Novels by Lily Monroe

Seeing that the time was about right, Adrian withdrew the silver needles and gave a small nod.“The injuries in your body are no longer a serious concern. Consider it one of the benefits of following me.”“I… my name is Octavia. Thank you.”At last, Octavia lowered her guard. Since he had healed her wounds, he clearly had no intention of harming her.“When I was in Hinoku, I traveled across the entire country and still couldn’t cure these injuries. You’re a good man.”Adrian had no idea how, within the span of a single night, he had gone from rogue to pervert to good man in her estimation—but he found himself accepting the promotion nonetheless.At least he was a good man now.“I know you have your own affairs to handle,” he said evenly. “But I have two conditions. First, you must not interfere with me. Second, you must not harm or obstruct anyone around me.”Octavia nodded quickly, agreeing without hesitation.“My matters have nothing to do with you.”Only then did Adrian assent. He

Adrian let out a cold snort. The endless stream of assassins was beginning to grate on his nerves.It wasn’t that they were difficult to deal with. It was the relentless way they threw themselves at him, one after another, wasting his time.It was utterly exasperating.He drew in a slow breath, steadying himself, forcing down the inexplicable irritation churning in his chest.Ever since he had laid eyes on that square coffin, a strange heaviness had settled over his heart.Footsteps continued to advance.Adrian gathered his breath and called out sharply, “Leave. While I’m still inclined to spare you.”His low voice carried through the air. The footsteps paused, just as he expected.He ignored it and closed his eyes, resuming his cultivation.Yet less than two minutes later, the footsteps resumed.Not retreating—coming closer.Adrian’s brows knit together. His eyes snapped open, fury surging within them, rendering his expression chilling and fearsome.“If you have a death wish, I’ll gr

Adrian let out a cold laugh. He wasn’t part of the criminal investigation unit, yet Ophelia was questioning him as if he were.“How you investigate is your business. If I hadn’t killed him, I’d be the one lying dead right now. Do you really think you had the ability to capture that man?”“…Forget it. We’ll handle the investigation ourselves.”Ophelia knew his words were rough but not without reason. The logic held, even if it left her in a difficult position.“The dark web is an underground network based overseas. Its defenses are practically impenetrable. Not just in the Novaland Republic—even worldwide, only a handful of people can decipher their access codes.”Adrian nodded at that. Technical obstacles of this magnitude were well within his expectations. If just anyone could crack the dark web’s encryption, it wouldn’t have survived for so long.Moreover, the dark web spanned nearly every country. If it were easy, someone would have dealt with it long ago.“I’m just an ordinary cit

Eagle paid little heed to Adrian’s threat. He pointed the gun in his hand at Adrian for a moment, then casually tossed it onto the ground, a strange smile curling at the corner of his lips.“I know your name is Adrian. I also know you’re a martial artist from the Novaland Republic—and a powerful one at that.”“Others might fear you, but I’m different. I’ve carried out nearly a hundred assassinations and have never failed.”Adrian glanced at the pistol lying on the ground. Though he knew little about the dark web, anyone worth placing a bounty on there was bound to be troublesome. Nearly a hundred successful missions was proof enough that Eagle was an exceptionally capable assassin.Eagle drew a long sword from behind him. It was called a sword because the hilt and blade were clearly defined, yet the blade itself was round, tapering only at the tip—its lethality obvious at a glance.Adrian’s gaze darkened. Could this man be a martial artist as well?Gripping the hilt tightly, Eagle cha

A sudden suspicion surfaced in Daisy’s mind, and she voiced it hesitantly.“Could it have been someone from the Sanders family? They wouldn’t do things quietly, so did they plant a bomb in the car to kill me?”Adrian’s expression shifted slightly. He reached out and gave her shoulder a reassuring pat.“Perhaps… this wasn’t aimed at you.”Daisy rarely drove this luxury car herself; most of the time, it was Adrian behind the wheel.Which meant the target was likely him.Adrian suddenly recalled the words spoken by the assassin who had once tried to kill him.“The dark web…”He murmured under his breath, a trace of regret welling up inside him for not pursuing the matter back then.Someone had placed an anonymous bounty on him on the dark web, and that person was right here in Skyline City.As long as the bounty remained, there would be a steady stream of people willing to take the job.Assassins never reasoned, nor did they care about the methods they used.Adrian’s face darkened. He de

She intended for everyone of standing in Skyline City to know that she—and the Taylor family—had powerful backing behind them.And Master Xavier was, at present, the strongest pillar they could rely on.Ordinary people dared not offend martial practitioners, let alone a top-ranked expert on the Storm Ranking.Master Xavier nodded in satisfaction. Scarlett Taylor’s words had struck exactly the chord he wanted to hear.His trip to Skyline City had two purposes: first, to kill the one who had broken his formation; second, to make a name for himself and establish authority—for his own sake and for the entire order he represented.“The Taylor family head has thought this through very thoroughly.”Receiving Master Xavier’s praise, Scarlett Taylor smiled, filled his glass, and drained it in one go.Forrest Davidson frowned slightly.“Adrian is no longer a concern. But what about Clayton Adams?”Though the Davidson family had formed an enmity with Adrian, in Forrest Davidson’s eyes, dealing w

A tidal blaze unfurled between heaven and earth, and within the flames—“Holy Emperor…”The warriors of the Solar Kingdom froze.This moment—This was the end.Their power swelled, vast and violent.From all directions the distant onlookers—those who had kept their distance—felt their hearts lurch.The Holy Emperor had fallen.The great factions witnessing it didn’t even dare show their faces.“Kill!”“Kill that brat!”The Solar Kingdom’s elites were enraged.At once they broke into furious curses.In an instant, the crowd drowned in wrath.The strong of the Solar Kingdom were terrified.No one hesitated.All of them lunged to kill Dragon-Slayer and Anthony.“You really want to die together?”The next moment—Anthony struck once.A swath of top-tier experts exploded, their bodies smashed to pieces.Squelch!Some heads spun off into the air.Dead.The Holy Emperor had been killed.But they… were powerless.They could not keep fighting. If they did, the entire Solar Kingdom might be gro

Dragon-Slayer grunted, swallowed the pain in his seams, and rose into it, the sword-edge cutting a white arc.Beside them, Thirteen Smith muttered a curse. “Stupid kid.” The Holy Emperor only sneered, eyes full of scorn.Dragon-Slayer didn’t answer, his grip biting down. “Hnh. I’ll carve you up.”He fought with everything, every stroke meant to kill. Anthony watched, his gaze shifting—he seemed to read the intent, and held his tongue.Boom—the air rolled like a tide swallowing the field. The Holy Emperor’s rampage had passed understanding; each strike was huge and ruthless.A heartbeat later, the gale rose again. His offense poured like a rain-screen, fists and palms crossing, killing intent spearing the clouds. He was a hammer overfilled with thunderfire—blow after blow grinding down.Dragon-Slayer braced in a flash—swordlight fierce—meeting edge with edge.Boom! He staggered back several steps, heart pounding, a flicker of disbelief breaking through his eyes. Why? What in hell did h

Dragon-Slayer dropped lightly to the ground; a tap of the heel, dust settled. He raised his eyes to the figure standing high above, gaze cold, voice low but heavy enough to hold the field.Though his chest still heaved, he ground out each word: “I’m not afraid of you.”“Today, I’ll defeat you—and kill you.”“The Solar Kingdom will never be a match for Ardenia.”“Your warriors are garbage.”The Holy Emperor laughed softly, a rasp like a blade dragging over stone. “You’re sure? Sure you’re not afraid? Then today, I’ll cut you to pieces.”Dragon-Slayer stepped in instead of back, a short drive of the foot, his body tipping forward, killing intent sliding free like a naked edge. He lifted his head and met the sword-hard gaze above, unflinching.The cold in his eyes cut sharper than steel. “To me, you’re—nothing.”“Today, you die.”“I will kill you.”“You think that boy can really keep you safe?” His words fell like a war banner rammed into open ground, snapping in the gale. Wind licked hi

“Y-you—why are you this strong…”Anthony’s mouth pulled into a cold curve. “It’s not that I’m strong. It’s that you’re useless.”Before the last syllable faded, he surged upward, a raptor cutting through knives of wind and sleet, and stooped.Boom!Explosions flowered across the sky, force scattering like invisible hammers pounding the void. Killing intent poured down like a tangible blaze.He raised another fist. Before it even landed, the gale at its edge flayed the dust to air.Bang!The Holy Emperor’s chest was punched straight through. Blood burst like a flower. His armor shattered; a hideous hole tore open across his front. He was blasted backward, blood running in a steady ribbon from his lips, his eyes wide with a terror that couldn’t focus—grasping at reality’s edge and finding nothing.The rim of the armor writhed, trying to stitch itself—futile against the gaping wound.He lifted his gaze in disbelief, and for the first time, true fear flooded his eyes—the primal dread of t

He pulled a breath, dragging his sight back from the dark. He looked up into the Ardenian youth’s face—indifferent, eyes like a winter lake, unruffled.“Your strength isn’t bad,” Anthony said, mild, with a flat contempt folded into it. “Unfortunately for you, you’re facing me. Which makes everything you do useless.”He tipped his chin, the cold at his eye’s corner cutting sharper. “So this is the Solar Kingdom’s best? No more than this.”Contempt, complete and entire.“In all martial ways, speed breaks all.” He sheathed in one clean motion, his pace itself a declaration. The Holy Emperor was fast—unquestionably. But he was facing Anthony. That alone sealed his tragedy.In a handful of exchanges, Anthony had hammered the Holy Emperor’s confidence to splinters. He had never imagined the man before him could be this absurdly strong. Terror—there was no other word in the minds of those watching.To Anthony, it was nothing. His gaze stayed cold; his killing will drew tighter.The Holy Empe

The heaving air over the four quarters suddenly sank. A darkened silhouette dragged itself out of the heights of the sky, like a deeper thread of night within the night, easing toward them. It had no sound, no scent; even the grain of its aura felt sanded smooth—more secret than a ghost, like a frost-sheathed dagger settling wordlessly to the throat.A heartbeat later, a figure fell from the heights. He touched down without a sound, yet his presence tore the silence around him. It was a tyranny that needed no words; with just an inch of ground underfoot, hearts clenched.“Holy Emperor!!”“The Holy Emperor is here!”“Lord Holy Emperor, a god forever…”“Lord Holy Emperor, mighty and unyielding!”“We can kill these Ardenians now…”“We must kill them…”The boiling shouts surged like oil set alight, raising the temperature of every throat at once. The Holy Emperor revealed himself—a man in his middle years, features unassuming, but a severity honed to lethal stillness. When his gaze droppe