Prometheus Sector. Of course, the weak and the children are exempt from the killing list." Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire The Patriarch of the Aegon Family''s smile turned cold and murderous as he uttered those words. He did not have the time to worry about the Imperial Court with The Organization on his back, but that did not mean he would just let the Azure Family go untouched. "My Lord?" Jonathan was shocked by that order, but he saw how the Patriarch only shrugged his shoulders. "They will not do anything if I act outside the Prometheus Sector. They might get angry, but the Golden Emperor will not bother with us." Jonathan showed a smile full of killing intent as he intended to lead the killings, but he was not so lucky. "You will not go killing. I need you for something else. The boy''s fate is unknown, but no matter what, I want my daughter''s corpse back. You will form a team and search for it. I don''t care how much it costs or how hard you must work; bring her back!" The Patriarch''s eyes were resolute, and Jonathan immediately nodded as he would put his soul and heart into it. Chapter 396 Kain A young man was running across a forest. There was blood all over his body, and he was missing his right arm. His face was pale, and he was doing all in his power to hide his aura. He looked into the distance and could only see trees, making a sense of rage and frustration fill his heart as he continued walking forward until he reached arge mountain. The young man silently entered one of the caverns. "?BOOOM!" Unfortunately for the young boy, before he could even catch his breath, the cavern he attempted to hide was blown to pieces, with himnding in the distance. It took all his strength to stand up, but he was barely able to rise before puking a mouthful of blood. "I must admit, you surely are resilient to have endured for so long, but this is the end of the road, boy." Readtest stories on My Virtual Library Empire The young man raised his eyes from the ground and saw three figures in the sky. They were all members of the Inferno Daemon Race, with the one at the lead holding a Hell n and the other two the Abyssal n. This was not a fight between races since the young man on the ground was also a member of the Inferno Daemon Race, in fact, part of the Hell n. "Zarius, you traitor!" The young man shouted at one of the members of the Abyssal n in the back, but this one only showed a mocking smile. "Please, Lord Kain, don''t get mad at me. I am just taking the smart path." "Hmph, who would have thought that a member of the Abyssal n would have so little honor." When the man named Zarius heard those words, a sh of rage appeared in his eyes, and he shed toward the young boy, appearing in front of him before sending a kick. Kain was just a Level 9 Wave Warrior, so there was no way he could fight against a Wave King, much less in his state, so the kick destroyed every bone in his chest before sending him crashing into a tree dozens of meters away. "Stop ying around. There is no reason to make this harder than it needs to be. End the boy''s life fast." The leader of the trio spoke with a cold voice, and there was evident anger in his eyes. Zarius could have easily ended the boy''s life with that kick but did not, as he wanted to torture him, something the member of the Hell n was not going to allow. Zarius nced at the member of the Hell n and did not dare to say a word before clenching his fist. Even if Kain was one hundred meters away, he could effortlessly kill him with a single punch from this distance. Kain''s light was already fading from his eyes as the kick had destroyed several of his vital organs. Even if Zarius did not attack, he would die in minutes, so there was nothing he could do. "RUMBLE!" However, just as Kain thought everything was over, the ground began to tremble with so much force that the earth split apart. Kain was not the only one shocked since the other three members of the Inferno Daemon n were also surprised, and they immediately turned to the mountain by their side as it began to glow with hundreds of giant runes appearing on it. The level of the formation engraved in the mountain was too high for the trio, and they only understood its goal when they felt a massive disturbance in space and saw how a portal appeared above them. The trio turned to the portal as they adopted battle stances since they did not know what kind of monster would emerge from it, and just as they prepared for the battle of their life, what came out from the portal was a bloody thing. Shock and confusion appeared on the trio as they saw the bloody corpse falling from the sky and plummeting into the ground just for the portal to close the next second. "Stay focused. It could be a ruse. Do not lower your guards!"@@novelbin@@ The member of the Hell n shouted as he unleashed his Ego Wave in all directions, but he found nothing other than the bloody corpse. He could not understand why someone would send a corpse through what he could only describe as the most extraordinary teleportation formation he had seen in his life. "Orphin, should we check the corpse? It might have something of value." Orphin, the member of the Hell n, heard his friend utter those words and thought for a moment before staring at Zarius. "Zarius, pick up the corpse and inspect it." Zarius frowned as he heard thatmand, but there was nothing he could do but obey the duo, and he walked toward the bloody corpse. The blood did not matter to him as greed appeared in his heart. "Oh, members of the Inferno Daemon Race. Am I in As?" Just as Zarius was about to put his hand over the bloody corpse, he and the other two in the sky heard a voice in their minds. Not only were they shocked by realizing that someone managed to reach into their minds, but terror appeared the next second as they lost control over their bodies! "What is happening?" Orphin shouted with terror. He could still speak, but someone had taken control of their minds, bodies, and energy. Although the man knew of Hypnosis Masters, he had never faced something like this. The Wave King from the Hell n looked around, trying to find the culprit, as did the other two, but the only thing they could see was Kain and the bloody corpse. ''Wait?'' Orphin''s eyes widened as he focused on the bloody corpse, and the next second, the voice returned. "Hahaha, not bad. That was fast. Yes, I am the one in control right now. You can refer to me as the Scarlet King." Chapter 397 Gluttonys Eye "Hahaha, not bad. That was fast. Yes, I am the one in control right now. You can refer to me as the Scarlet King." There was terror in the trio''s eyes. They could think but could not act or do anything other than what the Scarlet King allowed. Zarius saw with dread how his body moved without his control and took the bloody body in his hand, raising it from the ground. There was no skin on the body, as it seemed all was burned, and a red mask hindered their view of the man''s face, but they could clearly see his eyes glowing with red light. "Who among you is the one with the highest status?" When the trio heard that question, a single thought crossed their minds. The Scarlet King might want to make a deal with the one with the highest background, so it was in their best interest to name themselves. Unfortunately, the power invading their minds forced them to act based on instinct, erasing any form of deception, and the trio immediately pointed their fingers at the dying young man in the distance. "Oh, interesting." Zarius''s body once again moved on its own, bringing the Scarlet King to the bloody young man. He was not alone since Orphin and the other Wave King also began to move, with the duo attacking the mountain with all their power, wrecking it to pieces. While it was the way back, it was also a gate for the Blood King or Azure Family toe through. Right now, the Scarlet King was in no condition to fight powerful enemies, so it was best to destroy this end of the intercontinental teleportation formation. Kain was still conscious and heard the duo approaching. His body was already shutting down, but he wanted to endure so he could see how that ominous entity killed the trio. He used all his strength to raise his eyes, looking straight into the eyes of the Scarlet King. "Every organ in your body is shutting down, and you are about to die." Kain attempted to speak, but only blood came out. "Your trachea and esophagus are gone. Don''t worry; we can speak through our thoughts." Once again, the voice of the Scarlet King echoed inside his mind, and Kain felt the telepathic link. "Will you save me?" "The damage to your organs is too much, and I am using all my strength only to stop myself from dying. However, even if I could, I would not do it since all those who saw me would have to die." The answer from the Scarlet King was instantaneous, making a weak smile appear on the dying boy. "I see." The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he saw the frustration in the young boy''s eyes. It was one he had seen many times before in the mirror when he was young. "Tell me, boy, have you ever heard of a Faustian Contract?" A meaningful light appeared in Kain''s eyes as he heard those words. He had read many tales, including those of other races, but he did not think he would listen to one of humankind on his deathbed. "You want to buy my soul?" "Kind of. I will eat it, gaining all your memories. It is a new technique, so I might fail if you put up resistance. Allow me to consume your soul, and I will kill everybody who has wronged you and also make sure those you care about are protected to the best of my abilities." No matter your race, the soul was the most precious part of your existence, and as long as it remained, maybe you could reincarnate. While it might sound like a fairy tale, they lived in a world where the impossible could happen. Before, Kain would have never epted such a deal, but right now, the hatred for the people who plotted against him and the fear for his family brought a new sense of determination to his soul. "I ept." "Then it is a deal." As soon as they finished their pact, the red helmet covering the Scarlet King''s head split in the middle, revealing a third eye with sharp teeth instead of eyelids. "Gluttony''s Eye." The Scarlet King''s voice seemed to resonate in Kain''s eyes as tendrils emerged from the third eye, piercing into his brain. A sense of immense agony assaulted Kain, but he clenched his teeth and did not fight back, allowing the tendrils to do their mission. The red light in the Scarlet King''s eyes glowed with more and more power as he pushed himself to the limit. Gluttony''s Eye was a unique skill that the Scarlet King had learned during his travel through the teleportation formation. How he learned it was simr to how he mastered The Flow; it emerged from his past life''s memories. It took all the Scarlet King''s effort and concentration, but in the end, he extracted the sky-blue electromaic force field from Kain''s brain, his soul. The red tendrils brought Kain''s soul into the third eye, where this one began to consume it ravenously, and immediately, a stream of information flooded the Scarlet King''s mind as he learned everything from the young man. ''His name was Kain. Hahaha, what a small world.'' The Scarlet King silentlyughed at the simrity between his and the young Inferno Daemon''s name but did not overthink it as he assimted all. Luckily for him, Kain was young, so there was not too much information, and he could incorporate all those memories in less than an hour. After that was over, the Scarlet King turned to the mountain and, seeing the level of destruction in it and being sure that it could not work anymore, he silently nodded before sending anothermand to Orphin and the Wave King of the Abyssal n. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire "Collect as many King Beasts as possible in an hour and bring them to me. Prefer those with a high level of blood vitality."@@novelbin@@ After thatmand, the duo did not say a word and followed themand, vanishing into the forest. After that, Zarius stomped on the ground, forming arge basin and putting the bloody body of the Scarlet King in it. Chapter 399 Essence Evolution Path of Power (I) Without hesitation, the Scarlet King opened his hand, extracting a Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber from his space ring. He then stripped Kain''s body naked and sent the corpse into the chamber. With nothing but absolute peace in his eyes, the Scarlet King used the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber to obtain a perfect copy of Kain''s genome and extract from the corpse the material needed to engrave it into someone else. Orphin and the other two Wave Kings from the Abyssal n could still think and see, so their eyes widened as they saw Kain''s body dissolve inside the Bio Gic Chamber, only for the man in the mask to enter it the next second. The body with well-defined muscles began to change, bing more slender and with skin of red color as horn emerged from his head. After an hour, the Scarlet King emerged from the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber. He softly nodded as he realized that his appearance and gic sequence were nearly identical to Kain''s. Someone would have to dissect him and go through his genome to find any significant difference between them. Of course, the body and genes were one aspect since anyone with powerful perception could detect the difference between Kain''s willpower, which had not even reached the First Realm, and the Scarlet King''s, which had already evolved into the Apotheosis Realm. Luckily, the red metallic mask he created was not just for looks; its primary purpose was concealment. The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed for a moment as the mask fused with his flesh, vanishing from sight. The Scarlet King stored the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber and wore Kain''s clothes before walking to the trio with a smile. "So, what do you think? Don''t I look great?" No words came from Orphin and the other two, but the shock and dread in their eyes made it clear just how terrified they were of the man in front of them. His behavior made it clear that all life in his eyes was meaningless. The Scarlet King did not show any concern for the trio''s fear and plight, for one simple fact: the same fact that allowed him to devour Kain''s soul without any sense of guilt or shame¡ªthey were not part of his Life Matrix. Readtest stories on My Virtual Library Empire A life form that follows the Path of Order doesn''t feel fear or dread; they could see the greatest horrors of the universe, and it would not shake their hearts. They could even see the loss of their entire race and keepplete control over their hearts and soul. That would make many think that Order was the same as being a psychopath, someone without feeling. But they could not be more wrong. Those who embrace Order haveplete control over their emotions and the rtionships they form. Only those they deemed worthy would be part of their Life Matrix, capable of igniting any type of emotion. However, even after bing part of one''s Life Matrix, it did not mean they could break the one that follows Order since the bond could be easily erased. For the Scarlet King, Kain and the trio were nothing inconsequential aspects of dust, and whatever they thought or felt was meaningless.@@novelbin@@ The Scarlet King turned to Zarius, the Wave King, who was part of Kain''s escort and betrayed the young man. "Ask me questions in a random order rted to Kain''s personal life." Zarius did not have a choice other than toply with themand and immediately began to speak. "The name of Kain''s mother?" "Siveria Jogurn." "Favorite food?" "Roasted Wilderbest." "Heat or cold?" "Neither and both. There is no consensus." Zarius continued to ask questions rted to Kain''s life, and the Scarlet King could answer them with wless precision. The interrogatory continued for a while, and the Scarlet King was satisfied as he could ry all the knowledge rted to Kain. Knowledge was just one part of someone''s identity since their demeanor and behavior could say much more about them. Still, the Scarlet King already had a way to exin any change in Kain''s nature and personality, so he did not worry about it. Right now, not even Kain''s mother could differentiate between the two. But there was one final aspect to handle: Kain''s cultivation. The Inferno Daemon youth was a Level 9 Wave Warrior of the Essence Evolution Path of Power. However, the Scarlet King was ready to handle that immediately. He took a deep breath and adopted a meditative stance before taking out a high-quality Wave Crystal and sending dozens of treasures into his [Devourer Dimension]. Finally, he focused on the only Wave King of the Essence Evolution Path of Power among the trio, Orphin. Orphin''s eyes shook with fear, but he could do nothing but walk in front of the Scarlet King. His hand moved on its own, generating a deep cut on his lower abdomen, one so deep that it was visible a small organ glowing with sky-blue light. Immediately, Oprhin''s body trembled since he had his Evolution Core exposed, but things were about to get worse. He took one of the high-quality wave crystals and began to revolve their energy inside his body, transforming the Life Wave into Essence Wave at a shocking speed. As the Evolution Core of the Wave King generated Essence Wave, the Scarlet King used his Ego Wave to take control of the energy and bring it to him. The Scarlet King was using the Essence Wave of a Wave King as food for his own Wave Warrior''s Essence Wave. Even though he needed to purify it, losing over 95% of its quantity, the 5% that remained was much faster than him directly transforming the Life Wave into Essence Wave. That, along with the energying from the [Gluttony Module], was more than enough to saturate the energy needs of the Scarlet King. Zarius and the other Wave King of the Abyssal n remained motionless as they watched their surroundings. There was nothing but terror in their hearts as they saw how the monster was devouring the life energy from Orphin, and there was no doubt in their hearts that their fates would not be better. Chapter 400 Essence Evolution Path of Power (II) The Wave Warrior Rank was nearly identical in both the Astral Rebirth Path of Power and the Essence Evolution Path of Power, with both focusing on the development of meridians that emerged from the Sacred Organ and made aplete circuit, going through the organs, bones, muscles, and skin until reaching the exterior, then branching into a new set of meridians that connected the energy from the outside into the Sacred Organ. Of course, to train the Essence Evolution Path of Power, the Scarlet King needed a cultivation technique. While he could take the one from Orphin, he had an even better one inside his heart as the Sonic de Fusion Technique bordered both Paths of Power. It took Cain over three months to reach Level 3 of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, but now, in just one week, he had already reached that level in the Essence Evolution Path of Power!@@novelbin@@ Of course, that overwhelming speed had to do with the fact that right now, he had a much more powerful lineage and that the resources were overwhelmingly better. The Scarlet King smiled as he felt how the new meridians designed for Essence Wave had already emerged from his Evolution Core and spread into his organs, but it was at this point that a new element came into y. As the amount of Essence Wave inside his body grewrger and purer, the Scarlet King''s mind and soul were able to start harmonizing with the cosmic forces of the world, the Laws! Powerful resources and great Lineage can only take you so far. Just like the Astral Rebirth Path of Power had Marrow Washing, the Essence Evolution Path of Power also had aponent that yed a crucial role in how far you could go. For the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, the foundation was paramount, and that presented itself in the form of Marrow Washing in the Wave Warrior Rank and Blood Rebirth in the Wave Champion. However, for the Essence Evolution Path of Power, the defining factor in their path was perception, especially their perception of the Laws. The Laws are the matrix of the world, the invisiblework of cosmic forces that allowed the existence of reality, enabling fire to burn and ice to cool down. While Astral Rebirth Cultivators did not have to worry about them, they were the core of the Essence Evolution Path of Power. Understanding the Laws not only allowed you to summon their power to enhance your battle might but also allowed the refinement of your Essence Wave and talent. As one would expect for a Saint Cultivation Technique like the Sonic de Fusion Technique, it had insight into the Law of Sound. The Scarlet King could use it to refine his power and enhance his might, but while the insights in the cultivation technique were formidable and would grant great battle power, he had an even better option. Three days after reaching the third level of the Essence Evolution Path of Power, the Scarlet King''s body trembled as he reached the fourth level, but that was not the most impressive thing. A smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he made a small cut on his palm. A sky-blue energy focused on the cut, and the next second, drops of blood emerged from it and rose into the air before morphing into all sorts of objects, including a sharp de, only to return to his hand the next second and close the wounds. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire Absolute and utter shock and terror appeared in the eyes of Orphin and the other two when they saw that, as they could not believe what they saw. A man at the fourth level of the Essence Evolution Path of Power was able to deploy control over the Law of Blood! Orphin was the most shocked of all. Mastery over a Law contained the ranks of Basic Understanding and Law Fragmentation, with each divided into Low, Medium, Deep, and Extreme. As a Wave King of the Essence Evolution Path of Power, he had a much better grasp of the Laws and could say with certainty that the Scarlet King''s mastery over the Law of Blood surpassed the Low Basic Understanding. As a reference, that was the same as an Astral Rebirth Cultivator with a marrow washing percentage of over 50%! Although for the trio, the only exnation was that they were in front of an ancient monster, the truth was that the Law of Blood had already soaked the Scarlet King''s soul sea after consuming the Astral Blood Beast Soul Core. While the Scarlet King would have needed to focus and meditate for an extended period of time over the Law of Sound from the Sonic de Fusion Technique, he only needed to focus on the flow of his blood and the insight of the Law of Blood left behind by the Astral Blood Beast''s soul force would do the rest. Weeks went by as the Scarlet King continued developing his meridians, going through the Essence Evolution Path of Power levels and improving his mastery over the Law of Blood. There was constant feedback between the quality of his Essence Wave and Law Mastery. The more powerful and purer his Essence Wave was, the greater his perception of the phenomena and Laws, and when those improved, they would refine his energy pool and help it grow stronger and purer. Finally, three months after starting his training, the Scarlet King''s body trembled, and a red light flooded the surroundings. This was not his Ego Wave but a phenomenon produced by his Law of Blood reaching the Extreme Basic Understanding! Orphin and the other two Wave Kings saw the sudden reaction of the Law of Blood, and by the fact that they even felt their blood reacting and a metallic taste in the air, they understood just how high the monster''s evolution was. Hopelessness flooded their souls as they understood that leaving this ce alive was nothing but a dream. Chapter 402 Facing Abyssal Wave Kings Several shockwaves echoed through the air as the Scarlet King generated sonic sts from the soil at his feet, allowing him to move at a shocking speed, fast enough to keep the distance between him and Zirun. He moved in strange patterns, zigzagging across the battlefield, seemingly trying to lose the Wave King, but Zirun kept close behind. At the same time, his Essence Wave gathered around ughter, making the weapon vibrate before unleashing arcs of sonic energy. These were not only fast but also had small arcs of dark lightning fused within them, enhancing their destructive power. Zirun knew he could not dodge them since that would reduce his momentum, so he clenched his fists and sent strikes against the arcs of sonic energy, shattering them as he pushed forward. The man used every ounce of strength as he grew closer to the Scarlet King. 100 meters. 50 meters. 25 meters. Just as Zirun was about to get within ten meters of the Scarlet King, his eyes widened as he felt he crashed against an invisible object. "?BOOOOMMMM!"@@novelbin@@ A sonic st sent Zirun flying away with blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. He regained control over his body immediately, but a sh of fear appeared in his eyes as he did not understand what happened. Despite his sadistic nature, Zirun was still a seasoned warrior, so he spread his Ego Wave in all directions. Dread appeared in his heart as he detected dozens of invisible spheres charged with sonic energy covering the battlefield. Zirun understood that the Scarlet King moved in such strange patterns during the chase not to lose him but to transform the battlefield into a minefield. And by the time he realized what was happening, he was already in the center of it. Unfortunately for Zirun, he did not have time to map the battlefield, as the Scarlet King appeared one hundred meters above him before sending a massive arc of sonic energy. "Sonic de!" The attack had the same amount of energy as the one that cut his arms to the bone, and the sonic booms made it impossible to dodge. Zirun knew that the attack could put his life at risk, and dodging was impossible due to the invisible bombs restricting his movements. He gathered a massive amount of Astral Wave into his right fist, generating a silver tornado before firing the fist up. "BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!" A deafening shock wave spread across the sky as the silver tornado and sonic de shed. Zirun''s arm trembled, but he managed not only to resist but also shatter the arc of sonic energy. Unfortunately for the Wave King, before he could growcent with his fest, he saw how the fragments of sonic energy shed against the sonic booms spread around the battlefield, taking their energy before bouncing back toward Zirun at a shocking speed in the form of an all-epassing wave. "Sonic Echo!" The Scarlet King uttered those words as the sonic wave crashed against Zirun, mming him into the ground. There were no cuts in the Abyssal, but the internal damage he suffered was critical. A small smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he saw the might he could unleash using the Essence Evolution Path of Power. It was not as overwhelming as the strength of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power but was full of wonders and tricks, allowing him to defeat a Wave King. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire Despite hisck of mastery over the Law of Sound, the Scarlet King could still deploy some impressive skills. Had he mastered the Law of Sound to the Law Fragmentation Stage, his spells would not have only been more potent but would have required much less energy to trigger, and Zirun would have died at the start of the fight. Of course, the battle was not exactly fair since Zirun had lost some of his battle power due to the loss of blood vitality and the previous wound, not to mention that the Scarlet King had a Holy Weapon while the Abyssal was not allowed to use any Wave Artifact. The Scarlet King saw how Zirun managed to rise from the ground, and the man had difficulty regting his breathing and could not stop puking blood. He did not receive any injury, but the sonic attacks had already drained much of his energy pool. In a battle to the death, the Scarlet King could kill Zirun, but he would be so drained of energy that if he were to face a new Wave King, the only path would be to escape. Once their energy pool was drained, an Essence Wave Cultivator lost over 80% of their battle power; that was why they focused so much on improving its quantity and quality. However, the Scarlet King was not amon Essence Wave Cultivator. His eyes turned to the other Abyssal and allowed this one to regain control over his body. "Your name is Samos, right? You and Zirun will attack me together now. Remember, the only way in which you have the slightest chance of survival is if you can take me by surprise and kill me." Samos clenched his fists as he looked at the wounded Zirun, and the duo nodded to each other before shing into the sky together. The first unleashed golden energy that enhanced his speed, while the second made the silver tornado cover his entire figure. The Scarlet King faced the two Early Wave Kings using all his power and skill, generating mines of sonic energy while unleashing barrages of sonic des and, at the same time, using sonic waves to move at a shocking speed. Zirun and Samos were riddled with injuries less than three minutes after the fight started, and neither had managed to put a hand on the Scarlet King, but the duo did not lose hope. An Astral Wave Cultivator''s body had immense durability and could endure tremendous damage. Usually, it would only take a full-power strike to take down an Essence Cultivator, especially if this was an entire rank beneath them. "AHHHH!" Zirun shouted as he made his energy explode, literally transforming into a massive tornado that covered the sky and dived toward the Scarlet King. Chapter 403 Killing Abyssal Wave Kings "?AHHHH!" Zirun shouted as he made his energy explode, literally transforming into a massive tornado that covered the sky and dived toward the Scarlet King. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw the tornado. He took a deep breath as his Essence Wave burst with all its power, and he waved his hand, moving ughter in a strange pattern that unleashed hundreds of small arcs of sonic energy. The individual power of the sonic arcs was limited, but every time they burst to pieces, they would unleash an energy wave that resonated with the other attacks. After over one thousand sonic arcs burst, theirbined power broke the silver tornado apart, sending Zirus, who was at the core, shing away. Zirus nearly fell unconscious due to the damage and loss of blood, but there was a smile on his face. The reason for that was that while the Scarlet King managed to st the silver tornado to pieces, this onepleted its true purpose. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he turned around, only to see Samos less than five meters away, firing a punch charged with all his power at his face. He had been forced to focus on the silver tornado, allowing the other Wave King, who focused on speed, to sneak up on him. Samos noticed how the Scarlet King looked directly into his eyes but still had control over his body, and a cold smile appeared on his face as he imagined the head of the monster blowing to pieces. "Light Fist. Die!" "?BOOOOMMMM!" A massive st echoed across the sky, but it was not due to Samos'' fistnding on the Scarlet King''s head since this one had stopped the fist with his naked palm! Samos could not believe what he just saw. He had gathered all his strength in that fist, yet the monster managed to block it with his naked palm, and other than making the arm tremble, he caused no damage at all. "Monster!" "?SHHHHH!" That was thest word Samos uttered as the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave burst, and he triggered the Sundering Concept as the sonic energy in ughter exploded, splitting the Abyssal in half. Zurin and Orphin saw the de sunder Samos''s body in half, and their horror only grew more vital as the blood of this one moved on its own, fusing into the flesh of the Scarlet King. "As expected, even without the reinforcement of Astral Wave, my body is still as hard as a Golden Wave Artifact thanks to the Biometal Herculean Technique." The fact that the Scarlet King could not revolve his Astral Wave or advance in the Astral Rebirth Path of Power doesn''t mean he lost his amazing constitution. He still had the advantages of the Astral Wave Path of Power, enhancing his battle might. People did not dual cultivate because they could better put the time into a single path and fix their shorings with auxiliary skills. After all, anyone with the talent to dual cultivate would also have the chance to reach the Divine Ascension Realm, and you could not enter that Rank with both Paths of Powers since you only had one soul. "System, scan me." The Scarlet King was satisfied with his current strength and battle skills, so hemanded the system to show his current stats. It did not take long for the information to reach his mind, and he saw the stats: [Scanning Vessel... ... Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire Scan of Vesselpleted. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind@@novelbin@@ Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage Wave Talent: High Tier 8 (Peak Tier 8) Stats: Strength: 48.9 Agility: 27.2 Vitality: 51.2 Astral Wave: 33.6 Essence Wave: 19.2 Blood Energy (Astral): 45.9 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Main Law Master: Law of Blood (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note (1): Wave Virus inside Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%. Note (2): Blood Energy can no longer be manipted as its core is in the Rebirth Heart. To use the secondary energy pool, use the technique that generated Blood Energy with its core in the Evolution Core.] The Scarlet King was very pleased with his Essence Wave since his energy poll was nearly as strong as a Middle Stage Wave Champion despite having just reached the Early Stage. He also noticed that going from Level 1 Wave Warrior to Early Wave Champion in the Essence Evolution Path of Power did not grant an upgrade in his constitution, but that made perfect sense. The Scarlet King''s body was already at a level beyond what the constitution of even the Apotheosis Realm Essence Cultivators could achieve, so there was no adjustment or upgrade in terms of physique. That was actually one of the many reasons his energy pool was able to grow so fast. As the Scarlet King focused on the data shown by the system, Zurin could not contain the fear in his heart and turned around, ready to use all his power to run away from the monster. Sadly for the man, just as that thought crossed his mind, his eyes lost their light as he gathered all his Astral Wave in his right hand and struck his own head, blowing it to pieces. Orphin''s eyes twitched as he saw how Zarius blew his head off, and the Scarlet King did not even nce at the man. A sense of utter dread filled his heart as he realized that subconsciousmands had been imnted in their minds. The moment Zarius thought of running away, themand of suicide was triggered, and the man ended his own life. Orphin did not know what kind of Hypnosis Master could do that, and the answer wasplex. That level of Hypnosis Mastery could be achieved after centuries or even millennia of training, through some unique skill or bloodline, or by gainingplete control over your emotions and mind, the type that only Order could grant. Chapter 404 Stranger "Boom." Orphin had yet to recover from seeing the death of Zarius when he heard a small st and turned around only to see the Scarlet King had descended next to him.@@novelbin@@ "I assume you know what your fate will be. It will be fast and painless, but first, I must ask you some questions." Orphin only sighed as a sad smile appeared on his face and prepared to answer the question since it was not like he could resist. The Scarlet King already had all the knowledge of Kain, but he needed to know more about the people who went after the boy. After all, he would take the young man''s identity during his stay in Kronos. Of course, using the Gluttony Eye on Orphin would have been the best way to collect the information. Yet, it was moreplex, as the technique required nearly all of the Scarlet King''s power to work on a Wave Warrior, and the mental defenses of a Wave King were much more powerful. It took around five hours for the Scarlet King to know everything about the force behind Orphin and the man. "SHHHH:" Not a second after the Scarlet King obtained his information, he waved his hand, severing the man''s head, ending his life before this one even realized it. After that, he extracted Orphin''s Evolution Core and sent the rest of the corpse into his [Devourer Dimension], and the same happened to Zirus and Amos''s corpses. The Scarlet King waved his hand, generating pulses of sonic energy mixed with darkness that flooded the surroundings. Only once there was not a single piece of evidence left of what happened here did he look to the northwest, where the capital of the Kronos Continent was located. "I am in the Silent Forest, known for the powerful creatures capable of taking people by surprise. Luckily, my Ego Wave and Void State should be enough to keep me out of trouble." Of the few techniques that Cain could still use from his time as an Astral Rebirth Cultivator was Void State since the skill depended on body control and using your Ego Wave. Actually, now that the Scarlet King took the Essence Evolution Path of Power, he could develop the Law of Shadows to take Void State to the next level. The defining factor in your talent in the Essence Evolution Path of Power was the strength of your primary Law and its mastery, but that did not mean that a cultivator could only focus on one Law. Actually, mastering several Laws and ingraining them into your battle style would make you terrifying. For example, the Azure King focused on the Law of Lightning and the Law of Endless, which was why he was so powerful despite cultivating at the bottom of the Divine Ascension Realm. The Scarlet King had divine talent regarding the Law of Blood, but he also was gifted with the Law of Shadows and Darkness thanks to the True Avernus Bloodline. Still, before embarking on what type of battle style and Laws he would focus on, he needed to reach the capital and get ess to battle skills. Using the power of Void State, the Scarlet King hid his aura and spread his Ego Wave, locating the best path forward. His figure moved as a shadow, silently crossing the trees and without alerting any of the Wave Beasts around him. He moved like that for nearly five hours when his eyes suddenly widened, with shock appearing. The reason was that he had just turned to the left and saw an old man sitting beneath a tree, forcing him to a sudden stop. Not only was the sight of an old man drinking tea in the middle of a dangerous forest full of wild beasts extremely bizarre, but this one did not appear in the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave. It was much easier to hide from a person''s sight than their Ego Wave, yet the Scarlet King could not question reality. He saw the man with his eyes, but his Ego Wave did not detect him, making it clear the person was not normal. And if all that was not crazy enough, the man appeared like an average human elder with gray hair, a long beard, and arge belly. Find more adventures on My Virtual Library Empire Despite everything, the Scarlet King''s mind was sharp enough to ovee the shock, and a sh of killing intent appeared in his heart. He could not blow up his cover, so as a good member of the Hell n, he immediately showed hostility to the old human man. "Oh, there is no need for violence, young man. I am only passing by and wanted to catch a nce of you." The old man spoke as he sipped his tea, unleashing an aura that seemed to influence the surroundings, erasing any notion of violence. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King as he felt the man''s aura. It would be a lie if the Scarlet King said he was not influenced, but the main reason why he did not attack was that he was not confident. "This is a dangerous ce; you should leave." The Scarlet King only spoke those words before turning around, ready to leave. However, just as he was about to step forward, he heard the man''s voice. "Tell me, young man, why do people not dual cultivate? After all, it is just as important to understand the world around you as it is to know the mysteries of your body." As he heard those words, a sh of shock appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes. He had made sure to hide every iota of his Astral Wave, and his red mask should be cloaking that part of his cultivation. Not to mention, he never felt or detected any scanning force on his body, so the man should not know about his unique condition. Although there were many questions on the Scarlet King''s mind, he did none as they would reveal information about him. Instead, he just answered the question of the old man. "Because our souls are needed as a core for the evolution of a Path of Power beyond the Apotheosis Realm, and we only have one soul." The old man nodded and drank another sip of his tea before putting the cup down as a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. "It is true that we only have one soul, but who says it cannot embark on both paths of power, just like a mind can hold more than one personality." Chapter 405 To the Atrox Immortus Races capital (I) A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he heard those words. The way the old man spoke could be considered rubbish since it was already an iron rule that dual cultivation was a dead end, but he felt the certainty in the man''s words. "Well, that is all I had to say." The old man stood up and turned around, walking into the forest, but he threw an object before leaving the Scarlet King''s sight.@@novelbin@@ The Scarlet King caught it and saw it was a starry gem, the object cultivators use to store Saint Techniques. "It will only open once you''ve washed it with your Essence and Astral Wave after both paths reach the Apotheosis Realm." As those words reached the Scarlet King, the old man suddenly vanished with the current of winds. "Apex?" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Although the Scarlet King had absolute confidence in his skill and path, the sudden appearance of the old man and the starry gem were shocking enough for him to ask for advice from his ancient partner. "I could not detect anything from the man even with the [A.I. Chip Module]. Whoever he is, his power and supernatural abilities are no less than a True Titan." The Scarlet King softly nodded, and he was not surprised since not even the mightiest Apotheosis Realm Master could hide from his Ego Wave. After a moment, he looked at the starry gem, but just as expected, it was locked, and he could not ess its information. The way the old man spoke hinted that the key to dual cultivation beyond the Apotheosis Realm was inside this starry gem, but it was hard for the Scarlet King to follow a path that would drain his time and resources when there was a chance it could all be a lie. After all, why would the Scarlet King trust someone from the human race he found in the middle of a forest in the content controlled by an enemy race? If the Scarlet King sought with all his power to fix his Rebirth Heart, he was confident that he could do it, but his time would be much better put into enhancing the Essence Evolution Path of Power. After some time, the Scarlet King stored the starry gem in his space ring. ''I will decide what to doter. First, I need to get to the capital.'' Just as the Scarlet King was about to leave, his eyes turned to the tableware and pot with tea left behind by the old man. Like the old man, the Scarlet King could not detect the tableware and pot with tea with his Ego Wave, and not even the more powerful [Scan Force Field] could. A sharp light appeared in his eyes as he unleashed his red force field, covering it before trying to send it to the [Devourer Dimension]. [Warning! Warning! Objects are above the Apotheosis Realm''s energy level. Sending them into the Devourer Dimension could cause this one to copse, forcing the system to shut down the [Gluttony Module] until the tool is fixed.] A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he heard that message and served a cup of tea before taking a small sip. Immediately, his eyes widened as his Ego Wave burst with all its power, and his body grew even redder, with sweat covering every part of his skin. The sudden reaction could make one think the tea was poisonous, but it was the opposite. It was full of energy, so pure that just taking a sip almost made the Scarlet King''s body burst. Luckily, his constitution and Ego Wave were enough to handle the energy, and after a few seconds, he was able to make it revolve around his body. "Amazing!" Pure thrill appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes. Just a sip of the tea filled his body with energy that wouldst for days, and he still had a full bottle. Carefully, he stored everything in his space ring, including the tableware, before carrying on with his journey. There were no more unexpected things on the Scarlet King''s journey, and once he left the area popted by Grand King Beasts, his Ego Wave expanded in all directions, and he made a sudden turn to the right. A giant blue beast with the form of an eagle stood on the edge of a rift, gazing into the distance as it looked with its excellent eyesight for its next prey when suddenly its entire body trembled as it felt someone had justnded on its back. The Sky-Light Eagle was a proud King Beast, and even if its battle power was average, its speed allowed it to attack enemies before they even realized it, so the fact that someone snuck up on it was a source of not only shock but also overwhelming rage. However, as the beast turned its head to see the culprit, all the rage in its heart faded, reced by fear. The only thing the King Beast saw were two red eyes that terrified its soul. The humanoid did not say a word and just pointed to the west. Immediately, the Sky-Light Eagle rose to the sky and shed in the direction at full speed. It would have been easy for the Scarlet King to hypnotize the Early King Beast, but that could reveal his identity as a Hypnosis Master, so he chose to suppress the beast instead. ''It was easier than I thought.'' The Scarlet King could not help but remember the time he manipted a Wave Beast resembling a bear into attacking the bandits''ir and used the same tactic. That time, he was forced to beat the beast, unlike now that he only had to look at it. "Beasts respond better to a resolute heart and mind. Right now, yours is empty of doubt and hesitation." Apex''s voice echoed inside the mind of the Scarlet King, and a meaningful light appeared in his eyes. "I am curious. How did you know I could harmonize with Order at such an intuitive level?" Chapter 408 Mysterious Master The Scarlet King moved with the Marshal as they reached the gate and entered Evernight City. His eyes wandered around with curiosity, something that did not draw attention since it was a normal response for someone who had never visited the capital of the Immortus Atrox Empire. As the Scarlet King observed the ordinary people of the Atrox Immortus Race, he couldn''t help but silently smile as he remembered the description given by the teacher at the military academy back in the Imperial Lightning Fort. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire ''Should this be a ferocious race full of bloodthirsty warriors that y their opponent and wash in their blood? The only things I see are normal people going about their lives.'' No matter how you saw them, the way the members of the Atrox Immortus Race behaved was no different than the way people of the Godyer Humankind did, with adults caring about adult stuff and children going on with their simple lives. As for the Scarlet King''s first interaction with an Atrox, where he saw the Level 3 Wave Warrior torture beast and people, he now knew that person was probably brainwashed. All the customs and behaviors that the Godyer Humankind Empire taught about the Atrox Immortus Race to their juniors, such as their rite of passage in which children were put through a cruel trial from a very young age, were widely exaggerated and distorted. The children of the Atrox Immortus Race did go through a trial, but it was at fifteen, and the survival rate was actually over 95%. From a certain point of view, it was no different than the military service that Cain and other children of the Godyer Humankind went through. As for the tendency of the Atrox Immortus Race to torture their enemies, it was also an exaggeration. They did have a tendency for sadism, but it was the same tendency as the human race toward greed, not something that controlled their behavior. As the Scarlet King saw all these people who were supposed to be members of an enemy race and were supposed to hate to the bone, he could not help but feel odd. Not because there was anger or disgust in his heart but because he felt nothing at all. "Xenophobia is the fear and hatred of the unknown and strange. You follow Order, and there is no way a set of ideals or ideologies imnted by others can affect your mind and heart." The Scarlet King heard the voice of Apex in his mind, and he almost burst intoughter. He was by all measures an emotionless monster in the eyes of any rational person, yet right now, he was the human who most likely felt the least hatred or aversion to the other races in the world. "Young Lord Lauzer?" Damos'' voice drew the Scarlet King''s attention back to reality. "Sorry about that. I was just impressed by the beauty of your civilization."@@novelbin@@ The Marshal was surprised to hear such a simple yet strong testament from such a young man, and he couldn''t help but look at him with a new focus. Clearly, the previous disy of overbearing arrogance was not the full extent of the young man''s personality. "Thanks for your kind words." With that, the duo entered a small building, only to activate a teleportation formation and arrive in arge room with a table in the middle and two seats. It was a typical office, and by the looks of it, it seemed to belong to the Marshal. "Please." Damos indicated for the Scarlet King to sit down before taking his own seat. After that, he activated a ring in his hand, showing a virtual screen with all sorts of information. Even without the memories of Kain, the Scarlet King would have recognized the ring. Unlike humans who have their A.I. Chip, the other races usedputer rings, which served in the same way as a holder of information andmunication devices. There were many reasons why the other races did not use A.I. Chip despite having ess to the technology. The main reason was that they were an invention of the human race, and a copy could have unknown ws that the Godyer Humankind Empire could take advantage of. "ording to the original schedule, you and the other envoys of the Inferno Daemon Empire were supposed to arrive four months ago at thetest. Yet, not only did you fail to arrive at the correct time, but nine other envoys are yet to appear." The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as he heard that information, but that was just a facade, as he was already aware of it. A total of sixty-six envoys came from the Inferno Daemon Empire, but that did not mean they were allies since their mission was to enhance the rtionship between the noble families of both races. Some wanted to avoid thepetition, so they decided to take them out, and Kain was on the list of people who were never supposed to reach the Evernight City. "I need to know what happened to you, not only for your sake but since it could shed some light on the fate of the others." Damos knew of the scheming nature of the Hell n, and deep down, he already had an answer to the fate of the others since it was not very hard to guess. What better chance to take care of the problems than in the forest of a foreign content? Still, as a Marshal of the Atrox Immortus Race, it was Damos'' job to investigate. "My group was ambushed. They were members of the Inferno Daemon Race. Their goal was to kill me, but my guards gave their lives to allow me to escape. Unfortunately, I did not make it that far, and they caught me. Both were Wave Kings, one of the Essence Path and the other of the Astral Path." Damos'' eyes widened as he expected Kain to me Wave Beast or bandits, not for this one to name members of his own race as the attacker. Chapter 410 Wave Kings soul force After oveing the initial shock, one of the people sitting at the head of the table stood up with an expression full of righteous fury. "Kain Lauzer, what is the meaning of this? You have been absent for months and now make such a ruckus. Who do you think you are to behave like that in front of us?"@@novelbin@@ A young member of the Hell n shouted with rage. He had a cultivation at the peak of the Wave Champion Rank, and his battle power was much higher. "Simur, who do you think you are to speak to my little brother like that?" Before the Scarlet King could answer, another of the youngest at the head stood up, and this one was a member of the Abyssal n. The Scarlet King recognized the man as the elder brother of Kain and the seventh son of Archduke Lauzer, whose name was Jamil. After shouting at Simur, Jamil turned to his brother and smiled radiantly before going to this one and hugging him. "Kain, I was so worried about you. What happened?" The Scarlet King showed a kind smile as he stared at who was supposed to be his elder brother, but he could not help but sneer as he saw the concern in those eyes since it was Jamil who sent the assassin. Of course, since he would gain nothing but revealing what he knew, the Scarlet King only smiled at his bloodthirsty brother before turning to the people at the table. "I had some problems, but everything turned out great." As the Scarlet King uttered those words, his eyes began to glow with red light, showing the willpower of a Peak Wave Champion! When they saw the Ego Wave in Kain''s eyes, hostility emerged in the eyes of the people present. Everybody here was a rival and the fact that one of them suddenly grew stronger only made him a threat to their ns, and they needed to get rid of him. Jamil was also surprised to see the Ego Wave in his brother''s eyes, and he used all his strength to hide any hostility, only showing happiness and thrill before congratting his little brother. "Kain, that is awesome. What happened to you during these past few months?" "Haha, I met someone special, but I will tell youter. I only came to say hello to everything; I will now go to my room." The Scarlet King smiled at Jamil before turning around and walking away. This small dinner was something youths from the Inferno Daemon Race tended to do as they exchanged insults disguised aspliments while they tried to prove themselves, and he was not interested in it. Now that he got what he wanted and put a face to the names that Orphin gave him, it was time to leave. "Oh, yes, yes, you must be tired. Go on; we will see each other tomorrow at the party." Jamil did not try to keep Kain in the room, and as he turned back to his seat, he went through the messages that had arrived on hisputer ring. While he kept smiling, a sharp light appeared in his eyes. The others in the room did not notice it since they were all too busy going through the information rted to Kain Lauzer, as this one had now be a problem. The Scarlet King reached his room, and after ensuring there was no scanning force or something like that detecting his movements, he finally rxed and went to bed. He had gone through a lot over the past few months, and no matter how strong his vitality and constitution were, a night of true sleep was needed. As he closed his eyes and fell asleep, the Scarlet King felt his body and mind finally rxing, but less than an hourter, his eyes widened with an expression of shock. Yet, that shock turned into a thrill since the reason for his reaction was that his soul force that had lingered on the peak of the Wave Champion Rank finally took the next step, passing to the Wave King Rank! The evolution of the Scarlet King''s soul force wasrgely thanks to the improvement of his Ego Wave to the Apotheosis Realm. It would be fantastic news for everybody since a more potent soul force meant a greater perception of your body and the phenomena around you, significantly improving your talent. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire But for the Scarlet King, it had another meaning since the fact that his soul force rose to the Wave King Rank meant that the Absolute Life Form System would allow the opening of another module and also the evolution of the [A.I. Chip Module], and ess to upgrade the [Gluttony Module] and [Gic Coder Module]. Although the Scarlet King had barely slept an hour, the excitement had already shaken off all drowsiness, and there was a radiant smile on his face as he interacted with the system. "System, unlock the next module." Without wasting a second, the Scarlet Kingmunicated with the system and unlocked the new module. Likest time, he felt a sharp pain in his head along with a sense of great weight on his brain. Luckily, it did notst long, and with pure excitement, the Scarlet King heard the voice of the Absolute Life Form System. [Enhancement Module Activated] The Scarlet King''s eyes immediately glowed with enlightenment as he heard the new module''s name. Like during the first module he unlocked, the [Gic Coder Module], the new one seemed to involve a Profession. Enhancement was a profession that was not very well-known in Gaia and even across the Aether. It was not only challenging to master, but it also had minimal impact on your cultivation or battle power. In essence, Enhancement was the ability to improve the quality of objects through a unique method. The Scarlet King knew very little about it, but before drawing any conclusions, hemanded the system to exin the module. "System." Chapter 411 Enhancement Module "System." As soon as the Scarlet Kingmanded it, the Absolute Life Form System gave him a detailed description. [Enhancement Module: Module that will grant the Vessel the power to harness the might of Tribtion in order to enhance all things in the universe.] The Scarlet King''s eyes widened as just the description was enough to fill his heart with awe toward the fourth module of the Absolute Life Form System. The word "Tribtion" had several connotations. Still, in the cultivation world, it was rted to the Heaven and Earth Tribtion, meaning the power that the world would unleash upon you once you decided to break beyond the limit of life. Tribtion in the Ego Eternal Path of Power goes by the name of Ego Destruction Tribtion. It presents itself as a torment of multicolored mes that seek to shatter your ego and mind. The Astral Rebirth and Essence Evolution Path of Power also had their Tribtions; those were the essence of the Apotheosis Rank. While many cultivators died during the process, others seeded, rising beyond the mortal realm. There was aplicated rtionship between cultivators and Tribtion. On the one hand, they hated it since it was essentially the power of the world trying to break them, but on the other side, they also loved it since survival meant progress to a whole new level. ording to what the Scarlet King knew about the Enhancement Profession, it was just improving the power of certain objects, nothing as extraordinary as harnessing the power of Tribtion. A new focus appeared in his eyes as he paid attention to the rest of the description. [Tools: -Refinement me Generator: Uses Destiny Force (DP) to generate Refinement mes. The more revolutions, the more expensive. -1 Revolution me: 100 DP -2 Revolution me: 200 DP -3 Revolution me: 300 DP -4 Revolution me: 1000 DP -5 Revolution me: 2000 DP -6 Revolution me: 3000 DP -7 Revolution me: 4000 DP -8 Revolution me: 5000 DP -9 Revolution me: 10000 DP -10 Revolution me: 50000 DP -11 Revolution me: 60000 DP -12 Revolution me: 70000 DP -13 Revolution me: 80000 DP -14 Revolution me: 90000 DP -15 Revolution me: 100000 DP -16 Revolution me: 150000 DP -17 Revolution me: 200000 DP -18 Revolution me: 250000 DP -19 Revolution me: 300000 DP -20 Revolution me: 500000 DP -21 Revolution me: 1M DP -Artifact Enhancer Catalyst: Improve the sess rate of Refinement to 100% on artifacts and objects. The cost depends on the type of Revolution me used. -1-3 Revolution Refinement: 500 Destiny Force -4-9 Revolution Refinement: 10000 Destiny Force -10-15 Revolution Refinement: 100,000 Destiny Force -16-19 Revolution Refinement: 300,000 Destiny Force -20 Revolution Refinement: 500,000 Destiny Force -21 Revolution Refinement: 1M Destiny Force@@novelbin@@ -Body Enhancer Catalyst: Improve the sess rate of Refinement to 100% on physical bodies. The cost depends on the type of Revolution me used. -1-3 Revolution Refinement: 2000 Destiny Force -4-9 Revolution Refinement: 30000 Destiny Force -10-15 Revolution Refinement: 500,000 Destiny Force -16-19 Revolution Refinement: 1M Destiny Force -20 Revolution Refinement: 2M Destiny Force -21 Revolution Refinement: 3M Destiny Force] When the Scarlet King saw the amount of Destiny Force that the higher levels required, he nearly fell to the ground as it was simply overwhelming. "System, how high is my current Destiny Force?" [Destiny Force: 3.96 M] The amount of the Scarlet King''s Destiny Force was genuinely tremendous. Yet, one had to consider that his effect on Eden had repercussions across the entire Godyer Humankind Empire, and he faced not only the Azure King but also one of the ten Dark Kings of The Organization and survived. Even if he used all his Destiny Force, the Scarlet King could not create a 21 Revolution me and perform a 100% sess 21 Revolution Refinement utilizing the [Enhancement Module], not to mention he still had to upgrade both the [Gluttony Module] and [Gic Coder Module]. He also had no idea what type of upgrade a 21 Revolution Refinement would have on an artifact, much less on a physical body. The information the system gave him was ipatible with his knowledge of the Enhancement Profession. Before doing anything, the Scarlet King used hisputer ring to ess thework of the Atrox Immortus Empire, using some of the credits the empire had granted to all the envoys like Kain to obtain a standard Enhancement Profession technique. The Scarlet King''s understanding of the Enhancement Profession was too shallow, so he wanted to know a little bit more. It did not take long for the information to reach theputer ring, and the Scarlet King immediately focused on the virtual screen that appeared in front of him. [Ninefold Enhancement Technique: Enhancement focused on the ability to generate Refinement mes. They can be Bronze, Silver, and Gold Tier. One can use their power to enhance the amount of energy inside an object. There are restrictions since an object can only resist three refinements and must be of the same tier. Meaning that a Bronze Refinement me can only work on a Bronze Artifact and so on. To create a Refinement me, you must set aze Life Wave. The purer it is, the easier it bes.] The Scarlet King could not help but frown as he saw all that information. There were simrities between the module and the Profession. Nevertheless, unlike the [Gic Coder Module] that could assist in Gic Coding, the [Enhancement Module] and Enhancement Profession worked on very different principles, with the first using ck, Silver, and Golden mes and theter Revolution mes. "How odd." Although the Scarlet King had many questions and was sure that the module was powerful, instead of just trying to harness its unknown power, he focused on the modules that had been instrumental in his progress so far. "System, what is the current state of the [A.I. Chip Module]?" The [A.I. Chip Module] was connected to the Scarlet King''s soul force, so it did not need a manual upgrade and immediately jumped to the next level. Chapter 412 Improving the bloodline [A.I. Chip Module has evolved after the breakthrough of Vessel''s soul force to the Wave King Rank. .... A.I. Chip Module: -Pseudo Atomic Analysis -Sub Quantum Data Gathering and Analysis -Sub Quantum Virtual Simtion -Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field -Sub Quantum Hacking] Those names were enough to tell the Scarlet King how strong the [A.I. Chip Module] had be, with several of the tools going beyond the atomic realm. Not wanting to waste a second, the Scarlet King immediatelymunicated with the system to upgrade the [Gluttony Module] and [Gic Coder Module].@@novelbin@@ [Upgrade of the Gluttony Module and Gic Coder Module will cost 300,000 Destiny Force each.] The Scarlet King''s eyes twitched as he saw the amount of Destiny Force needed to evolve the modules, but he did not hesitate and gave themand. "?Yes!" [Evolving the Gic Coder Module] The Scarlet King felt a sharp pain in his mind that was soon reced by a feeling of heaviness as if something huge had justnded on his soul sea. Luckily, it did notst long, and soon, he heard the system''s voice. [Gic Coder Module has evolved. ... Proceeding to disy new tools. ... -Atomic Gic Stimtion: The tool will locate and activate hidden genes, allowing you to awaken a dormant bloodline up to the ninth generation behind. You can also increase the purity of Divine Bloodlines. -Atomic Gic Suppression: The tool will locate and suppress detrimental genes, allowing the purification and modification of a Lineage. It can work in Divine Bloodlines. -Atomic Gic Enhancement: Can enhance Divine Ascension Bloodlines and beneath. If done in the Vessel, it can deliver a wless Enhancement once per gic evolution. Thest wless Enhancement was done during the Wave Warrior Rank. Vessels can do another in the Wave Champion Rank. -Atomic Gic Rewrite: Can override an individual''s genome, converting it into the most basic state of their race, clean of any external or hereditary alteration.] A smile full of thrill appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he saw the new description of the tools. A DNA molecule was around 2.5 nanometers wide, about five thousand times smaller than a human''s blood cell. Yet, an atom was 0.5 nanometers, meaning the current [Gic Coder Module] could act at an atomic granr level. That realm of control and power surpassed the limits of a Saint Gic Coding, reaching the Senior Divine Gic Coders domain! The Scarlet King was a powerful Saint Gic Coder, maybe already reaching the 4-Star tier, but even he could not match a Peak Senior Divine Gic Coder. [Evolving Gluttony Module] Unfortunately for the Scarlet King, before he could analyze the evolved [Gic Coder Module], the system carried on with the evolution of the [Gluttony Module]. [Gluttony Module has evolved. Tools: -Sky Fiend me: Capable of devouring matter and energy. It can send 25% of all it consumed into the Vessel. -Increase the Sky Fiend me''s devouring speed by 10% for 24 hours in exchange for five hundred DF. It can be stacked up to 100 times. -Drives the energy and vitality the Sky me generates directly into the Vessel''s Sacred Organ for a week, enhancing the cultivation base in exchange for five thousand DF. Training speed is 50% slower than if the Vessel takes active control over the energy and vitality. -Demonic Devourer Dimension: A dimension meant to hold food for the Sky Fiend me. It can carry anything with an energy level up to the Peak Divine Ascension Rank. To send living entities into it, they must be paralyzed and unable to resist.] It took a few moments for the Scarlet King to get used to all the changes and the sudden weight on his soul, but as he adjusted, a smile appeared on his face as the modules had truly evolved into weapons that began to honor the name of the Absolute Life Form System. There was no need to waste time as the Scarlet King already had a use for the modules, especially the [Gic Coder Module]. "System, is there any bloodline I can awaken stronger than my True Avernus Bloodline?" Nine generations was a long time, so there was no way to say what kind of bloodline the Scarlet King''s ancestor could have. [No bloodline in Vessels'' genomic heritage is stronger than the True Avernus Bloodline.] A small smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he heard that, and he just shrugged his shoulders since it was not surprising. He then went to the next topic. "System, can you enhance the purity of my True Avernus Bloodline?" The Scarlet King had obtained the Avernus Bloodline and True Avernus Bloodline through a Wave Virus, and while he had done his best to improve their quality, it was still far from ideal. However, the system could use Destiny Force to fix that. [True Avernus Bloodline''s purity can be enhanced to its zenith, bing a true Divine Ascension Tier Bloodline. Cost: 200,000] Once again, the Scarlet King''s eyes twitched, as just improving the purity of the bloodline cost nearly as much as evolving the module. Still, there was no hesitation as he gave the signal. "Do it." [Purifying True Avernus Bloodline] Immediately after hearing those words, the Scarlet King felt his entire body itching as all his pores had opened, unleashing a foul stench, and his heart rate rose exponentially. Aplete qualitative and quantitative change to the True Avernus Bloodline was happening inside his body. Although it was hidden due to the disguise of Kain, the Blood Rune on the Scarlet King''s shoulder began to extend, epassing his entire chest. All of this was done by the [Gic Coder Module] using Destiny Force as the raw material. It took less than five minutes for the evolution to finish, but the change in the Scarlet King''s talent and physical might was immense. The Scarlet King looked no different on the outside. Still, he felt his affinity to the Law of Darkness and the Law of Shadows had improved significantly, and his Essence Wave revolved nearly three times faster across his meridians. Chapter 414 Gala (I) Luckily for the Scarlet King, the feeling vanished, and he appeared in the sky above a forest. Different from the other locations, he felt this ce was real, not a simple fantasy or beautiful tapestry. There were trees as far as the eye could see, but the sky in which he floated was multicolored as if a rainbow had spread all over its surface. "What is happening?" There was no drowsiness, and the Scarlet King''s mind worked fine as he looked around. He still had a red energy body and felt no physical power, but he could move freely. The first thing he did was to go down and attempt to touch one of the trees, but to his surprise, his hand went through it. "Strange." The Scarlet King could not help but frown, and the next second, he moved forward, and as expected, he went through the tree. He attempted the same on the ground, and his body simply went down, but there was no light or anything of the sort, so he could not see, forcing him to return to the surface. "Apex?" Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire The Scarlet King called the System Spirit, but to his shock, the entity that was supposed to be bound to his soul sea did not answer, meaning that it was not his soul the one that reached this realm. "My ego?" That was the only exnation the Scarlet King coulde up with. One thought appeared in the Scarlet King''s mind as he looked around: the way out. Luckily, it was not hard since, as the intent appeared in his mind, the Scarlet King felt his figure growing more and more illusory until it vanished. The next second, he opened his eyes back in the Magma Castle. The Scarlet King immediately stood up. He saw the hour and realized he had been asleep for nearly thirty minutes, almost the same time he spent inside that dream world. "Apex, did you detect anything odd during thest half hour?" "Actually, I did. You fell asleep, but unlike in previous times, when you always left a small part of your consciousness ready to react, you werepletely unconscious. Was there a problem?" The Scarlet King frowned, as beingpletely unconscious was something he should never do since there was no way to say what kind of threat could appear, but it made sense that was his state since his mind was wandering apletely different world. "My consciousness, or more urately, my willpower, seems to have crossed into another dimension. It was like a dream world, yet I was fully awake and could explore it. Do you have any information about that?" The golden humanoid thought for a moment before answering. "There are countless dimensions in a universe, some stacked one above the other. Most life forms inhabit the central ne of existence, but that doesn''t mean it is the only one with life. You may have visited a dream dimension. As for its power, size, and conscious life, I cannot say." The Scarlet King considered Apex''s words and softly nodded. He knew that the System Spirit held secrets from him, but the idea of a dream dimension made sense. "Although it is interesting and a ce I would like to visit more deeply, being fully unconscious in this ce is too risky. Any of the envoys would be more than happy to kill me as it would mean lesspetition." For the time being, the Scarlet King decided to leave the dream world on hold. He felt that returning would not be challenging, as it seemed to respond to his desires. First, the Scarlet King went to bed with a clear purpose in mind, remaining in the central ne of existence. Luckily, it worked, as he managed to sleep without his mind and willpower piercing into that strange realm. The Scarlet King woke up in the morning but did not leave his room. The envoys were supposed to be eating breakfast together, just like he had no appetite for their words at dinner, much less at breakfast. Instead of that, he remained in his room cultivating. The first thing he did was to test the new limitations of the [Gluttony Module]. He took out the tableware left by the strange old man. Last time, he could not use the module as the energy level was too high, but this time, he managed to send it into the [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. Immediately, a burst of energy flooded the Scarlet King''s body, one so pure that he felt it purifying his body and his energy pool. Whatever the tableware was made of, it was clearly very high level. The Scarlet King did not use the [Gluttony Module] with the pot with the tea since he could drink it and get more than just fifty percent of its energy. He continued cultivation until night fell, and only then did he stand up and wave his hand, sending a current of dark energy that expelled all the pollution and sweat from his body. After that, the Scarlet King wore a precious golden robe before leaving his room, and his eyes narrowed before a smile appeared on his face as he saw that his murderous brother, Jamil, was waiting for him. "Little Brother, you did note out to eat and spent all day in your room. For a moment, I thought you would not attend the monthly g." "Of course, I will not miss it. After all, it is the main reason we came to this continent." The Scarlet King only smiled as he and Jamil walked outside the castle. "By the way, brother, you never told me what happened?" Jamil''s eyes glowed with a meaningful light as he made that question. "Oh, right, I was focusing on other things, and it slipped my mind. Well, as you might assume, I was attacked, but luckily, during my escape, I found an ancient expert who took care of my attacker and decided to take me as his disciple and help me improve my bloodline and talent."@@novelbin@@ "Really!? That is amazing. I am so happy for you." Chapter 415 Gala (II) "Really!? That is amazing. I am so happy for you." As the Scarlet King heard that, he couldn''t help but silently praise Jamil. This one''s scheming tactics and acting were better than even the members of the Hell n, who were supposed to excel in it. "Haha, it is good for us since my new talent will mean the Lauzer Family''s position will improve." "Right, right." Jamil smiled as he nodded, doing his best to hide the murderous zeal in his eyes. The duo reached the central za and went to a new teleportation formation that brought them to a massive pavilion, one that was already full of light, music, and people. Jamil and Kain drew attention since the first had always been talented, and the second came back from the dead and seemed to have encountered a massive lucky chance. However, the rest of the envoys did not lose focus and continued their conversations with members of the Atrox Immortus Race. If one looked closely, they were all speaking with people of the opposite sex. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire The envoys'' mission was to establish a connection between the noble families of the Inferno Daemon Race and the Atrox Immortus Race, and what better way to do that than by forming a romantic rtionship with the prospect of children in the future? Of course, the Atrox Immortus Empire''s higher-ups knew the envoys'' intent, but they did not have a problem; on the contrary, it was within their ns. The Atrox Immortus Race did not believe in such a thing as racial purity and considered that a healthy integration of foreign genes from other races would do good for the race as a whole. This practice was already millennia-old to the point that all members of the Atrox Immortus Race had at least a drop of foreign blood in their veins. Such a myriad of bloodlines made the physical appearance of the people of the Atrox Immortus Race full of variations. Still, they did not care about it as it was engraved in their racial heritage to always hone their armor except in the context of intimacy and the presence of loved ones, so no one really cared about their looks. The picture of horrible humanoids that the Scarlet King saw during military training was actually only a type of Atrox meant to incite repulsion in the youngsters of the Godyer Humankind. Clearly, the brainwashing and indoctrination of the Godyer Humankind Empire was not over in school. Of course, since Bio-Armors were so simr, there were minor marks that differentiated people, including some characteristics meant to express their age, such as the length of their helmet''s horns. "Brother, we will talk moreter, as I need to meet someone now." Jamil smiled at Kain before walking to a young Atrox woman in the distance, not even bothering to present his little brother. The Scarlet King was happy with such an arrangement since he did not care about forming a rtionship with someone here. He honestly did not have a problem with their race or appearance, but he was still human, and there was no point in trying to form a rtionship when everything would be over once he returned to Gaia. Since that was the case, the Scarlet King walked around the hall smiling, nodding to the people around him but not showing any intention to get near them. He did that for a few minutes until suddenly his eyes widened, and he turned to an Atrox woman in a corner of the hall.@@novelbin@@ The woman was sitting, and it was impossible to say whether she was attractive or not due to the Bio Armor, but even if she was the most extraordinary beauty in the world, it would not affect the heart of a master of Order like the Scarlet King. The reason for the Scarlet King''s shock was the book in the woman''s hand. Despite the distance of over one hundred meters, his eyes could see the words "Revolution Refinement me" on the page. All sorts of thoughts crossed the Scarlet King''s mind as he focused more on the woman and silently unleashed his invisible Ego Wave to analyze her and the book. An individual''s Ego Wave could work even better than his five senses, so it would not be hard to read an entire book if it was covered by it, even if this one was closed. Unfortunately for the Scarlet King, the moment his Ego Wave touched the book, he only saw empty pages. ''An ancient recording method, older than starry gems? Or maybe just something different?'' Those thoughts crossed the Scarlet King''s mind as he focused once again on the Atrox woman, and just like the book, she was different as he felt no iota of Essence Wave or Astral Waveing from her. It was not that the Atrox was so powerful that the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave could not detect her power. There was no energy whatsoever in her Sacred Organs, and she was a simple mortal by all intents and purposes, yet to be even a Wave Warrior. ''Interesting.'' A sharp light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he walked across the hall, going to the young woman. Having taken Kain''s appearance, he was truly handsome, and his overwhelming and majestic aura naturally appealed to the opposite sex. That was why the Scarlet King was confident that everything would go well as he smiled at the young woman. "Please go away. I am not interested." However, before the Scarlet King could even present himself, the woman immediately turned him down without taking her eyes off the book, making his handsome smile freeze. Instead of getting angry, the Scarlet King found the woman amusing, and his smile became more natural. "Haha, ice-cold. I like it." The young woman was a little surprised to see the amused reaction of the handsome man from the Hell n. She expected this one to ramp out and mock her condition before going away, but he only smiled. Still, while she found it odd, it did not raise any response. Chapter 416 Slap "I am sure there are plenty of people that would be happy to speak with you. Please go bother them." The Scarlet King''s smile did not vanish, and just as he was about to speak again, two people got near him. They were a couple formed by an envoy of the Hell n envoy and a young Atrox woman. "Kain, you seem to have found someone that tolerates you. Allow me to introduce my good friend, Marin." The one who spoke was Simur, the member of the Hell n who rebuked the Scarlet King when this one forcefully opened the doors to the dining table. A mocking smile could be seen on his face as he moved his eyes between the Scarlet King and the young Atrox woman while presenting his partner. "So this is the rude person you were talking about. Well, I guess someone like that is fitting for a crippled." Marin''s voice was loud, and everybody heard her. The way she looked at the woman with the book made it clear this was not their first interaction. The Atrox with the book was not surprised that something like this could happen. She was not a pushover despite her condition, but before she could say a word, something else happened. "SLAP!" A pping sound echoed across the hall as the Scarlet King pped Marin, but it was not a simple p since it had so much strength that he sent the Atrox woman flying to the other side of the room, crashing against a wall. Silence reigned as the Atroxs and envoys from the Inferno Daemon Empire did not know how to react. Everybody heard Marin''s remark toward the other Atrox woman, but for Kain to suddenly p her with so much strength that it seemed like he would rip her head off was simply too much. No matter what kind of rtionship was between Kain and the young Atrox woman, his behavior was too overbearing. The Scarlet King''s smile did not fade as he saw the people''s reaction. His actions did not stem from rage or uncontroble wrath towards Marin''s words or trying to defend the young Atrox woman''s honor. While the Scarlet King found the Atrox''s women interesting, she could not incite an emotional response from a master of Order. He pped Marin because she was annoying, and there was no need for him to contain himself with such a person, so he just went ahead and acted ording to his wishes. Of course, the Scarlet King knew that his behavior would generate a reaction, but he did not have a problem with it. "Marin!" Simur shouted and immediately shed to the young Atrox woman, helping her to sit as he analyzed her condition. The Bio-Armor covered her face, but it was clear that such an attack would leave some injuries. Once he ensured she was stable, his eyes turned to Kain as a silver light appeared. "What do you think you are doing!" A silver force field emerged from Simur, rushing toward the Scarlet King, but he responded with his own red force field, and both shed in the middle of the room. The Scarlet King could easily sunder Simur''s Ego Wave. Yet, that would reveal too much, so he kept the sh tight. Still, that was very impressive since it meant that despite Kain''s much weaker cultivation base, his willpower was still as high as that of Simur. Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire Simur''s face contorted as he noticed he could not overpower Kain, and a cold light emerged as he waved his hand, taking a golden sword from his space ring. The Scarlet King''s smile did not vanish as he extended his right arm, making a red saber emerge, and calmly walked towards the Peak Wave Champion of the Hell n. Neither Simur nor the Scarlet King triggered their Essence Wave. While this was a fight, using their energy pool would transform it into a significant problem that could endanger their stay in Evernight.@@novelbin@@ Simur''s coldness grew more intense as his body began to glow with golden light. That was not a reaction from his Essence Wave but merely a response from the Law of Light as he harnessed its power. Inplete contrast, darkness began to spread across the Scarlet King''s body as he harnessed the power of the Law of Darkness. People in the room were surprised that Kain managed to draw the power of the Law of Darkness despite being only an Early Wave Champion. If they were to see the reaction of the Law of Blood, the shock would be so much that they would not even know how to react. Simur was also surprised, but his eyes narrowed as he shed forward with overwhelming speed, piercing his sword straight into Kain''s chest with incredible skill and momentum. He was confident in his skill, but all that shattered as Kain dodged the sword strike easily. The Scarlet King''s mind and soul had yet to be strong enough to use the Second Level of The Flow, but his mastery over the First Level of the skill, which allowed him to predict the enemy''s movement, had grown to the point that it became nearly instinctive. "?Boom!" A small st echoed across the hall as the Scarlet King hit the handle of the golden sword in Simur''s hand, forcing him to drop it before cing sher beneath the neck of Simur. A sense of utter shock spread across the hall as Kain''s martial skill was above everybody else. Of course, that did not mean they would lose an actual battle since they have greater cultivation bases, and Essence Cultivators tend to focus on long-range battles, not melee. Simur understood all that, but the shock that assaulted his heart was too great as he saw the red eyes focused on him and the de on his neck that seemed ready to sever his head. The Scarlet King stared at Simur for a moment before his smile widened, and his eyes burst with red light for a fraction of a second, too fast for any of the present to discern it. "SHHHH!" Chapter 418 Creating a Revolution Flame A struggle appeared in Astrid''s eyes since the golden book was not only precious but also very important to her. But seeing that her home was near and there was no way Kain could just run away with it, she epted. "Ok, until we reach home." The Scarlet King nodded and handed Astrid the sphere with the 9 Revolution me before taking the golden book. Without wasting time, the Scarlet King opened it to the first page. Now that he held it in his hand, he felt a wave of information, simr to the state of analyzing a starry gem. [Enchantment is not a mere profession but an art that defies the natural order of things! What people have epted as Enhancement is a disgrace to the true nature of this beautiful craft. They have given up, just improving the amount of energy in objects, when a true Enhancer should harness the power of Tribtion itself, stealing the power of the world to generate a qualitative and quantitative change to the base essence of an artifact, a body, and even a soul!] Even the Scarlet King could not help but feel admiration for the intent in those words, as he could sense the determination and resolution of the person who wrote them. Not wanting to waste time, he went back to the golden book. [Tribtion Enhancement is divided between the Refinement me and the Enhancement itself. The Revolution me is a catalyst to draw cosmic energy with the purpose of enhancement. The proficiency of an Enhancer is determined by their ability to create Refinement mes of varying revolutions, with bottlenecks at 3, 9, and 21 Revolutions. Just generating a Revolution me isplicated, and the difficulty improvement exponentiates the more revolutions it has, but so does its power. After thates the Enhancement that goes by the name Revolution Refinement. One must understand that the oues of Revolution Refinement are binary and extreme. Sess leads to an exponentially increased power of the target, making it significantly more potent. On the other hand, failure renders the energy in the target utterly useless. There is no limit to the amount of Enhancements an object, body, or soul can endure, nor does it have to be done in order. You could perform a 3 Revolution Refinement on something, and days, months, or even yearster, you could generate a 5 Revolution Refinement. There is a decrease in the probability of sess with each Enhancement, but each sessful enhancement exponentially increases the item''s power. This could lead to items of unimaginable power but at an increasing risk of failure. All this information is crucial before even embarking on Tribtion Enhancement, and one must be ready to face incredibly high risks and low chances if they want to embark on this path.] A solemn expression appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he read those words and understood just how immensely helpful the [Enhancement Module] was, as it allowed him to instantly generate Refinement mes and perform Enhancements with a 100% chance of sess. He took a moment before going to the part of the book that described the generation of a Revolution me and how to perform Revolution Refinement. The essence of the me was also the ignition of Life Wave.@@novelbin@@ Still, the chemical forms and mathematical process were ten, if not a hundred times harder than the creation of ck, Silver, and Golden mes described in the Ninefold Enhancement Technique he bought. Astrid was too focused on the 9 Revolution me to care about the Scarlet King''s behavior. She had taken several artifacts from her space ring to scan the sphere, as shecked an Ego Wave and had no energy inside her body, so she could only depend on external tools for investigation. Suddenly, a glow caught Astrid''s attention. As she turned to the side, her eyes widened as she saw how the Scarlet King was gathering Life Wave in his right hand only to set it aze the next second, generating a revolving me with a single color. "A 1 Revolution me!?" Astrid could not believe what she was seeing. Kain was supposed to have zero knowledge regarding Tribtion Enhancement, yet it took him less than an hour to form a Refinement me! Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire However, that was just the beginning as the Scarlet King kept increasing the amount of Life Wave he sent into the me, and soon, a second color emerged, bing a 2 Revolution Refinement me. Although that level of talent was shocking for the young woman and anyone else, the truth was moreplex. After all, not only were the cognitive abilities of the Scarlet King matching that of an Apotheosis Realm Master, but the module brought a passive effect, enhancing the talent of the Vessel in the art. A sharp light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he focused on the Refinement me and continued sending Life Wave into it, trying to make it evolve again. Still, it suddenly grew unstable, only to disperse the next second. The Scarlet King saw how the mes dispersed but was not bothered by it. To form 1 to 3 Revolution mes, he could draw the Life Wave from the environment, and there was no need to use any external support, so he did not waste anything. "Did you really just learn how to make a Refinement me?" As the Scarlet King heard the voice of Astrid and saw the inquiring gaze on the young woman, he only smiled before handing over the golden book back. "We are close enough to your home. I will be leaving now." The Scarlet King turned around and began to walk away. "Wait, the sphere." "Keep it. I will make one of my own soon. Think of it as a token of my gratitude. I hope we can speak again soon." Astrid attempted to return the 9 Revolution me, but the Scarlet King only shook his head as he walked away. A meaningful light appeared in the young woman''s eyes as she saw the young member of the Hell n go away before entering her home. Chapter 419 Forming a faction (I) There was a cave in a small mountain in the Silent Forest, and while it looked normal from the outside, its interior was concealed by all sorts of cloaking force fields and shields. It worked as the secret base and warehouse of a group of criminals. There were five people inside the mountain. A party of three led by what seemed to be an old man and a duo in the prime of their lives. "Old River, we risk our lives by drawing the guards out of that Star Cruiser, yet you failed to take the cargo of wave crystals. How are you going topensate for your failure?" One of the Atrox''s duo spoke with a cold voice. There was a strange blue mark on the right shoulder pad of his armor that resembled a crow. "I already told you, Blue Crow. Apotheosis Realm Master was guarding the ship''s vault. There was no way the three of us could have defeated him, and escape was the only choice." The man known as Old River spoke calmly, and while he made sure to exin things, he did not back down nor showed any sign of weakness. "That seems to be your problem, not ours. You failed, so you have to pay!" The man with a red mark on his left shoulder shouted as he stepped forward, his eyes beginning to glow with red light as he clenched his fists. As soon as the two Atrox behind Old River saw that, they stepped forward, positioning themselves between the duo and the old man.@@novelbin@@ "Red Hawk, be careful with your actions. Remember, I belong to the upper echelon of the Dark Hand while you are only upstarts." Old River frowned as he saw his words did not seem to deter the duo, and things kept escting, but there was no fear in his eyes since he had lived long enough in the underworld and faced much greater trials than this. If a battle were to happen, he was confident in his chances to win or at least survive. Blue Crow and Red Hawk began to circte their Astral Wave as the two guards of Old River did the same. The four were Middle Wave Kings of the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, so they did not need much space to unleash all their power. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire However, just as the battle was about to start, a red force field invaded the small mountain, covering everything and drowning Blue Crow, Red Hawk, Old River, and the two bodyguards. Utter and absolute shock appeared in the eyes of the five Atroxs as they felt the terrifying nature of this Ego Wave, not to mention they were utterly shocked someone could bypass the mountain''s defensive formation. "Tap, tap, tap!" The footsteps drew the Atroxs'' attention to the entrance, and they all saw a person nearly two meters tall walk into the room. He had a red mask covering his face, and bandages covered his flesh, leaving only his ck eyes glowing with red light. There was a red robe on his body with the word ''King'' on the back in dark letters that seemed made of moving shadows. Of course, the person who interrupted this meeting of the underworld was none other than the Scarlet King. He moved forward and did not stop even as he stood between the two groups, going all the way to the end of the room before waving his hand, generating a throne where he sat. Old River couldn''t help but tremble as he stared at the man sitting on a throne without uttering a word. Something deep down told him that he should be running away. However, years of experience told him that if he ran, he would die. A silver light appeared in the eyes of the old Atrox as he nced at Red Hawk and Blue Crow and saw the duo silently nodding. They could put aside their differences for now and take care of a greater threat first. Of course, Old River would not start a fight if there were no need for it, and he first wanted to speak with this enigmatic individual, learn what he needed, and then decide their next step. "May I..." "I assume you are Red Hawk, a.k.a. Tarison Janur, of the Janur Noble Family." However, before Old River could utter more than two words, the Scarlet King turned to the man with the red bird on his shoulder. Red Hawk, or more urately, Tarison Janur, could not hide his shock as he heard this person he had never met before utter his actual name, something he had not revealed to a single soul. Not even Blue Crow, his most trusted ally in the Dark Hand, knew it. What might seem shocking for Tarison was not impressive considering the current [A.I. Chip Module]''s capabilities. After obtaining the data of these people through hacking, Apex simply used the [Sub Quantum Data Gathering and Analysis] and came up with all their real identities. Despite the shock, Tarison was a seasoned warrior and had seen a lot of blood and death, so he was able to regain hisposure before focusing on the person. "Who are you?" "I came here because you assaulted the Star Cruiser #341 nine days ago. ording to my information, there was a coffer with starry gems. Hand it over." The Scarlet King ignored Red Hawk''s question and immediately demanded this one to hand over the chest that had the type of skill he had been looking for since he embarked on the Essence Evolution Path of Power. When Old River heard that, a small smile appeared on his face. This person was after Red Hawk, and since that was the case, he could leave. "I will not bother you and let you get to business." Red Hawk frowned when he heard the words of Old River, but there was nothing he could do about it since that was the type of rtionship people in the underworld had. If there was no profit, why would they share the danger? Even hisrade, Blue Crow, was looking to the exits, seemingly ready to leave. "No one can leave. I came for the starry gems, but I have business with all of you." Chapter 422 Forming a faction (IV) After healing Red Hawk, the Scarlet King returned to his throne and took a deep breath before his Ego Wave burst with power again. Old River, Red Hawk, Blue Crown, and the other two Atrox felt a powerful Ego Wave trying to carve a path into the deepest part of their brains. "If you resist, I will take it as breaking your word." The Scarlet King''s voice was cold as he uttered those words. He knew this group would undoubtedly betray him if he showed any form of weakness, so he was resolute topletely take over them. The five Atrox knew they could resist, but that would mean death. In the end, they all shut down their mental defenses, and it did not take long for a red Ego Mark to appear in the deepest part of their brains, allowing not only the Scarlet King to know their location at all times but if it were to explode, it would cause a deadly injury. Once the Ego Mark was in ce, the Scarlet King stared at Old River. "You seem to have the highest knowledge about Dark Hand. What is the power of its leader, Dark Mask?" The Scarlet King had already learned a lot about the underworld of the Kronos Continent. Unlike in the Gaia Continent, where everything was under The Organization''s control, several factions dominated the Atrox Immortal Empire''s underworld and were divided into Tiers. There were three Tier 0 Dark Factions led by Gods, named Silent World, Blood Path, and Gods'' Doom. Beneath them were hundreds of warriors, along with smaller factions that swore loyalty. Dark Hand was a Tier 1 Dark Faction that swore loyalty to Silent World and was supposed to be ruled by an Apotheosis Realm Master. However, there was a significant difference between someone at the different stages of the realm, as their strength increased with each tribtion. For members of the Apotheosis Realm of the Essence Evolution Path of Power, there were a total of Four Elemental Tribtions. These were the Wind Tribtion, Water Tribtion, Earth Tribtion, and finally, Fire Tribtion. As for someone on the Astral Rebirth Path of Power, they went through Two Cmities, being in order the Flesh Cmity and Bone Cmity. After all the tribtions werepleted, the cultivator would enhance their foundation and soul force as much as possible before finally fusing their soul with their Sacred Organ, triggering an evolution of these and their ascension to the Divine Ascension Realm. There was a shocking difference in power between someone at the Wind Tribtion and someone whopleted the Fire Tribtion. The Scarlet King had yet to test his full power, but he was confident he could reach the Apotheosis Realm battle power in the next few months. Old River was smart enough to understand that his life was now in the hands of this person and that lying would be pointless, so he answered truthfully. "While I am part of the upper echelon, I have only seen the Dark Hand''s Master, Dark Mask, twice. Thest time I saw him, he had gone through the Wind Tribtion, but that was fifty years ago. He might have alreadypleted the Water Tribtion by now." Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire "Is there any other Apotheosis Realm Master in Dark Hand?" "Not that I am aware of." The Scarlet King nodded as he assessed the information. He considered his next movement for a while. His Ego Wave extended across the room, and he nodded as he saw all the needed materials in this ce. After gathering everything he needed, the Scarlet King took out the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber. "Get in."@@novelbin@@ Old River heard the man''s voice, and a rueful smile appeared as he deactivated his Bio-Armor, showing a humanoid body with white skin and pointy ears. He was neither handsome nor ugly, just average. Once Old River was inside the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber, the Scarlet King sent the materials into it and began to alter the man''s genome. After the evolution of the [Gic Coder Module], the Scarlet King''s talent skyrocketed once again, so it was easy for him to carry on with the task, especially since he could always use the system to erase any w that might ur. In less than four hours, the job wasplete, and Old River''s eyes had changed, bingpletely ck. He emerged from the chamber and gazed at his body as he felt his burning vitality along with his Essence Wave bursting with power. Even more shocking, his cultivation base, which had stagnated for decades, showed signs of improving. "Amazing." Old River could not hide his shock as the power of the Avernus Bloodline was astonishing, even if itsck of purity limited its power for the Apotheosis Realm. When the man told them he would improve their talent, he did not believe him, but it was clearly true. The Scarlet King showed little concern for the old man''s thrill and turned his eyes to the two bodyguards. "Your names." "Specter." "Ghoul." The duo immediately responded, and while they were nervous, there was also a sense of thrill in their eyes since the idea of obtaining a powerful lineage was terrific. "Specter, go in." The Atrox did as told, and the Scarlet King began to work. This time, he did not choose the Avernus Bloodline but the Life Trent Bloodline. Ultimately, all five Atrox gained an Apotheosis Realm Lineage, with Old River, Red Hawk, and Blue Crow obtaining the Avernus Bloodline and Specter and Ghoul the Life Trent Bloodline. As the five were analyzing their power, they immediately adopted solemn expressions as they felt the eyes of their leader on them. "We will meet here in one and a half months. You have until then to adjust your battle style and improve your power." After that, the Scarlet King took some resources from the warehouse and left. Even now, the five Atrox did not know the man''s name, but one thing was sure: he was in absolute control, and the only path forward was to follow him. Chapter 423 Law Fragmentation (I) "BOOOOOM!" Explosions echoed across the Silent Forest as a humanoid figure with a red mask faced a gargantuan bear with bone spikes emerging from its body and six wings on its back. "ROAR!" The Skull Sky Bear roared as it shed toward the humanoid. Despite its massive size, its speed was formidable, and a dark, ominous aura cloaked its right w as it struck forward. Despite being a Peak King Beast, the Skull Sky Bear''s offensive power had the potential to threaten even Apotheosis Realm Masters. Yet, that massive strike was met with an even more impressive demonic w covered in darkness. "BOOOOMMMM!" The Scarlet King''s eyes were cold as he used the Dark w to stop the attack from the Skull Sky Bear before his eyes burst with red light, only for a second Dark w to descend from the sky,nding straight into the King Beast''s back, and plummeting it into the ground. "BOOOOOOOMMM!" A massive explosion echoed across the forest, decimating everything in a radius of several thousand meters, but despite that, the Sky Skull Bear managed to rise immediately. Thest attack clearly wounded it, but there was only rage in its eyes as it shed toward the humanoid. There was no wound in the Scarlet King''s body, but that did not mean the fight was easy. He had reached the Second Level of the Dark Blood God Phantom, and while his mastery over the Law of Darkness and Law of Blood diminished the energy consumption of the technique, it was still a technique meant for Wave Kings. If not for the Ego Wave of the Scarlet King being able to supplement his energy pool, it would have drained mid-battle. Still, not much was left, and he needed to end the fight now. The Scarlet King pointed his right hand forward, making two massive Dark ws sh toward the Sky Skull Bear. Just as they were about to sh, the King Beast made its energy explode, increasing the dark aura that flooded its body, improving its striking force, allowing it to burst past the Dark ws. A sh of surprise appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he saw the Peak King Beast shatter his spell ande into striking distance. However, before the fight became a melee, he waved the de in his hand, generating a torrent of shadow that covered the Sky Skull Bear''s view. The Sky Skull Beast pierced through the tsunami of shadows without a problem, but to its shock, there was no one on the other side. Shock appeared in the Sky Skull Bear''s eyes as the enemy suddenly vanished, but before it could recover, it felt a row of sharp teeth piercing its belly, shattering its internal organs. By the time the beast saw the Blood Fangs, it was toote, and it had already destroyed most of its internal organs. The Sky Skull Bear''s vitality was formidable, and even with those injuries, it still struggled, but everything came to an end as an arc of shadow energy pierced into its head, destroying its brain. Even after the Peak King Beast was finally defeated, the Blood Fangs did not stop biting since now it started to consume its blood, refining it before being sent to the Scarlet King. The Scarlet King could feel the Blood Essence of the Peak King Beast, and he immediately directed it into his Evolution Core, where a small scarlet me could be seen. After all the blood had been taken, he waved his hand, dispersing the energy that formed those phantom limbs and head, revealing the 33 Blood Nails. He had been using the Holy Weapon as a catalyst to train the Dark Blood God Phantom, and they proved very useful. Once that was over, the Scarlet King turned his eyes to the direction of Evernight. Although his purpose as an envoy of the Inferno Daemon n was to form a rtionship between his noble family and one of the Atrox Immortus Race, that did not mean he had to remain in the city. That was why the Scarlet King did not return to the city after handling the matter of his Saint Techniques and his force. Instead, he went to a part of the Silent Forest full of powerful King Beasts as he needed to practice his technique and develop his new source of Blood Energy. Unlike the Blood Refinement Art, which required Blood Runes and Blood Core and tempered your flesh and blood, the Blood me Art focused solely on generating a fire using the power of the Law of Blood, making its training much faster. The greater the Scarlet King''s affinity and mastery over the Blood me Technique, the easier it would be to rise, which was why he reached an energy pool that neared the Late Wave Champion in less than a month. The Shadow Swordsman Technique had also significantly improved, allowing the Scarlet King to hinder the perception of the enemy, silently fuse with the shadow and reappear in the distance, and if he triggered the Sundering Concept, send sharp arcs of shadows capable of piercing the skull of a Peak King Beast. Of course, the primary power source behind the Scarlet King''s battle style was the Dark Blood God Phantom, which had already neared the peak of the Second Level. Unfortunately, if he wanted to drive its power to the point where it could be a genuine threat to those who had already gone through at least one Tribtion, he needed to reach the Third Level. "System, scan me." [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vesselpleted. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Early Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 9 (Initial Tier 9) Stats: Strength: 53.8 Agility: 31.1 Vitality: 61.4 Astral Wave: 35.2 Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire@@novelbin@@ Essence Wave: 22.7-->27.9 Blood Energy (Astral): 45.9-->47.6 Blood Energy (Essence): 39.6 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Extreme Basic Understanding) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Darkness (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note (1): Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] Chapter 424 Law Fragmentation (II) The Scarlet King saw how only his Essence Wave and Blood Energy (Essence) had improved. Still, it made sense as he knew that the Essence Evolution Path of Power wouldck the capabilities to temper his body for a long time, even if he practiced auxiliary techniques. "27 points. I have suppressed and tempered my energy pool as much as possible, but it has already reached its limit." The Scarlet King had been using top-tier resources and energy to improve the Essence Wave of his Evolution Core, and it was a stark contrast to the wild energy present when he recently entered the Early Stage. Training the Dark Blood God Phantom Technique also had wondrous effects on his energy and perception, improving his mastery of the Law of Blood and Law of Darkness. However, he had already reached a blockade, and if he wanted to keep improving, it was time to allow his Evolution Core''s energy to rise to the next level. After sending the corpse of the Skull Sky Bear into the [Demon Devourer Dimension], the Scarlet King found a quiet ce to recover to his peak, far from any threat. The heaven presented itself as a small mountain. He carved a path into its core before closing it and using his [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field] to block any force field or Ego Wave. The Scarlet King rested for six hours, and once his mind was in perfect condition, he took a sip from the tea left behind by the strange old man. He had no idea what type of tea it was or itsponent, but it was extremely pure, managing to refine his Essence Wave at a level not that much inferior to Goldsoul Crystals. He stood unmoving for several hours until suddenly, the Essence Wave inside his Evolution Core burst with power, crashing against the wall of the Sacred Organ, improving in quantity and quality. Luckily for the Scarlet King, his foundation was as sturdy as it could be, so he resisted the improvement without a problem. His energy pool began to stabilize after a few hours, and as he focused on it, he saw that it was not only revolving faster, but its density grew to the point that crystal fragments began to appear inside the Evolution Core. As he saw those crystal fragments, a smile full of thrill appeared on the Scarlet King''s face. A Wave King''s Evolution Core contained an energy pool so dense that it had crystallized entirely, and the fact that he was already seeing signs of that transformation in the Middle Wave Champion proved just how robust his foundation was. However, that was not the only reason why the Scarlet King smiled, since after the improvement of his cultivation, he felt how the barrier that limited his perception and understanding of the Law of Blood had shattered, allowing him to finally pierce beyond the Basic Understanding Realm! "Law Fragmentation!" The Scarlet King knew just how impressive that stage was since it meant he could now delve deeper into the Law of Blood, breaking it down into smallerponents for a more nuanced understanding. He could now gain a much deeper understanding of the Law of Blood, allowing a more smooth galvanizing of Blood Energy or even control over the blood flow of the enemy. In this stage, the Scarlet King would also have a better chance of mastering the third level of the Dark Blood God Phantom Technique. "System, scan me." It had been less than 24 hours since thest scan, but the Scarlet King wanted to know how much his energy pool had grown. [Scanning Vessel... ... Scan of Vesselpleted. Name: Cain Laurifer Race: Godyer Humankind Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Middle Wave Champion) / Essence Evolution (Middle Wave Champion) Lineage: True Avernus Lineage (Maximum Purity) Wave Talent: Initial Tier 9 (Initial Tier 9) Stats:@@novelbin@@ Strength: 53.8 Agility: 31.1 Vitality: 61.4 Astral Wave: 35.2 Essence Wave: 27.9-->31.2 Blood Energy (Astral): 47.6 Blood Energy (Essence): 39.6 Blood Rebirth: Golden Blood Stage Main Law Mastery: Law of Blood (Low Law Fragmentation) Secondary Law Mastery: Law of Darkness (Extreme Basic Understanding) Note (1): Wave Virus inside the Vessel enhanced Wave Talent by 28.1%.] The Scarlet King was thrilled with the improvement of his energy pool and the evolution of his mastery over the Law of Blood to the next level. The Law of Darkness remained in Basic Understanding, but he was sure it would not stay there long. Besides, Law Fragmentation was a stage that even Wave Kings found hard to reach, so the fact he advanced so fast was impressive. Now that that was all over, the Scarlet King''s eyes turned to the capital of the Atrox Immortus Empire. It was already time for the next g, and he needed to be there. He had learned a lot from the golden book, but a few hours was too little to go through all the information in it. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire "Before going back to theory, I should do field tests." The Scarlet King opened his palm and began gathering the Life Wave of the surroundings with his Ego Wave before setting it aze, generating a 1 Revolution me. He carried on until he transformed it into a 3 Revolution me. That had been his limit until a week ago, but now he could push forward. Using the Life Wave of the surroundings and the oneing from his [Gluttony Module], the me in his hand gained a new color, bing a 4 Revolution me! The Scarlet King took out a sphere from his space ring and deposited the me before generating a new one. He went on and made nine 4 Revolution Essence mes. After that, his Ego Wave spread across the forest until he found 9 Peak Wave Champion Beasts, taking control of their bodies and bringing them to him. The Scarlet King did not care about the type of Wave Beast they were, as he only needed them to be different and have fleshy bodies. He then waved his hand, taking a massive cauldron from his space ring. Chapter 425 Back to Evernight It was a Refinement Cauldron, a tool used by Enhancers he took from Old River''s warehouse that could assist in refinement. It was supposed to endure the power of Golden mes, so it should have no problem resisting the might of a 4 Revolution me. Not wasting time, the Scarlet Kingmanded one of the Wave Champion Beasts to enter the Refinement Cauldron before sending in a 4 Revolution me and triggering the refinement. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire Closing the cauldron, the Scarlet King released the mes, allowing them to flood the interior and then concentrating all its power into the Wave Champion Beast''s body. Using the teachings of the golden book, the Scarlet King began to guide the enhancement. The process of Revolution Refinement focused on the Enhancer revolving the energying from the world inside the target, ensuring it flowed without problems until thest drop was assimted. It didn''t take long for waves of energy to flood the cauldron, reaching into the beast''s body and making this one tremble. More and more energy flooded into the body of the Wave Champion Beast as the Scarlet King guided the enhancement, but all of a sudden, the energy flow inside the beast grew unstable. Before he could do anything, the amount of energy inside the beast grew out of control, and the body of this one exploded like a balloon full of blood! Since the Wave Champion Beast was hypnotized, it felt no pain at all, but that did not diminish the goriness of its death. It was such a gory scene that even the Scarlet King could not keep hisposed expression as he pictured what would have happened if he was the one inside the cauldron. He regained focus quickly as he went to the next Wave Champion Beast after using a wave of darkness to clean the blood and pieces of flesh inside the cauldron. Learning from the previous experiment, the Scarlet King guided the energy flow into the Wave Champion Beast with even better precision, but while he was able to advance further this time, it was still a failure. The same happened with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Wave Champion Beasts. At this point, the Scarlet King paused as he went through everything he had learned, internalizing the knowledge and recognizing the mistakes until finally opening his eyes again. A new Wave Champion Beast made its way into the Refinement Cauldron. Its name was Winged Lion, and its appearance was what you would expect. The Wave Champion Beast''s body was set aze by the Revolution me, and the world''s energy began to flow into it with more and more power. The Scarlet King''s eyes glowed with more and more energy as he pushed his focus to the limit until suddenly, the beast stopped trembling, and the energy flooding into its flesh and blood stabilized. A smile of satisfaction appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he immediatelymanded the Absolute Life Form System to analyze the beast. "System, scan the beast and show me the alterations done by the 4 Revolution Refinement." [Scanning Target... ... Scan of Targetpleted. Name: Winged Lion Race: Wave Beast Path of Power: Wave Beast (Peak Wave Champion) Stats: Strength: 38.4-->38.9 Agility: 27.5-->28.0 Vitality: 40.1-->40.8 Life Wave: 35.2-->35.7 Note: The improvement of the 4 Revolution Refinement is not urately shown in the creature''s stats. The true power of the Enhancement seems to be rted to the abilities of its body to fight off external energy and maintain homeostasis; the strength of its blood flow and the revolution of its energy have also been greatly improved.] A wide smile appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he saw the effect of the 4 Revolution Refinement on the Wave Champion Beast. Although it was less than a point, he could not help but picture the level of improvement that a 21 Revolution Refinement could trigger in an individual. Of course, not only was creating such a Revolution me incrediblyplex, but that level of enhancement should be exponentially more challenging than this one, and failure would mean not only the loss of the me but also the loss of the target. The Scarlet King took the Wave Champion Beast out of the cauldron before putting the next one along with another. In the end, he was able to seed three more times but failed in the ninth attempt, giving him an 80% chance of sess. After finishing the Wave Champion Beast, the Scarlet King did not kill them. He allowed them to regain control over their mind and bodies and flee. Since they survived his experiments, they have the right to harness the fruits of their new power. --- A new monthly g had started, and the envoys of the Inferno Daemon n and the young Atroxs were bing closer and closer to each other, to the point that some of them had already established romantic rtionships. Even those that had yet to reach that level were socializing and forming at least some type of friendship since it would be good for the standing of their families in the future. Astrid was the only one who still did not show any interest in socializing with the people present. The only reason she came to this type of gathering was because it was expected from the young daughter of a noble n, and she did not want to affect the image of her father. Astrid''s eyes wandered across the room, but she could not find who she was looking for. ''Ahhh, it seems that he will not appear today.'' "Are you thinking about me?" Just as Astrid was about to stand up and leave, she heard a voice behind her and saw a handsome young man showing a radiant smile toward her. The Scarlet King smiled before extending his right hand, signaling to help her stand. "What do you say if we leave? I personally find this ce boring." The Scarlet King did not hide his voice so everyone could hear him, but he did not care or even bother to look at the others as he kept his eyes only on the young Atrox woman before him.@@novelbin@@ Chapter 426 Massive improvement Astrid knew that if she were to take Kain''s hand after his remark, people would also be angry with her, but she had long stopped caring about what others say, and with a smile, she followed the young man.@@novelbin@@ After the events with Marin, everybody knew better than to mess with Kain, so no one intervened as they saw the duo leave the hall. The Scarlet King and Astrid returned to the main za, and they looked at each other before silently nodding and calmly walking to the young woman''s home instead of using the teleportation formation. As soon as they moved away from the people, the Scarlet King waved his hand, showing a sphere with a 4 Revolution me. "It took me nearly a month, but I was already able to advance beyond a 3 Revolution me. I have an 80% sess rate with Body Enhancement." Astrid''s eyes immediately glowed with excitement as she opened her golden book to review the information regarding 4 Revolution Refinements. Her eyes showed an evident wonder as she stared at the Scarlet King. "You became a Grand Tribtion Enhancement Rank in less than a month. ording to the author''s notes, it normally took a great genius not less than a year to reach that level. You are too fast." The Scarlet King only smiled at the young woman and did not offer anyment. After all, the assistance of the modules to his talent had always been above the level of divine and granted him an innate talent that was simply unique. Actually, the Scarlet King was sure that his talent would rise even higher once he mastered the Second Level of The Flow since it would allow him to perceive and predict the trends and vibrations of energy patterns. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire "I am happy to give you Refinement mes from 1 to 4 Revolutions so you can study them if you could hand me the golden book again. I need to look through the process to go to the 9 Revolution and then make my way to the 10 Revolution." Astrid stared at the Scarlet King for a moment as she heard those words. The man was not after herpany but the golden book. She did not have a problem with it and was happy that he was honest and did not try to get the information through deception. "Mmm, what do you say if we analyze the information together? Due to my condition, I might not be able to create Refinement mes, but I have been reading this book and analyzing its formtions for several years. I am sure I can be of help." The Scarlet King stared at the young woman for a moment before softly nodding. He could not force her to hand over the golden book, so there was no other choice. "It is fine." As soon as Astrid heard that, she smiled and opened the golden book on the page rted to the creation of Refinement mes from 4 to 9 Revolutions, along with the forms and advice on how to process. "To refine and condensate the Life Wave into a Refinement me, you always had to perform a chemical reduction by a factor of 9, but I havee to the conclusion that you could improve your proficiency by saturating the Life Wave before the ignition even starts." The Scarlet King''s eyes slightly widened as he heard the words of the young Atrox woman. He had prepared to divide his mind so he could focus on the book while doing some idle chat with Astrid, but the alteration she just professed made perfect sense. Not wasting time, the Scarlet King took out a 4 Revolution me and began to inject Life Wave into it, following Astrid''s advice by performing the saturation for the energy before the ignition even started. A sh of surprise and excitement appeared in the Scarlet King as he saw the Refinement me growing stronger and pushing to the next level. He had attempted to form a 5 Revolution me on his way back to Evernight from the Silent Forest but had encountered many problems. Yet now, with Astrid''s input, he advanced much faster. Just as the 4 Revolution me was about to finish its evolution, it began to grow unstable before finally dispersing. Although it was a failure, the Scarlet King did not stop smiling since he had significantly improved his mastery over the Refinement me. Astrid was just as excited and used her sses to analyze everything. "This time, try to perform the saturation in stages, not reaching the extreme, but making it burst once it is about to destabilize." The Scarlet King could not help but look at the young woman with wonder. What she was stating was a unique approach, one she must have figured out on her own using her intelligence and imagination. Not wasting time, the Scarlet King did as Astrid told him, and not only did it work perfectly, but it allowed the me in his hand to gain a new color, bing a 5 Revolution me. Once he reached this point, the Scarlet King did not simply stop and continued infusing Life Wave into it. "Make sure to condense the me from its interior. Make it revolve in a 190¡ã axis in case of flux, which shouldpensate for the instability." Astrid began to analyze the me as it was being created and guided the Scarlet King on how to carry it out. Although following the guidance of a mortal might seem unwise, the Scarlet King did exactly as the young woman told him, making sure to internalize her insights as he carried on with his work. To his delight, by following Astrid''s guidance, the Scarlet King could transform his newly created 5 Revolution me into a 6 Revolution me. The Scarlet King and the young Atrox woman did not realize it, but they were moving incredibly slowly, maximizing the time it would take until they reached her home as they continued their work. Chapter 427 8 Revolution Flame Like before, the Scarlet King attempted to immediately transform that 6 Revolution me into a 7 Revolution me, but while he managed to improve its power, it grew unstable and faded. The Scarlet King and Astrid looked at each other with a solemn light in their eyes. They began to discuss all sorts of mathematical forms and chemical equations to fix the problems and improve the conversion efficiency while keeping the me stable. After nearly an hour and reaching a consensus, the Scarlet King formed a Refinement me again, getting a 7 Revolution me without a problem and channeling energy into it. Everything went well, but once again, it trembled before dispersing. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire It was the second time the Scarlet King failed to evolve the 7 Revolution me to the next level in a row, but he was not disheartened since he was closer this time, and after discussing with Astrid how to improve, he strived once again. Luckily for the Scarlet King, he did not have to waste wave crystals since the [Gluttony Module] gave him all the energy he could need. The duo saw how the 7 Revolution me came to be once again and how this one grew stronger and stronger. Astrid guided during crucial points, and after much effort, the Scarlet King evolved it into an 8 Revolution me! Pure excitement could be seen in the eyes of the duo, but all good things had toe to an end. While they walked extremely slowly, they had been advancing for nearly ten hours and finally reached Astrid''s home. The young Atrox''s eyes released a sh of disappointment as she saw her house, and she stared at the Scarlet King for a moment before extending the golden book toward him. "I can lend it to you. I am sure you will give it a better use than I do." The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he saw that. The golden book was the sole reason he had approached the young Atrox, and it was why he came back today, but he shook his head. "Keep it. Analyze all you saw today and try to develop new insights that can help me in the future with the information in the book. Here, you can have this as well." Astrid was surprised to see Kain rejecting the book and handing the Refinement me to her. She still had the 9 Revolution me from before, but this one was different since she was involved in its creation. "I will ept it. I hope we can talk again soon, and I will do my best to improve my understanding of the art." After saying those words, Astrid took the sphere with the 8 Revolution me and turned around. However, just as she was about to enter her home, she stopped and turned toward Kain. "When forming the 9 Revolution me, keep the conversion and condensation vector at a ratio of 2 to 1. I am sure it will improve your chances." The Scarlet King smiled as he heard those words and saw the woman vanish. While the golden book was helpful, the insight and guidance from Astrid were even better. Now that was over, he turned around and shed back to the central za but had moved away from the castle just a few thousand meters when he froze, and his eyes narrowed as he looked into the sky. In the sky above the Scarlet King was an Atrox with blue armor that seemed to be made of oceanic mineral, and his aura was truly overwhelming, unleashing a pressure that seemed capable of crushing mountains as if they were a bunch of dried leaves. "I must say that your instincts are top-notch, young man, to have detected me after unleashing but a fragment of my force." The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the man in the sky. He had detected the man long ago as this one followed him from Astrid''s home, but it would have been suspicious if he reacted too fast. After all, he was only an Early Wave Champion, and the Atrox seemed to be someone with a foot in the Divine Ascension Realm! "What can this envoy from the Inferno Daemon Race do for a senior of the Atrox Immortus Empire?" The Atrox man''s eyes narrowed as he heard the words of the Scarlet King, as they had several implications. If he were to attack or do something that could involve harm to Kain, it could very well provoke a significant intercontinental incident. "Mmm, it seems that what they say about the Hell n is true. You are truly good with your words. Don''t worry; I don''t intend to do anything foolish. Of course, that is on the assumption you don''t do anything to harm my daughter." The Scarlet King stared into the man''s eyes and could feel a certain resemnce with those of Astrid, and by the look of it, this one was her father. "My intentions are clear. I am just fascinated by the art of Tribtion Enhancement, and Astrid seems happy to help me. Nothing else is happening between us." People can be irrational regarding their families, especially fathers with their daughters. Hence, the Scarlet King was careful with his words, making it clear to the powerhouse that nothing ominous or sinister was happening. The Atrox stared at the Scarlet King for a long time before his eyes began to glow with a silver light that carried a small ember of fire.@@novelbin@@ "Young man, I have faced great enemies and led millions into war and death, gaining the respect of my peers and honor from my race. Yet, I have failed as a father as I cannot help my daughter. She will only live a normal lifespan of a few hundred years at most, and I will do everything in my power to ensure those years are full of happiness and safety." The silver light in the Atrox''s eyes burst with power as he uttered those words, making clear their level of conviction. Chapter 428 A 9 Revolution Refinement (I) The Atrox uttered no more words as he turned around, shing back to his home. After the Scarlet King saw the man''s Ego Wave, he immediately adjusted the level of threat of this one to that of Gods. Even though he had yet to fuse his soul into his Sacred Organ, his willpower was already evolving deep into the Divine Ascension Realm. ''Interesting.'' While the man was a threat, the Scarlet King also saw an opportunity. While that person would kill him if he harmed Astrid, he couldn''t help but wonder what this one would do if he helped her. The Scarlet King''s smile returned to his face as he returned to the central za, and instead of returning to the Magma Castle, he made his way out of Evernight. No one questioned him since this was not the first time he had left the city, and he was not a prisoner or anything like that, so he could do whatever he wanted within the confines of the Sector. Once the Scarlet King was out of the city''s walls, he rose to the sky and shed into the Silent Forest, vanishing among the trees. Not even a minute had passed before three individuals followed him, hiding their auras and making sure not to draw attention. The trio that left after the Scarlet King were all Wave Kings, and the one leading the group was none other than Janiro, the guard who had been waiting for him at the city wall to finish the job that Orphin and the others had started. Due to his devious behavior, Marshal Damos fired Janiro, severing his ie and putting him in a tough spot with all the people he was doing business with. The employer who gave him Kain''s contract made it clear that he would have to take care of the young man or that losing his job would be the least of his problems. Janiro had already directed all his rage and me for his current situation toward Kain, so he was more than happy to take care of the young man, especially if that would help smooth things over with the people of the underworld. Despite Janiro''s questionable work ethic, he was not a fool and knew that Kain was a genius by the way he could stop a Wave King''s momentum, so he brought help. ''Three Wave Kings to take care of a Wave Champion should be more than enough.'' Just as that thought crossed Janiro''s mind, his eyes widened as Kain''s presence suddenly vanished. He looked to the other two Wave Kings by his side, and they were also shocked as they did not understand what was happening. "I assume you three were looking for my disciple." Utter shock appeared in the eyes of the three Wave Kings when they heard a cold voice and noticed a man with a red mask appearing behind them. Janiro''s instincts screamed with terror as he saw that red light in the man''s eyes and felt he was in the presence of an absolute monster. The idea of fighting immediately faded from his mind, and right now, he only wanted to escape. Unfortunately for the Atrox, before he could even take a step, the Scarlet King burst his Essence Wave and shed forward, appearing right before him. The idea that an Essence Cultivator would purposely diminish the distance with an Astral Cultivator was ridiculous, especially if they were a rank apart, yet it happened. ''?A chance?'' Realizing they were right next to each other, Janiro couldn''t help but think that maybe running away was not necessary, and he could end the man with a blow. Yet, the Scarlet King''s palm struck his chest before he could fire an attack. The palm strike had zero strength, and Janiro barely felt it, but to his shock, that blow seemed to channel a unique force into his body, reaching his heart and freezing his blood flow! His blood suddenly freezing generated an overwhelming feeling of suffocation, so it was not surprising that Janiro fell to the ground and couldn''t move. The other Wave Kings saw that and attempted to run, but the Scarlet King was too fast, striking the chest of both and freezing their blood flow, paralyzing the trio in less than five seconds. The Scarlet King saw the three Wave Kings immobilized on the ground and smiled as he saw the might of his palm strike once he harnessed the power of the Law of Blood. He could have easily knocked out the trio using his Ego Wave, but he wanted to see what the Law of Blood could do after its evolution to the Law Fragmentation Stage. Even without a Saint Technique''s guidance, the Law''s power did not disappoint. "I needed test subjects for my experiment, and I am happy to have some volunteers." That was thest thing Janiro and the other Wave Kings heard before a powerful Ego Wave invaded their minds and left them unconscious. --- Janiro and the other Wave Kings opened their eyes and found themselves on the peak of a massive mountain. Before them stood the man with a red mask, and in his hand were three spheres with revolving mes, each with nine colors. The trio did not know the meaning of the mes, but if someone who understood Tribtion Enhancement were to see them, they would be shocked. And that shock would turn into true and absolute awe if they were to know that the man had begun his path less than two months ago. The Scarlet King smiled as he saw the three 9 Revolution mes. He had followed Astrid''s advice, and after less than two days, he evolved his 8 Revolution mes to the next level, achieving the peak of the Grand Tribtion Enhancer Rank! Readtest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire@@novelbin@@ Janiro and the others had not woken up on their own; the Scarlet King allowed them to regain consciousness since the chances of sess would be better if they were awake and used their minds to help assimte the energy into their bodies. Of course, the fact that they were awake did not mean they had control over their actions, as the Scarlet King focused on one of the Atrox Wave Kings, and the body of this one moved on its own, jumping into the Refinement Cauldron. Chapter 429 A 9 Revolution Refinement (II) The Atrox was terrified and did not know what was happening until he heard the voice of the man in the red mask. "Use all your will to assimte the energy that will begin to revolve around your body. If you seed, I will let you leave, but failure would mean your body will explode like a balloon full of blood." Janiro and the other Wave King also heard the man''s words, and they saw how he deposited one of the spheres with a 9-colored me into the cauldron before closing it. The Scarlet King''s eyes burst with focus as he pushed his mind to its peak and released the 9 Revolution me, triggering the Enhancement. Immediately, the me covered the Atrox''s body, but he felt no pain. Just as he wondered about the effect of it, shock appeared in his eyes as an immense amount of energy flooded into his flesh and blood, so powerful that he felt it would make him burst. "Focus!" The Atrox heard the voice in his mind and did as told, using his will to help assimte the energy into his flesh and blood, ensuring the process could continue. Minutes began to pass, and the man''s eyes began to glow with excitement as he felt every part of his body experiencing quality improvements. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire Unfortunately, that thrill did notst for long, as less than thirty minutes after the refinement began, the Atrox started to lose control, and the waves of energy flooding into his body were too much for him to contain. "?BOOM!" Janiro and the other Atrox Wave King saw how the Refinement Cauldron trembled after an explosion echoed, and they could imagine what had just happened. The Scarlet King frowned, not because of the man''s death, but due to the failure. ''Everything went well, but as we passed the 80% mark, the energy flow grew much more potent, to the point that it became too hard to keep under control.'' The Scarlet King closed his eyes for an entire hour as he went through the experience before opening them and looking at the other Wave King next to Janiro. The man trembled with fear, but he could do nothing as his body jumped into the cauldron before a sphere with a 9 Revolution me was put in. "Your friend failed because he grew toocent. Push your mind to the limit and do not lose focus for a second if you want to survive." Those words were only half right, but the Scarlet King wanted to establish the thought that by pushing himself, the man would survive, and by the look of resolution in the Atrox''s eyes, it seemed to have worked. Once again, the Scarlet King pushed his mind to the absolute peak as he went through with the Enhancement. He crossed the 80% mark this time, but just as he was about toplete the 9 Revolution Refinement, the energy flow in the Atrox''s body grew unstable. ?Save me!" "?BOOM!" The Atrox shouted those words before his entire body burst, leaving a gory mess inside the refinement cauldron. The plea of mercy from the Atrox meant nothing to the Scarlet King. He was utterly emotionless with people outside of his Life Matrix, not to mention that even before he embraced Order, he was always ruthless with his enemies and those who tried to do him harm. After another hour of reflection and understanding, the Scarlet King''s eyes turned toward Janiro. By now, the terror in the man''s heart was overwhelming, but just like his friends, his body moved on its own into the cauldron. "My skills have improved, and I am fairly certain that sess will be achieved if you do your part." Janiro heard those words, and while they could be a lie, he chose to believe them since he had no other option other than to push forward, doing all in his power to assimte the flow of energy. The 9 Revolution me flooded the interior of the cauldron. It covered Janiro''s body before triggering a reaction from the world''s energy, making it circte across his body with overwhelming power. Janiro''s eyes were fierce as he pushed himself harder and harder, using every ounce of his willpower to drive the energy through his flesh and blood. The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he felt the way the energy flowed through the Atrox''s body. When facing certain death, some people break apart, while others cling to the slightest thread of hope, and it seemed that this Atrox was of the second kind. Personally, the Scarlet King did not care what thoughts crossed the man''s mind, but he was happy to see that the resolution in Janiro''s heart and mind helped the process. He also pushed his mind beyond its limit as he guided the energy flow. After an hour, a sense of fatigue appeared in his eyes, but he just clenched his teeth and carried on. "?BOOM!" A new burst echoed inside the cauldron, but this one was much less powerful, and it was not due to Janiro''s body blowing to pieces. A burst of energy emerged from the Atrox''s flesh and blood after enduring a 9 Revolution Refinement! The lid of the cauldron opened, and Janiro emerged from it. There was a sense of wonder in the man''s eyes as he felt how his body had changed. It felt stronger, more durable, and faster, but it was much more than that. The only way the Atrox could exin it would be the difference between the state of a body before and after three years of intense hard work. Every system in his body and how it reacted was significantly better than before. It worked as a wless machine, erasing much of the damage it had endured over the years and drastically improving its foundation. Just as Janiro was analyzing his body, so was the Scarlet King, but his analysis was much more powerful as he used the [Pseudo Atomic Analysis] tool.@@novelbin@@ Chapter 433 Enhancing his forces "KRIIIIII!" A scream of pain emerged from the Endless Poison Raven as the Demonic Phantom''s fangs buried into its body, flooding its bloodstream with darkness that destroyed its inner organs. Although there was immense pain in the Endless Poison Raven''s eyes, it was still a Grand King Beast, and its vitality was immense. It gathered all its Life Wave to fight back, but before it could do that, a mass of shadow coalesced above its head, taking the form of a humanoid. The Scarlet King made sure the Demonic Phantom kept the Grand King Beast paralyzed as he burned what little remained from his Ego Wave and summoned the power of the Sundering Concept, firing a sharp arc of shadows toward the Grand King Beast. The Endless Poison Raven could not block the arc of shadows that pierced its eye and reached into its brain, making it tremble as the life of its body faded. When the Scarlet King saw that the Endless Poison Raven was dead, he waved his hand, dispersing the Demonic Phantom. Although the Grand King Beast had an immense amount of blood inside its body full of vitality he could use, there was an even greater purpose for its corpse. The Scarlet King took control of the Grand King Beast and left it on the ground before putting a hand on its chest, sending waves of Blood Energy into it. "THUMP!" After consuming nearly all of the Blood Energy left in the Scarlet King, the heart of the Endless Poison Raven began to beat again. The creature was still dead, as its brain suffered lethal damage and its soul dimension copsed, but through the Law of Blood, the Scarlet King could keep its blood flowing, drastically diminishing the beast''s dposition. A cold smile appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he felt how powerful the poison of the Grand King Beast remained even after its death and was sure it would work perfectly for his ns. The Scarlet King carefully put the Endless Poison Raven into his space ring where its toxins could not harm anything before gazing into the distance. Janiro was fighting a Late King Beast, and while he had suffered severe injuries, the creature was on itsst leg. After the Revolution Refinement and his new Lineage, the man managed to push his cultivation to the Middle Wave King, and it seemed that he was not at the bottom of the level either. "?AHHH!" With a feral cry, Janiro punched the belly of the beast, managing to break into its stomach before releasing waves of sharp branches that punctured the vital organs and killed the creature. Although the Atrox had difficulty regting his breath, there was a smile on Atrox''s face as he managed to defeat the Late Wave Beast, a feat he would have found impossible to achieve less than two weeks ago. As for the wounds, they would not be a problem thanks to the Life Trend Lineage''s regeneration abilities. The Scarlet King saw the man''s battle power, but he was not impressed at all. It was just slightly above his current cultivation base, something that was mediocre in his mind. Actually, the rtionship between the cultivation base and battle power being equal was verymon, especially in the upper Ranks. Not everybody was a monster like the Scarlet King who could touch upon the Apotheosis Realm while being a Wave Champion. "Let''s go." The Scarlet King said nothing else before he and Janiro shed into the distance, heading to a particr mountain. --- Old River, Blue Crow, Red Hawk, Specter, and Ghoul were all waiting inside the fake mountain with solemn expressions. They were smart enough to understand that the man with the red mask would not join Dark Hand but take control of it, and they would be part of the force that would do it. The group knew they had no other choice but to oblige, not to mention that while they were terrified of the man with the red mask, they were also in awe of his power and abilities. Thanks to his help, all of them were able to improve their power, with their cultivation base nearing the next stage and their battle power already at the Late Wave King Stage.@@novelbin@@ "Tap, tap!" The sound of steps drew the group''s attention, and they saw the man with the red mask walking into the room. Behind him, there was another Middle Wave King. Specter and Ghoul''s eyes narrowed as they felt the same bloodline running through their veins in the man. The Scarlet King did not say a word and simply waved his hand, taking the Refinement Cauldron from his space ring before starting at Old River. "Take out your armor and get into the cauldron. Waves of energy will flow through your body; make sure to use all your mind and will to push it forward. If it goes out of control, your body will explode, just like it happened to the friends of our newrade." Readtest stories on My Virtual Library Empire Old River and the other Atroxs'' eyes widened as they heard that, and they turned to Janiro, who nodded to the group, making it clear what failure would entail. Old River could not help but feel fear as he heard the words of the Scarlet King, but there was nothing he could do other than follow the man''s guidance, expecting to survive and be even stronger than before. He took off his Atrox Bio Armor and jumped into the cauldron before clenching his teeth and pushing his mind to the limit. The Scarlet King silently nodded as he saw the resolution in the Old Atrox. He chose Old River first because he was the oldest and had the strongest will, which would make the assimtion of the world''s energy much smoother, improving the chances of sess. After pushing his mind and focus to its peak, the Scarlet King sent a 9 Revolution me into the cauldron and closed the lid before setting the me loose, triggering the 9 Revolution Refinement. Chapter 435 Poisonous scheme (II) [Dark Hand Communicate: Old River has used Silent Shadow of betraying the faction.@@novelbin@@ The trial will take ce ten days from now in the Dark Hall at 9:00. Judge: Dark Mask. Juries: Golden Fist, Blood w, Poison Gem, Great Ocean, Dark me, and Final Echo.] "Ten days, that is more than enough. You six enhance your battle power as much as possible. If I seed, you will get great rewards, allowing your cultivation base to reach the Apotheosis Realm. If I fail to kill Dark Mask, I will escape, and all of you will die." A sharp light appeared in the eyes of Janiro, Old River, Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul. They were not surprised by those words since they fit their leader''s personality. They are weapons; if they fulfill their purpose, their master will upgrade them. If they fail, they will be discarded without a second thought. The Scarlet King did not have more words for the group, and he went to a remote corner of the warehouse, where he took out the body of the Endless Poison Raven. The Grand King Beast''s heart still worked thanks to his Blood Energy. The Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber appeared shortly after and began to expand, growingrge enough to hold the entire body of the Grand King Beast. As soon as the Endless Poison Raven was ced in the chamber, the Scarlet King began to analyze its genome. The amount of information was too much even for the Scarlet King to study in a short period of time, but he used the [A.I. Chip Module] to assist him. While the six Atroxs were using every second to improve their power, the Scarlet King worked on the body of the Grand King Beast. As for what type of alterations he was doing to it, everybody would know in time. --- Old River stood in the sky above arge forest, and in the distance, he could see the presence of a giant volcano. This ce was not special, as the amount of Life Wave in the air was little, and the Wave Beasts around barely reached the Peak Wave Champion. No one would know it was the secret meeting ce of a Tier 1 Dark Faction with the power to level cities in seconds. There was a solemn expression on the man''s face as he gazed at the space ring in his hand. He understood the danger of what was going to happen but had already delved too deep into the path of that monster, and there was no way back. Old River took a deep breath before injecting a vial into his neck. Immediately, his body began to tremble, and his face grew pale, but other than that, there was no significant alteration or anything people could discern just by looking at the man. It did not take long for Old River to reach the sky above the volcano, and a dense ash cloud covered his sight. He did not hesitate for even a second before diving down. The magma temperature was dangerous even for a Wave King, but his Essence Wave could hold on long enough. Old River dived down for a few seconds before reaching the end of theva and crossing into a dark metallic hallrge enough to hold more than one hundred people without a problem. A solemn light appeared in the Atrox''s eyes as he looked to the ceiling and saw the floating magma that not only blocked all signals from the outside but also scanned everyone and everything that came in contact with it. Not even the dimensions inside space rings were safe from its power. After a moment and seeing that no rm was triggered, Old River rxed, and a smile full of pride appeared on his face as his eyes burned with white light. His eyes had a sense of purpose that he had not felt in a very long time as he was about to fulfill one of the greatest desires of his heart. There were only five minutes until the deadline, so Old River was thest to arrive, and he could see a group of Atroxs with impressive armor at the edge of the hall, all of them speaking. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire Old River saw a young Atrox female with a slenderplexion among the group. Unlike him, she was not using Bio Armor; instead, ck artifacts covered her body entirely, but she did not hide her charming face with pointy ears and pale skin. As soon as Old River saw the woman, a sh of rage and killing intent emerged from his eyes. It had been long since this hatred had festered inside his heart, and now he could finally set it free. Silent Shadow''s eyes narrowed as she looked to the ceiling, and her eyes gazed upon Old River. There was a sh of coldness in the woman''s eyes as she stared at Old River, but it soon turned into a mocking smile, and she did not bother with him too long and continued to talk with the rest of the upper echelon of Dark Hand. Normally, seeing Silent Shadow talk sofortably with the jury would enrage Old River, but he knew this was nothing but an borate y. ''Hmph, keep talking, you bitch. Soon, I will get my revenge. I want to see your smile when your entire body is rotting!'' Old River''s killing intent burst, but it suddenly froze as he detected a figure descending from the floating magma. He was a man with a bursting vitality, donned in dark golden armor with a ck mask covering his face, showing only his eyes that glowed with blue light. Immediately, Old River descended to the ground and bowed, and he was not alone since Silent Shadow and the rest of the Atroxes did the same. The reason was simple; that man was none other than Dark Mask, the Leader of Dark Hand, an Apotheosis Realm Master! Chapter 436 Poisonous scheme (III) Dark Mask''s eyes were cold as he gazed at the members of the upper echelon of his faction. Without saying a word, he flew to the end of the hall and sat on a white throne, waving his hand to make the magma ceiling burn with heat even a Peak Wave King could not endure. "We are to address the usation of Old River against Silent Shadow for the charge of betrayal to the faction. Everybody take your positions." Silent Shadow and Old River stood ten meters apart, each in front of a small podium, while the other Atroxs that were part of the jury stood on the left and right of Dark Mask''s throne. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire "Leader, allow me to express just how absurd this usation is. I will never betray the faction which has done so much for me. Old River is a vengeful and spiteful old man who cannot get over the fact that I took a small treasure from him." There was a charming smile on Silent Shadow''s face as she nced at Dark Mask with both lust and affection. "Bitch. Due to your tricks and deception, I lost my entire family! You dare to say you only took a small treasure from me!" Old River lost control for a moment as the rage in his heart was too immense, but before he could say another word, a powerful blue force field drowned him, making his body tremble. "I will not allow disruption during the trial!" Dark Mask''s eyes were cold as he stared at Old River as if the man was a pest he could not wait to get rid of, hinting at how this trial would go. After almost pushing Old River to the ground, he dispersed his Ego Wave. "Old River, present the evidence you have against Silent Shadow. If insufficient, you will be charged with wrongfully using an upper echelon member and dealt a proper punishment." When Old River heard the way Dark Mask spoke, he silently shook his head as hepared this man''s demeanor with that of the monster in the red mask. Dark Mask wanted his life but went through this whole ordeal to make it seem fair. On the other hand, the man in the red mask would have taken his life regardless of what others thought of his actions. With a new certainty on his path forward, Old River took a space ring from his hand and showed it to Dark Mask and the jury. "All the evidence I need to prove Silent Shadow''s betrayal is in this space ring. If Leader allows me, I will show it to you all." There was no reason to deny Old River''s request, so Dark Mask nodded. The next second, Old River walked as close as he could to Dark Mask and the jury and took out the corpse of a massive three-hundred-meter-tall Grand King Beast before silently returning to his podium. Utter shock appeared in the eyes of the six jurors and Silent Shadow as they saw the massive beast and recognized it as an Endless Poison Raven. Not only was it an extremely powerful Grand King Beast, but its poison was so deadly that even together, they would not dare to fight against it. Dark Mask was also surprised to see the Grand King Beast''s corpse. Although he could defeat it, it would not be easy, and he was sure that Old River did not have the power to do it. Suddenly, Dark Mask''s eyes widened as he felt vitality in the Grand King Beast''s body, and its heart was actually beating. "Old River, what is the meaning of this!?" Dark Mask''s eyes were cold as he focused on Old River, again covering the man with his Ego Wave. He wanted to know how Old River obtained this living corpse and what other secrets the old man could be hiding. Right now, the trial and everything else went to the back of his mind. Old River could feel the dissecting gaze of Dark Mask, but there was not a single iota of fear in his heart. When you face the devil, how could a mere imp scare you? Dark Mask frowned as he saw how calm the old man was and could not help but feel that something was wrong. However, just as he was about to rise from his throne to question the man, his eyes turned to the Endless Poison Raven''s corpse. As an Apotheosis Realm Master, Dark Mask''s perception was strong enough to notice how the cells of the Endless Poison Raven''s corpse began to react in the presence of oxygen, growing vtile.@@novelbin@@ "Look out!" "BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!" Dark Mask tried to warn the other Atroxs, but it was toote as the corpse of the Grand King Beast exploded the next second. Being closer to Dark Mask and the six Late Wave King Atrox jurors, they took the worst of the st. The energy inside the body of a Grand King Beast was immense, and if all was used as an explosive, it could unleash a st that could harm Peak Wave Kings, especially if the explosion was contained inside a closed space like the Dark Hall. Dark Mask''s face contorted due to the rage as icy wings covered his figure. He had activated his Holy Weapon just in time to protect himself from the st and conjured an ice wall to defend the jurors. Dark Mask was able to calm down when he saw that despite the power of the st, his subordinates did not suffer any crippling injuries. Then his eyes burst with killing intent as he turned to Old River. The fire did notst long, but a dark miasma covered the entire hall, making sight extremelyplicated. However, that was not an impediment to the eyes of an Apotheosis Realm Master. Since the explosive Grand King Beast''s corpse failed to kill him and the others, Dark Mask expected to see Old River terrified, but the old man looked straight into his eyes with nothing but disdain and serenity. Just as Dark Mask wondered about the reason for the old Atrox''s confidence, his entire body trembled, and his knees gave in, forcing him to kneel. A feeling of nausea and weakness assaulted him, and his eyes widened as he stared at the dark miasma left after the explosion. ''Poison!'' Chapter 437 Killing Dark Mask (I) The Scarlet King had altered the Endless Poison Raven''s molecrposition to explode upon contact with oxygen, but that was just to spread its main gic modification more effectively. The Grand King Beast''s poison was transformed into a potent gic virulent toxin that could infect someone just by touching their flesh. Immediately, Dark Mask used his Essence Wave to push back the poison and the Law of Ice to freeze the parts of his body that had been affected, stopping the spread while also freezing the air around him. As expected from an Apotheosis Realm Master, he could handle the toxin incredibly fast, but the same could not be said for the rest of the Atroxs in the hall. The six jurors and Silent Shadows were all vomiting on the ground and could barely move as the poison had already invaded their bodies, oveing their immune systems. "Old River!" Dark Mask shouted with rage as he focused once again on the old man and saw him shing toward the ceiling ofva. The fact that the old man was not affected by the poison did not surprise Dark Mask since it was obvious this one would have taken an antitoxin before. Still, he was not afraid the Atrox could escape. "Hmph! Your pathetic power is not enough to pierce the magma." Just as Dark Mask shouted those words, a massive drill made from three different types of giant branches pierced through the ceiling of magma, caught Old River, and then pulled back. For a moment, Dark Mask was left speechless, unable to believe what he saw. The old man hade and taken out the body of a Grand King Beast that exploded, poisoning everybody in the hall. Then, a drill of giant branches pierced the magma and helped him escape. Even if he told someone about this, who would believe him? Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire Dark Mask''s first instinct was to pierce through the ceiling of magma and go after Old River, killing the man and everyone else. However, before his emotions could get the better of him, blue light flooded his eyes, and he was able to calm down. ''I have no idea how many people are on the other side or what kind of trap they had waiting for me.'' As expected from a man who had reached one of the underworld''s higher echelons, Dark Mask kept a cool head even as rage flooded his heart. He decided against chasing Old River until he knew exactly how strong the enemy was. Dark Mask waved his hand, and the white throne where he usually sat moved to the side, revealing a teleportation formation! "Please... save me, my love." Just as Dark Mask was about to enter the teleportation formation, he heard a pleading voice in the distance. Silent Shadows was looking at him with hope, expecting him to save her. Silent Shadow was sure she would win this trial despite the chance that Old River could manufacture evidence because of her personal rtionship with Dark Mask. Unfortunately for the woman, the man she expected to save her did not look at her twice before stepping into the teleportation formation and vanishing, leaving her alone as toxins rotted her body from the inside out. Thirty thousand meters away from the Dark Hall, a teleportation formation began to glow at the bottom of a dark swamp, and the next second, Dark Mask appeared. There was a solemn light in the Apotheosis Ream Master''s eyes as he couldn''t believe that much of his faction''s power went to waste just like that. He did not care even for a second about leaving behind Silent Shadow. The woman was just entertainment, and he did not have the means to save her, so it was only logical to leave her behind. "Old River, damn geezer, I will y you alive, and I will kill all those that..." Before Dark Mask could finish his monologue of rage, his eyes widened as he looked to the sky and saw the upper body of a massive beast. The creature resembled a demonic dragon, and its maws were wide open and full of powerful energy. "Dark Blood God''s st!" That was thest thing Dark Mask heard before a cannon of blood energy and darkness fell from the sky with a power that matched nuclear weapons. "Thousand Wings Ice Dome!" Dark Mask burned his energy, suffering a bacsh to summon his most potent defensive spell instantly, generating several ice wings around his figure just before the st falling from the skynded on him. "BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!" The st of energy fell from the sky, unleashing an explosion that decimated the entire swamp and flooded everything for several kilometers with dark red mes. The Scarlet King watched the destruction from the sky with a cold gaze. He had been charging this attack for nearly ten minutes while waiting for Dark Mask to appear. When the Scarlet King scanned the Dark Hall, he discovered the hidden teleportation formation. Using the [Pseudo Multidimensional Scan Force Field], he tracked down the other end of the teleportation formation. Based on what the Scarlet King had learned about the man, he knew Dark Mask was paranoid and wouldn''t engage in a fight without knowing the enemy''s power. Of course, there was a chance that Dark Mask would have chosen to blindly follow Old River, which would have meant death for him along with Janiro, Specter, and Ghoul, but the Scarlet King was willing to take that bet. A sharp red light appeared in the eyes of the Scarlet King as he saw a winged figure covered in ice shing in the opposite direction from his location. ''Get ready. Everything is going ording to n.'' After sending that message, the Scarlet King tightened his grip on ughter and shed into the waves of destruction and mes left by his attack. Dark Mask''s golden armor and ice had fused, covering his entire body with mighty wings and a sharp and thick tail. While he could move extremely fast, the attack galvanized the left side of his body. These wounds only made it harder to suppress the toxins running through his body, and he knew he needed to flee. ''Dammit! Who is that person?'' Dark Mask cursed as he focused on the figure with the red mask chasing after him. This focus left him vulnerable, allowing two figures covered in shadow to rise from the ground, each delivering a fierce punch infused with a massive amount of Astral Wave and darkness.@@novelbin@@ Chapter 439 Killing Dark Mask (III) "Shadow sh!" Once he reduced the distance enough, the Scarlet King made his Essence Wave explode and sent a powerful arc of shadow energy enhanced by darkness force against Dark Mask. "Dammit!" Dark Mask cursed as he was forced to use his right wing as a shield, and while he could resist the Shadow sh, the attack was so powerful that it immobilized him for a second. That was long enough for the Demonic Phantom to push the ice tail away. Without the tail, nothing could stop the demonic avatar''s massive w that came crashing down on the Apotheosis Realm Master. Dark Mask covered himself with his left wings, but the w strike was so powerful that it sent him plummeting into the ground with immense force. "?BOOM!" The Scarlet King and the Demonic Phantom immediately dived down, going after the wounded enemy. However, just as they were about to reach striking distance, the eyes of the Scarlet King narrowed as he moved to the left whilemanding the Demon Phantom to turn to the right. The duo did it just in time to avoid the hundreds of ice spikes that rose from the ground, which would have impaled their bodies. A cold light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as hended on the ground and focused on Dark Mask in the center of that massive amalgamation of ice spikes. Had his instincts been a little slower, the attack would have shattered the Demonic Phantom to pieces and caused severe wounds to his body. Even though he had spent thousands of points on improving the speed at which the [Sky me] consumed the resources inside the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] to drive energy into his body continuously, it was still not enough, and he could not allow the expenditure of reforging the Demonic Phantom. ''One strike'' That thought appeared in the Scarlet King''s mind as he shed toward the center of the ice spikes fort from the right while the Demonic Phantom did it from the left. Dark Mask saw how the enemy attacked from both nks, and he sped his hands inside the ice-spiked dome, making it burst, sending rows of spikes in all directions. The Scarlet King and the Demon Phantom shattered the ice spikes in their path as they approached the Water Tribtion Apotheosis Realm Master full of killing intent. Just as the Scarlet King was less than two hundred meters away from Dark Mask, he shattered another ice spike and charged ughter with energy, ready to fire an arc of shadow energy infused with darkness force. Unfortunately for him, just as he prepared to fire that attack, his eyes widened as the ice tail came crashing on him from the side. The powerful weapon had hidden among the ice shards and was too close to dodge. The Scarlet King knew that if he took the ice tail head-on, it could be deadly since the weapon could easily shatter Golden Artifacts to pieces. Acting immediately, he turned to the side and unleashed all the power gathered in ughter against the tail. "?BOOOOMMMM!" A powerful explosion of ice and shadows spread across the forest as the de and the tail shed, sending the Scarlet King flying away with blood leaking from his mouth and cracking the bones in his arms. A small smile appeared on Dark Mask''s face as he saw the Scarlet King being sent flying away, but he could not lose focus as the Demonic Phantom had already appeared before him with its maws open and closing its fangs on him. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire The ice tail was on its way back, but it would not be fast enough to counter the demonic avatar, so Dark Mask could only use his ice wings to cover above and below, stopping the maws from closing down and shattering him to pieces. "CRACK!" Dark Mask heard the ice wings cracking under the pressure of the fangs, but they only needed to resist a second more and the ice tail would push the Demon Phantom away. Just as the tail was about to make its way back and give Dark Mask the upper hand, his eyes widened as he saw a figure rise from the shadow of the Demonic Phantom.@@novelbin@@ The Scarlet King''s eyes burned with red light as he used Shadow Teleportation to emerge from the avatar''s shadow, with ughter raised and charged with immense power. Dark Mask was shocked, but his eyes burst with blue light as he had not given up. He immediately reinforced the ice covering his body and mobilized the ice tail with all its energy. Stopping the sword strike was impossible, but he had already seen the power of the shadow arc and was confident he could survive. Unfortunately for Dark Mask, all that confidence faded as the arc of shadows that the Sundering Concept had reinforced pierced the ice easily, prating his armor before severing his chest and inner organs. The Scarlet King felt a sharp pain in his mind due to overextending his Ego Wave, but the oue was worth it. However, he did not lose focus even then, as hemanded the Demonic Phantom to protect him with its w. The ice tail did not stop just because of the deadly wound on Dark Mask, but it did lose a lot of its power, so while it burst to pieces the dark w, it was not able to harm the Scarlet King after this one blocked with the de and only sent him flying away a few hundred meters. The Scarlet King lost control over his body but could stillmand the Demonic Phantom, and he sent a final signal. Dark Mask''s body could not stop trembling as nearly every vital organ in his chest was ruptured. "?BOOM!" Before the Water Tribtion Apotheosis Master could do anything to reverse the situation, the Demonic Phantom''s ws pummeled his body into the ground, breaking most of its bones, and finally, the light in his eyes faded away. Chapter 440 Reviving Dark Mask (I) The Scarlet King rose from the ground after a few seconds, and the Demonic Phantom vanished as the Blood Nails adopted a defensive formation around him. Shortly after, Red Hawk and Blue Crow appeared close to him. The duo was severely injured since that tail strike nearly overcame their defenses, but there was no damage to any vital organs, and their current vitality would allow them to heal after a few days. "Leader." Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire "Leader." The duo bowed as they spoke to the Scarlet King using the only moniker they could since, even now, they did not know the man''s name. "Good job." The Scarlet King gave a profound nod to the duo, being the first time he actually recognized them. Had it not been for theirbined attack damaging Dark Mask''s chest armor, his shadow sh might not have been able to pierce through it. The attack would have severely wounded the Apotheosis Realm Master, but this one could have retained enough strength to escape. No longer bothering with words, the Scarlet King closed his eyes briefly as he focused on the vitality and energying from the [Demonic Devourer Dimension] and took several drugs from his space ring to supplement his vitality. ''They will suffice until my Ego Wave recovers to the point I can use Radiance of Life.'' Once his condition was stable, the Scarlet King went to the corpse of Dark Mask, and a profound light appeared in his eyes as he took the man''sputer ring before shing away with the corpse, followed by Red Hawk and Blue Crow. After they were far from the battle zone and in a hidden cave, he stripped Dark Mask of all its artifacts, leaving the Atrox naked. A slight sh of surprise appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he saw that Dark Mask was such a handsome young man, and it seemed that he was not older than 300 years old. That was impressively young for Apotheosis Realm Masters since these are usually thousands of years old. However, none of that mattered much to the Scarlet King as he sent the man''s corpse into the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber. Red Hawk and Blue Crow did not know what was happening, but it was not their ce to question their Leader, so they just remained at the cave entrance, vignt of anything or anyone that coulde near. Nearly half an hourter, four figures shed into the cave. Red Hawk and Blue Crow raised their guard, but they immediately rxed as they saw that they were none other than Old River, Janiro, Specter, and Ghoul.@@novelbin@@ The six Atroxs nced at each other, and they all turned to the man with the red mask at the bottom of the cave. Through his wits and power, he thwarted a Tier 1 Dark Faction and killed Dark Mask, a powerful Apotheosis Realm Master. Like the Godyer Humankind, the Atrox Immortus Race respected strength and power, so regardless of their personal feelings toward the man, they had to admit he was an incrediblypetent leader and a fearless and ruthless warrior. The Scarlet King noticed the looks in the Atrox''s eyes. If their admiration made them better weapons, he was happy about it, but that was as far as his thought went. He stood in front of the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber for nearly ten hours until the body of Dark Mask began to dpose, leaving all sorts of chemicalponents inside the chamber. "Old River, get into the chamber." Before anyone could understand what was happening, they heard the man''s voice againmanding Old River to enter the chamber. Although Old River was confused, there was no hesitation in his eyes as he followed themand, entering the chamber with resolution on his face. He had fulfilled his greatest desire, and the look of pain on Silent Shadow''s face was still clear in his mind. The Atrox was free to follow a path beyond revenge, and if there was one person he was ready to follow, it was the man in the red mask. Their rtionship was simple: if he did good, the man in the red mask would make him more and more powerful, but failure meant death. For someone like Old River, who had embraced the underworld, he could not ask for a better deal than that. The Scarlet King noticed the look of peace and resolution on Old River, and a small smile appeared on his face. This Atrox was the type of warrior needed for his long-time ns in Kronos. He did not need someone who loved or worshiped him but a man who would follow his lead without hesitation and was ready to bathe himself in blood. Having already healed long enough and recovered his Ego Wave, the Scarlet King carried on with the gic alteration on Old River. The other Atroxs watched everything with attention and saw how Old River''s figure began to change. He had grown more youthful after the 9 Revolution Refinement, but now his face was beautiful and young. A sense of shock appeared in the Atrox as they saw how Old River had be a perfect replica of Dark Mask, not just in appearance since even his aura and bloodline were the same. The Scarlet King had analyzed Dark Mask''s body thoroughly. After mapping his genome, he dissolved this corpse to gain theponents to alter Old River, transforming the man into a near-perfect copy of the Apotheosis Realm Master. Old River emerged from the Tier 1 Bio Gic Chamber five hourster, and he could barely believe what he saw as he became a perfect copy of Dark Mask down to the most minute detail. The only difference was in his Essence Wave since he was still a Middle Wave Champion, but the new Ice Lineage was already improving that. "Take." Old River only heard those words as the Scarlet King sent a dark mask, a strange draconic token, and golden armor toward him. Without hesitation, he put on the mask and the armor, imprinting them with his Ego Wave. However, pure awe and shock assaulted his heart when he focused on the draconic token. "Ice Draco Emperor." Chapter 441 Reviving Dark Mask (II) "Ice Draco Emperor." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire That name resonated in Old River''s mind as he realized the small draconic figure in his hand was a Holy Weapon with a Saint Cultivation Technique engraved in it. After donning all the armor and putting on the mask, the other Atroxs in the room couldn''t help but feel a sense of awe as it seemed as if Dark Mask hade back to life. Old River was wise enough to understand the type of scheme the man with the red mask had in mind, but he couldn''t help but frown. Appearance was just one factor in a person''s identity, and even if he could copy the Water Tribtion Apotheosis Realm cultivation base, Old River couldn''t hide the fact that he knew nothing about Dark Mask''s personal life. As if reading Old River''s mind, the Scarlet King began to speak. "I hacked into Dark Mask''sputer ring during the fight, preventing it from self-destructing after the death of its master. I went through the logs and previous conversations of the man for thest hundred years and learned a lot about him, enough to trick most people. Of course, this would not be enough to deceive those who knew Dark Mask personally or had an intimate rtionship with him, but that was also one of the reasons I chose him as my target. The man was paranoid and did an outstanding job keeping his identity a secret to the point he had no real rtionship with anyone in the underworld." Pure awe and admiration appeared in Old River and the other Atroxs as they heard the man''s words. His methods, wisdom, and ns were astonishing. Every action he took seemed to consider its future repercussions. There was no way to describe this man other than a monster. "You will release a statement to the upper echelon that you were ambushed by traitors and got into a fight. You were able to escape but got severely injured and will be recovering in seclusion, something that the real Dark Mask would have done. For the time being, the secret force you have been honing for thest fifty years, Dark Fingers, will act as your proxy." The Scarlet King''s eyes turned to the five Atroxs at the cave entrance, and they understood that their new identity would be the Dark Fingers, the secret force of the Dark Hand. A sharp light appeared in their eyes as they looked at each other. A Tier 1 Dark Faction was a great power; if they were in control of it, the amount of wealth they could ess would be mind-blowing. With their current Wave Talent, Lineage, and foundation, they could carve a path to the Peak of the Wave King Rank if they got enough resources, not to mention that working for the masked monster would mean constantly improving their bloodlines and talent. The Scarlet King saw the burning greed and desire in the five and silently nodded as he expected that from them. Fear was a powerful weapon, but greed had a much greater range and could inspire a sense of responsibility and duty if applied well. However, while he was fine with tapping into the greed of those five, the Scarlet King''s eyes grew solemn as he stared at Old River, making the Atrox adopt a serious expression as he knew something important was about to happen. "I will send you all the information about Dark Mask, along with his psychological profile and pattern tendencies. Study it and internalize all that knowledge, mimicking not just his physical behavior but also his personality, while you shed away your previous persona." At this point, the Scarlet King''s eyes burned with a mighty red light full of conviction that seemed capable of ruling over destiny itself.@@novelbin@@ "Destroy Old River and allow Dark Mask to be reborn. If you seed in your rebirth, I will make you a God and allow you to stand by my side." Old River heard those words echo inside his mind as if it were the decree of a divine king and felt his entire soul trembling for a moment. A sense of purpose appeared in his eyes, one that was not even less than the desire for revenge against Silent Shadow, as he stared straight into the eyes of the Scarlet King and solemnly nodded. The Scarlet King nodded as he saw the profound light in the man''s eyes and was sure he would be pleased with his choice. He then threw Dark Mask''sputer ring to Old River. "I have put a back door in it, allowing me to see all the messages that arrive and answer them. I will be responding to them for the time being so they sound like Dark Mask, but I expect you to be able to fulfill that role soon." Old River silently nodded as he put theputer ring in his hand. Right now, he was the perfect physical copy of the man who had pierced the ceiling ofva and was crushed by a demonic w. "Regarding Silent World. Although they will have questions, they will not bother us too much as long as we pay the tribute. Several upper echelon members perished, but the infrastructure is still there, so keeping things orderly will be no problem." Old River solemnly nodded. Silent World was a Tier 0 Dark Faction with over a dozen Tier 1 Dark Factions under it, so as long as they get their cut, they will not be a real problem. "Leader, if they ask about the person that attacked me. How should I respond?" The Scarlet King couldn''t help but show a small smile as Old River used the prefix "me" to refer to Dark Mask, making it clear just how seriously the man was taking the task he had given him. "If they ask, answer with the truth. It was a man with a red mask, bandages over his entire body, and a scarlet robe covering his figure." Chapter 442 Horus (I) The Scarlet King returned to Evernight after leaving everything in order with Dark Hand. Now that he controlled a Tier 1 Dark Faction, finding information about intercontinental teleportation formations to return to Gaia would be much easier. Returning directly to his home was the primary path the Scarlet King wanted to take, but another option involved crossing the Narrow Sea to reach the Hyperion Continent, home of the Deus Bahamut Race. If the Scarlet King reached the Deus Bahamut Race, he would not have to hide his identity and could request help from the Bahamut Titans. From there, getting to Gaia would be easier. Unfortunately, movement across the Kronos Continent wasn''t simple. While he could leave Evernight whenever he wanted, the same couldn''t be said about the Saturn Sector, as the borders of this one were highly regted. As an envoy from a different race, there were certain limits to Kain''s freedom. Although he could take on a new identity, anyone with the rank to move freely around Kronos was not easily supnted. After all, the Eye of Gluttony could only work on people with willpower much weaker than the Scarlet King''s. Just getting near the Narrow Sea was a significant task, not to mention that the area was in a constant state of war. If any Atrox without sufficient clearance got near the battlefield, they would be attacked without question, let alone an envoy from another continent. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire Trying to cross the Narrow Sea by earth or sky without the proper clearance would be suicidal unless the Scarlet King could fight off Divine Ascension Masters. There was also the option of waiting for the envoys to return to As and, from there, make his way to Gaia. However, many things could go wrong if he reached a ce where Kain''s real family was present. After all, Kain''s father was an Archduke who had reached the Divine Ascension Realm and had all sorts of abilities at his disposal. That''s why the Scarlet King concluded that the best path forward would be to use the resources of the underworld to find a way back home. ''Dark Hand was poisoned and severely wounded before our fight even started, and yet he pushed me to the absolute limit, draining my energy pool and leaving me with severe injuries. My current battle power seems only at the bottom of the Apotheosis Realm.'' Although the Scarlet King was somewhat disappointed in his current power, his achievements were incredible, having jumped more than an entire rank in battle power. Once the Scarlet King reached Evernight, he immediately headed to the central za where the teleportation formation was in ce. He usually would have returned on thest day, waiting for the monthly g, but this time was different. The Scarlet King appeared in the Magma Castle and noticed two towering members of the Abyssal n guarding the gate. Half a year had passed since the envoys came to the Kronos Continent, and a new group from the Inferno Daemon n had arrived. However, they were different in more than one sense. Not only were these new Inferno Daemons older, but they also came to discuss matters with the higher-ups of the Atrox Immortus Empire. As for their background, they were the children of the current emperor of the Inferno Daemon Empire! The Scarlet King wasn''t interested in meeting or socializing, but while he could ignore the rest of the envoys, drawing the attention of the Inferno Daemon Imperial Family by disying contempt or indifference would be a mistake. So, he returned to the Magma Castle. The guards at the entrance nced at the Scarlet King but didn''t say a word as he entered and made his way to the main hall. Once there, he saw all the envoys, including Kain''s brother, surrounding three figures. Two were members of the Hell n, both females, and thest one was male and belonged to the Abyssal n. Not only were they extremely handsome, but they were also bursting with power and vitality. ''All of them are Peak Wave Kings, but I can feel how they are suppressing their cultivation to improve their foundation. Everyone released an aura much more threatening than Dark Mask''s.'' The Scarlet King''s eyes narrowed as he stared at the trio. He had appeared and would disy a respectful stance to the Imperial Family but would ensure to keep a safe distance. "My brothers and sisters are always the center of attention, don''t you think?" Unfortunately for the Scarlet King, while he wanted to interact the least possible with the Imperial Family, things didn''t go ording to his wishes. His eyes widened as he heard those words, and he turned to a corner of the room, where he saw a strange young man sitting in a chair and reading a dark book. While he had a towering body simr to a member of the Abyssal n, his skin was red, and there were horns on his head, characteristic of the Hell n. Not only had the Scarlet King not detected the man until he spoke, but his racial characteristics seemed to be a hybrid of the Hell n and Inferno n, something he had never heard or seen before. The only thing clear in his mind was that this person was extremely dangerous. The Scarlet King''s Ego Wave immediately burst with power, allowing him to maintain focus and not break his facade as he stared at the young man with wonder and surprise. "Kain Lauzer humbly greets His Highness. I''m afraid I don''t know your name."@@novelbin@@ The Scarlet King had obtained the entirety of Kain Lauzer''s memories. Still, he was positive there was no information about a member of the Inferno Daemon Imperial Family with the characteristics of this man. A small smile appeared on the young man''s face as he closed the book in his hand and stared at the Scarlet King. "It''s not weird you don''t know about me. After all, this is my first public appearance ever. I am the seventh son of the Dark Emperor, Horus Ekleipsis." Horus stood up from his seat and walked toward Kain until he stood right before him. "I have heard a lot about you, Kain. It seems that you''ve got an interesting Master recently." Chapter 443 Horus (II) The Scarlet King immediately frowned and took a step back, disying an expression of difort and mistrust. This reaction wasn''t reflective of his current state of mind but was appropriate for a young man like Kain when facing a member of the Imperial Family. Horus analyzed Kain''s every move with a piercing gaze, and his interest dimmed as he saw the young man''s response. He kept staring at Kain before closing his eyes briefly. His aura became more amicable and peaceful when he opened them again, and a tranquil smile graced his face. "There''s no need to be nervous. I was just curious about the person who saved one of our envoys and took him as a disciple. He goes by the name Scarlet King, am I right?" The Scarlet King stared at Horus for a moment before softly nodding, still portraying the temperament of a young man unable to keep calm under the aura of a member of the Imperial Family. "Mmm, I am always happy to meet interesting people. I wonder how easy it is for you tomunicate with your Master?" Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire Horus''s smile remained, but his eyes intensified, indicating that nothing but an honest answer would be allowed. After a few seconds of silence, and making it seem like he was having difficulty deciding what to do, the Scarlet King spoke. "I haven''t seen my Master since he took me as his disciple. He improved my bloodline, gave me a cultivation technique, and said we will meet again once I be a Wave King." Horus''s eyes grew sharp as he listened, and in the end, he nodded. The behavior that Kain described was expected from entric Masters. "I see. Then I guess I won''t meet the Scarlet King during my trip. How unfortunate." A sh of disappointment crossed Horus''s eyes, but it did notst long as he turned to the trio that was chattingfortably with the rest of the envoys. Immediately, the three members of the Imperial Family stopped speaking and walked toward their little brother. Horus didn''t wait for them to catch up. He had already turned around and walked away, but just before exiting the main hall, he nced at Kain. "By the way, you would have met your Master near Mount Zuni, right?" A wave of shock assailed the Scarlet King''s mind as he heard that question, as Mount Zuni was the nexus of the Azure King''s intercontinental teleportation formation in Kronos. The fact that Horus knew about it had several implications regarding the Azure Royal Family and The Organization, and the Scarlet King couldn''t help but raise the threat level of this man in his mind. Luckily, his willpower was strong enough to hide the shock, and he only showed a confused expression before softly shaking his head. Horus observed Kain briefly before nodding and then left the hall with the other Imperial Children. The Scarlet King watched Horus''s departing figure, feeling a strange sensation in his heart and mind. He felt a sense of defiance and a desire forpetition against Horus, which didn''t make sense as they had never met before. ''He is interesting but also extremely dangerous.'' There were no more fitting words for Horus than interesting and dangerous. While the Scarlet King would be happy to learn more about him, just being near someone like that put his disguise in danger. If anyone discovered he was a Godyer Human, there was no way he would leave the Kronos Continent alive. "Brother, who was that?" Jamil appeared next to Kain with an intrigued expression, voicing the question on everyone''s mind. None of the envoys had detected that person before. Yet with a single gaze, he made three Imperial Children follow him like puppies. "That was the seventh son of the Dark Emperor, Horus. It seems he was a very secluded person and had never appeared in public before." Jamil and the other envoys were surprised to hear this, clenching their teeth as they realized they had missed the chance to interact with such an important person. The Scarlet King had no reason to waste his time with the envoys now that the members of the Imperial Family were gone, so he nodded to Jamil before returning to his room. Once alone, he extended his hand and began to gather Life Wave, setting it aze. It didn''t take long for him to form a 9 Revolution me, but he aimed to take the next step and create a 10 Revolution me, gaining the title of Saint Tribtion Enhancer. Forming a 10 Revolution me was incredibly difficult, requiring not just Life Wave but vitality. There were many ways to obtain vitality, the most straightforward being burning one''s own, but the Scarlet King would not choose such a harmful path when there was already a stream of vitality being sent into his body. The [Sky me] could devour matter and energy, and if corpses were sent into it, it would fill the Scarlet King''s body with vitality and energy, just what he needed to train in Tribtion Enhancement. The Scarlet King spent the entire day training, but after over twenty attempts, he failed to evolve the 9 Revolution me into the next level. "No wonder forming a 10 Revolution me is said to be a bottleneck." As he remembered the golden book, another image popped into the Scarlet King''s mind, eliciting a small smile from him. ''I wonder if she could help me again. I guess I''ll find out soon.'' It was already time for the new monthly g, so the Scarlet King dressed and left the Magma Castle. Just as he appeared in the central za and prepared to take a new teleportation formation to the g, he noticed Astrid waiting for him there. "Hello. Since neither of us is interested in the g, what do you say if we simply skip it?" The Scarlet King appreciated the calm and firm demeanor of the young woman, which genuinely drew him towards her.@@novelbin@@ "I think it''s a great idea." Neither of them said another word as they walked out of the za, and once they were away from the people, the young woman spoke again. "So, how is your Master?" Chapter 444 Saint Tribulation Enhancer (I) "So, how is your Master?" As he heard that question, a sh of coldness and killing intent appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes. It was the second time in thest few days that someone had attempted to get information about his "Master." Regardless of the rtionship forming between the young Atrox woman, as a master of Order, he would show no hesitation if he detected any form of deception. "Why do you ask?" Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire The Scarlet King''s voice was peaceful and revealed nothing of the ruthlessness and killing might inside his heart. "Oh, weren''t you supposed to meet him after forming a 9 Revolution me?" Astrid stared at the Scarlet King with a confused expression as she remembered what this one told her when he showed the sphere with the Revolution me. The Scarlet King''s eyes twitched as all the killing intent in his heart was reced by embarrassment that nearly made him burst intoughter. "Unfortunately not. I spoke with Master through myputer ring, but he seemed to be in the middle of an important cultivation journey and could not meet me. He said I should keep working hard and wait for his call." Astrid showed some disappointment in her eyes as she heard that. "I see, how unfortunate. I was hoping you could get his help on some inquiries as I have hit a bottleneck in my theoretical understanding of the Revolution mes."@@novelbin@@ "Oh, are you having trouble deciphering the chemical forms for the 10 Revolution me?" The Scarlet King was slightly disappointed that the woman was also stuck at that point, but he couldn''t me her since he found it hard to advance even with the innate talent given by the [Enhancement Module]. "Oh, no, I adjusted the process to create a 10 Revolution me about three weeks ago. Although I was waiting for you to prove it, I am sure it will be fine. I am stuck at the 15 Revolution me. No matter how many times I go through them, there are minute details that prevent me from sess.." Astrid softly shook her head as she exined her situation, and she immediately began to go through the chemical form and mathematical equations to create a 15 Revolution me in her mind, which was good for the Scarlet King as it allowed him to hide theplicated smile on his face. The Scarlet King could barely understand the process of the 10 Revolution me, yet it seemed that Astrid was already making headway to the 15! Although there was a chance the woman could be lying, he knew her well enough to know she would not do something like that. "Hm, what do you say if we test your forms? During the creation process, we could gain new insight that could be helpful for the creation of a 15 Revolution me." "Yes, you are right." Not wasting time, the Scarlet King took a 9 Revolution me from his space ring and began to send new streams of Life Wave and vitality into it. "Wait. First of all, don''t send the Life Wave and vitality simultaneously. Do it in phases to maintain the me''s integral structure." The Scarlet King had just started, and the young woman had already begun to correct his method. As expected, once he followed Astrid''s advice, the me grew more potent, and it was much easier to maintain it stable. Keeping focused, the Scarlet King continued improving the power of the 9 Revolution Refinement me, following Astrid''s advice and ensuring he internalized the knowledge. Ultimately, the me dissipated before bing a 10 Revolution me, but neither was disappointed. Going from theory to practice was a process, and while Astrid''s advice was correct, putting them to work was hard. The Scarlet King sometimes took too long to apply the woman''s advice, leaving ws that led to failure. Still, practice makes perfect. As the duo continued working, the Scarlet King kept improving, and in less than three hours, a shining me with ten colors appeared in his hand. Astrid and the Scarlet King smiled as they saw the shining me and grew excited and full of thrill. Both looked at each other and saw the desire to push forward. Following Astrid''s advice and adjustments, the Scarlet King created an 11 Revolution me in a couple of hours and then carried on toward the next level. Although they made significant improvements, they reached Astrid''s home before they couldplete a 12 Revolution me. Usually, it was at this point they would each take their respective path, but the young woman stared at the Scarlet King for a moment before speaking. "Will you leave Evernight again and only return for the g?" The Scarlet King stared at the woman for a moment. It seemed that she had been inquiring about him and knew about his patterns. After a moment, he softly shook his head. "I have already experienced enough battles for the time being. I will remain in Evernight for the next month to consolidate my cultivation and insights." The Scarlet King was not lying. While fighting and constantly pushing oneself forward was important, it was also essential to rest from time to time and consolidate one''s cultivation base and battle insights. "In that case, why don''t you stay in my home? There is a guest room in the castle you could use. That way, we could keep improving your skills." Astrid''s eyes were calm as she uttered that invitation, but she could not hide the sh of nervousness in her eyes. The Scarlet King stared at the woman for a moment as he heard the proposition. While he showed nothing, an internal struggle began to arise inside his mind. He had always kept his distance from the women, but if he were to ept, things would change, and she could very well make her way into his Life Matrix, something he had initially wanted to keep sealed during his time in Kronos. Astrid could not help but grow nervous with the silence, and just as she was about to speak again, trying to calm things, the Scarlet King made a slight bow toward her. "It will be my pleasure to apany you." Chapter 446 Saint Revolution Refinement (I) Jamil burst with excitement when he heard the mysterious master left something useful and followed the Scarlet King without hesitation. The duo left the hall and didn''t take long to enter the Scarlet King''s room. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire "So, brother, what did your Master leave..." Jamir hadn''t even finished his sentence when the Scarlet King shed toward him, grabbing his neck and raising him into the air, slowly strangling him. Of course, Jamil attempted to fight back, but the grip of the Scarlet King was too strong, and an invisible force had invaded his body, stopping him from using any form of energy. The Scarlet King stared at Jamil as the young man struggled futilely to escape his grasp. Soon, the fight ended as the Ego Wave of the Scarlet King invaded the brain of the young genius from the Abyssal n. The Scarlet King hadn''t forgotten his oath to Kain when he took the young man''s soul. He had promised to take care of the mastermind behind the assassination attempt and do his best to protect the young man''s family, and he intended to keep it. Jamil''s body began to tremble as the Ego Wave of the Scarlet King was rewriting his neural path and imnting all sorts of subconsciousmands. Instead of just killing Jamil, the Scarlet King nned to brainwash him to the point where the Inferno Daemon would spend the rest of his life protecting Kain''s mother and sister. Due to the intensity of themands, Jamil would rather die than allow anything to happen to Kain''s family, which works for the Scarlet King. It took him around four hours, but once he was done, Jamil lookedpletely normal, yet he was in a subconscious state. "Go to your room and rest. After you wake up, you will not remember anything." Jamil nodded and left the Scarlet King''s room before heading to his own room with the sole intent of resting. Having taken care of the nuisance, the Scarlet King left the Magma Castle and, in less than thirty minutes, was out of Evernight, heading at full speed toward one of the deepest parts of the forest where extremely powerful beasts inhabited. --- "?BOOOOMMMM!" A massive explosion echoed across the forest as the earth trembled once the Demonic Phantom pushed a massive Grand King Beast to the ground, resembling an enormous tree over five hundred meters tall with a dry shell. The Dead Trent had all kinds of wounds, but that didn''t diminish its fighting will as it used its massive branches to try and push the Demonic Phantom away. Yet, before it could do that, the Scarlet King appeared above the core that held its soul dimension and pierced it with ughter, killing the beast.@@novelbin@@ Exhaustion appeared on the Scarlet King''s face as he removed his red saber from the head of the Grand King Beast and sent it into his [Demonic Devourer Dimension]. The Dead Trent was the seventh Grand King Beast he had killed, and the reason for these fights was not to improve his battle might but due to the input of vitality needed to create the Saint Refinement mes. The Scarlet King nodded softly, feeling satisfied, and rose to the sky, heading to the Dark Hall contained in the fake volcano. As soon as he appeared in the sky, he shed into the magma and it didn''t take long toe out on the other side. The renewed Dark Hall immediately appeared in his sight, with Dark Mask sitting on the throne and the five Dark Fingers surrounding him. There were also rows of Atroxs Wave Champions with distinct marks on their armor present. The Atroxs Wave Champions were confused by the sudden appearance of the man with the red mask. They hade here by the order of the Dark Faction''s Leader, and their space rings were full of corpses of Wave Champion Beasts. None of them understood what an Apotheosis Realm Master would need so many corpses for, but they were at the bottom of the food chain in Dark Hand, and asking too many questions could prove deadly. Before those Wave Champion Atroxs could say a word, the Scarlet King''s Ego Wave descended on them, and they soon fell unconscious. Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers showed no reaction to seeing the Wave Champions falling unconscious. Instead, they all rose, sping their hands and performing a deep bow. "We wee you, Leader." Dark Hand had already moved away from the throne, allowing the Scarlet King to sit as he watched the Wave Champions. "As youmanded, Leader. We have gathered all the members of Dark Hand that havemitted heinous crimes of the level of rape. I alsomanded every one of them to bring as many Wave Champion Beast''s corpses as possible, hinting that it was a secret test to boost their spirits." The Scarlet King stared at Dark Mask and softly nodded, pleased with the proficiency and diligence of the man with the task. One of his many missions was to gather the worst of Dark Hand and make it so they brought a lot of corpses with high vitality. The corpses were obviously meant to generate the Saint Refinement mes. As for the Wave Champions, the Scarlet King would use them as guinea pigs to improve his abilities on Saint Revolution Refinement. While the Scarlet King followed the path of Order, that didn''t mean hecked a sense of justice. He would be more than happy to see all these depraved Wave Champions meet their end. With a wave of his hand, all the space rings appeared in front of the Scarlet King, and he gradually sent the Wave Champion Beast''s carcasses into his [Demonic Devourer Dimension], using the energy generated by the [Sky me] to create more and more 15 Revolution mes. Dark Mask and the five Dark Fingers looked at the mes solemnly, imagining the kind of power such a refinement would grant them. Just a 9 Revolution Refinement had significantly upgraded their potential and cultivation base. However, there was also a thread of fear since the more potent the mes, the harder it would be to assimte the world energy this one would drive into their bodies and blood, and everyone was wary of what would happen if it failed. Chapter 447 Saint Revolution Refinement (II) The Scarlet King made 15 Revolution mes for nearly four days until he had enough for all the Wave Champions. He rested for six hours before taking out his Refinement Cauldron once his mind was in peak condition again. With a single look, one of the Wave Champions jumped into the cauldron, and the Scarlet King deposited a 15 Revolution me before closing the lid and starting the refinement. "?Boom!" A small burst echoed across the Dark Hall as the amount of world energy flooding into the Refinement Cauldron was overwhelmingly high. It soon began to merge into the body of the Wave Champion. A sharp look appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he drove that energy across the man''s body, aiding the assimtion. However, he had been at it for less than 20 minutes before the Atrox exploded. The Scarlet King used a wave of dark force to clean the cauldron before making another Wave Champion jump in and start again. This time, he advanced a few minutes more, but once again, the Wave Champion burst like a balloon full of blood. This pattern continued for nearly ten hours as half of the Wave Champions burst to pieces. While the Scarlet King would be happy to see them die, that didn''t mean he was fine with failure and was doing all in his power to seed, learning from the previous experiments. Unfortunately, the difficulty of Revolution Refinement doubled with each level, so a 15 Revolution Refinement was 32 times harder than a 9 Revolution Refinement. It was no wonder that the Scarlet King would fail so many times despite his extraordinary talent. Still, the Scarlet King was not disheartened since every attempt brought him closer to sess. Finally, on the 17th attempt, the Refinement Cauldron trembled just a little, and a shining light emerged from it as the Atrox Wave Champion emerged with a body that seemed immacte. The Scarlet King couldn''t help but smile as he saw the effect of the 15 Revolution me on the Wave Champion and set this one aside beforemanding a new Wave Champion into the cauldron. The 18th Wave Champion was also a sess, but the same couldn''t be said about the 19th. In the end, of the fifteen Wave Champions left, the Scarlet Kingpleted 15 Revolution Refinements in eleven, with only four failing, giving him a sess rate of roughly 70%. It wasn''t bad, but one had to consider that the other 30% meant a horrible death as your body burst from the inside out, spilling your guts everywhere. So, it was in everybody''s best interest to improve that percentage. Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers stared at the Wave Champions who had experienced the 15 Revolution Refinement and were sure they would have an easy path to the Wave King Rank if they had sufficient resources at their disposal. However, a red force field covered the Wave Champion before vanishing from the Dark Hall. Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers then saw how the Scarlet King''s body burst with vitality and energy. The Scarlet King could work with murderers and thieves, but there was a limit to the filth he could tolerate, and those he could not stand were better used as manure. Vitality and energy overflowed the Scarlet King''s body as he began to create 15 Revolution mes. Eventually, all the Wave Champions and Wave Beasts inside his [Demonic Devourer Dimension] yielded nine additional 15 Revolution mes. With these in hand, the Scarlet King left the volcano, apanied by Dark Mask and the five Dark Fingers. It didn''t take them long to reach the peak of a massive mountain. The Scarlet King released his Ego Wave into the distance, and nine massive King Beasts appeared before him in a few minutes. Dark Mask and the others adopted a battle stance as they saw the King Beasts since they were not under hypnosis, but the creatures did not bother with them and only focused on the Scarlet King. Janiro''s eyes widened as he recognized these Wave Beasts. They were the same ones that had survived the 9 Revolution Refinements. Most had been Wave Champions before, but they had grown stronger. However, what was most significant was the light full of wisdom in their eyes. Wave Beasts grow more intelligent as they advance in ranks but remain acting ording to their basic instincts; yet, these were different. The Scarlet King also noticed the change and couldn''t help but smile. He had returned to see if there was a meaningful change and gather more information, and the findings were extraordinary. The effect of the Tribtion Refinement on Wave Beasts was surprising. Unlike humanoids with Sacred Organs, it seemed to enhance the wisdom of these creatures. "I can use the power fromst time on you again. There is roughly a 20 to 30% chance you will die, but if you survive, there will be an evolutive change in your nature." All the King Beasts stared at the Scarlet King, understanding the dangers but willing to take the risk. Their wisdom had grown enough toprehend the perils, but as Wave Beasts, they could die any day, and the only way to protect themselves was by bing stronger and wiser. The Scarlet King didn''t waste more words and erged the Refinement Cauldron to hold the massive bodies of the King Beast, starting with one resembling a winged wolf. The King Beast showed no hesitation as it jumped into the cauldron, watching as a sphere with colorful mes was ced with it before the lid was closed. Then, the colorful mes were released, coalescing around its body as waves of world energy flooded its flesh and blood. It wasn''t the first time the King Beast faced this power, and now it was awake, so it could use its willpower to drive the energy, aiding in the assimtion. The Scarlet King''s eyes were fiercely focused as he assisted the Sky Wolf''s body with the assimtion process. Although the process was more straightforward with Wave Beasts than with Atroxs, the overwhelming amount of world energy from the 15 Revolution Refinement required everything from him. Readtest stories on My Virtual Library Empire After nearly two hours, the Refinement Cauldron shook slightly, and a figure emerged. The transformation of the Sky Wolf was shocking; its aura was overpowering and pure, but most striking was the powerful wisdom and intelligence in its eyes.@@novelbin@@ Chapter 448 Late Wave Champion (I) Dark Mask and the other Atroxs stared at the creature, sensing it was something different. It was still a Wave Beast, but it seemed to be growing beyond that boundary, a truly shocking development.@@novelbin@@ The Sky Wolf returned to its original position, bowing to the Scarlet King before remaining steady and unmoving. The Scarlet King nodded at the creature before turning to the next one, a King Beast resembling a golden eagle. Like the Sky Wolf, the Gold Father Eagle entered the cauldron without hesitation. --- As night fell, a King Beast resembling a semi-bipedal elephant emerged from the cauldron. There was a powerful sense of wisdom in its eyes afterpleting its Saint Refinement Revolution, and like the rest of itsrades, it returned to its original position. Of the nine King Beasts that arrived, eight were still alive. One of them, a Shadow Spider, failed to assimte world energy flow and exploded. While unfortunate, this oue did not deter the other King Beasts, who understood the risks of the process. The Scarlet King was satisfied. Although the procedure would be moreplex with races possessing Sacred Organs, he was confident that his sess rate had risen above 85%. After observing the King Beasts, he turned to Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers. "Form teams. Help these King Beasts secure new territories rich in energy and resources. In exchange, you will keep all the spoils from the battles and bring them to me so I can form Saint Refinement mes for you six." Dark Mask and the Dark Fingers were surprised by thismand and frowned. They wouldn''t dare go against the Scarlet King''smand, but working alongside Wave Beasts wasn''t exactly practical. During the heat of the battle, the beasts might mistake them for enemies. However, they had no choice but toply and nod, and the wisdom in the Saint Revolution King Beasts gave them hope things could work well. After a slight bow toward the Scarlet King, the Atroxs flew away with the Saint Revolution King Beasts to regions where powerful King Beasts resided. A meaningful light appeared in the Scarlet King''s eyes as he watched the two groups march away. He was aware of the potential problems of fighting alongside Wave Beasts but wanted to observe the results after these creatures had grown smarter and wiser. Once alone, the Scarlet King assumed a meditative position on the ground and rested for an hour before taking a mouthful of the tea left by the old stranger. He slowly swallowed it, allowing his body to burst with energy. Thanks to the Scarlet King''s Wave Talent and fantastic resources, his Essence Wave improved exponentially fast with a very robust foundation. It was time to prepare himself for the next breakthrough, advancing into the Late Wave Champion Rank. --- Dark Mask, Janiro, Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul returned to the mountain peak five days after leaving with the Saint Revolution King Beasts. They were exhausted, having fought continuously for thest few days. After finding their targets, they battled alongside the Saint Revolution King Beasts. The Atroxs had to admit that the battle style and wisdom of the Saint Revolution King Beasts impressed them, resembling that of sentient humanoids. Although challenging, they won their battles and killed the 10 King Beasts controlling a massive mountain range known as the Great Demon ws, named for its demonic w-like formations reaching toward the sky. However, the battles didn''t end there; once the Saint Revolution King Beasts defeated the previous leaders, dozens of other King Beasts attempted to overthrow them before they could limate to their new position. All eight Saint Revolution King Beasts worked together, fending off waves of enemies. With the assistance of the six Atroxs, they managed to eliminate all their opponents, feasting on the meat of many. Per their agreement, Dark Hand and the Dark Fingers took most of the corpses with them as they returned with the Scarlet King. The six Atrox were approaching their destination when their eyes widened at the sight of the mountain peak, now enveloped in a dark, bloody fog, with the Scarlet King at the center, seemingly lost in meditation. It was umon for someone to generate a reaction from the Laws during a breakthrough, but to generate such a phenomenon while cultivating indicated an extremely high attunement to cosmic forces. "Form a defensive formation around the Leader. No matter what, if anyonees close to him, kill them without hesitation." Dark Mask issued themand as he flew above the Scarlet King, activating his Holy Weapon, which manifested as ice wings and a powerful tail. While Dark Mask seemed to have developed a sense of devotion and faith toward the Scarlet King, the others still regarded him as a monster and followed him due to fear and greed. Still, regardless of their personal feelings, they immediately carried on with Dark Mask''smand. Janiro, Red Hawk, Blue Crow, Specter, and Ghoul formed a pentagram defensive formation around the Scarlet King. They unleashed their Ego Wave into the surroundings and heightened their perception, ready to attack at any moment with full power. The Scarlet King was not unconscious and would awaken if he sensed danger, but that would disrupt his enlightenment. Thus, it was preferable for him to remain undisturbed. He continued meditating, his eyes closed, deciphering the mysteries of the Laws of Darkness and Blood. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire As the dark, bloody fog around him intensified, his Evolution Core began to tremble on the seventh day of his meditation. The Essence Wave within it grew more robust and revolved with greater synergy and order. The Scarlet King opened his eyes, his Essence Wave erupting with power, increasing the size and purity of his energy pool. He harnessed the insights gained from the Laws, erging his energy pool and refining it further, noticing more crystal fragments forming due to the extreme density and purity of his Essence Wave. An hourter, his Sacred Organ stabilized, and his Essence Wave ceased its intense activity, allowing the Scarlet King to rest.