Chapter: Chapter 407The ocean changed color before it changed shape. At first it was only a shadow beneath the waves, a wide dark stain spreading outward like spilled ink. Fishermen saw it from their boats and turned back in fear. Coastal sensors began to scream seconds later. Sirens followed. Then the water itself began to rise.Rifts opened beneath the sea. They did not tear the sky like before. They bloomed silently under the waves, vast and deep, pulling light and heat into themselves. The ocean boiled. Steam rolled toward the shore in thick white walls. Ships anchored in the harbor strained against their chains as if something massive was breathing below them.Meridian’s coastal alarms wailed without pause. Oliver was already moving when the first alert hit his System.“Multiple anomalies confirmed,” the System said, voice clipped and cold. “Classification updated. Rift Network: Active.”He did not wait for orders. The war spire’s command deck filled with motion. Officers shouted coordinates. Holo
Last Updated: 2025-12-25
Chapter: Chapter 406The city did not sleep after the pulse. Meridian stayed awake through the long night. Lights burned brighter than usual, white and harsh. Patrol drones moved in slow circles above the streets. Guards stood at corners with hands on weapons. People stayed in doorways and windows, watching the sky, waiting for something to happen again.The citadel felt different now. It was not broken. It felt watched.Deep inside the citadel, Oliver stood alone in a narrow strategy room. The walls were plain steel. The floor hummed softly with hidden power lines. A single table stood in the center, empty and cold.The door opened. Commander Rhoen stepped inside and closed it himself. He raised one hand and pressed it against the wall. A private ward sealed the room with a low tone. The hum beneath the floor faded, as if whatever listened outside no longer cared.Rhoen did not sit. He walked to the table and placed a small data crystal on its surface. The crystal glowed faintly, pale blue. He pushed i
Last Updated: 2025-12-24
Chapter: Chapter 405The Traveler Citadel should have felt safe. From the outside, it still looked like a monument to survival. Its towers rose clean and bright above Meridian, layered with fresh barrier runes and glowing lines of restored mana conduits. Flags of the Traveler Guild moved gently in the wind, and people walked the streets again without looking at the sky every few seconds.But Oliver felt it the moment he woke. The floor beneath his boots vibrated, not enough to shake dust loose, but enough to feel like a slow heartbeat that did not belong to the city.The sensation crawled up his legs and settled in his chest. His Reality Aegis responded on its own, a faint warmth spreading under his skin, like something listening.He stopped walking in the corridor. Around him, other Travelers moved as normal. They laughed softly, spoke about patrol schedules, complained about paperwork. None of them noticed the hum. None of them paused.Oliver pressed his palm to the wall. The stone felt warm. Not sun-w
Last Updated: 2025-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 404Morning came to Meridian with a strange calm. The city had survived war, rifts, fire, and fear, yet today the streets were clean. Banners hung from towers rebuilt with fresh stone and shining metal. The air hummed softly with barrier fields, steady and patient, like a held breath.People gathered early. They filled plazas, rooftops, and wide bridges that crossed the inner canals. Some wore guild colors. Some wore patched coats and carried memories instead of medals. Children sat on shoulders. Elders leaned on rails. All of them looked toward the citadel.The Hall of Accord stood at its heart, wide and circular, open to the sky. Golden light traced the floor in slow moving patterns, each line shaped like a promise that could not be taken back.Oliver Beckett stood at the edge of the hall with the other survivors. There were fewer than thirty.Once, hundreds had entered the exams. Now, only these remained. Oliver felt the weight of that truth press against his ribs.Iris stood beside hi
Last Updated: 2025-12-23
Chapter: Chapter 403The teleport came without warning. One breath, Oliver stood beneath the arena lights. The next, cold air rushed into his lungs.He staggered forward and caught himself as grass brushed his boots. Blue light stretched across the sky, not bright like the arena, but deep and wide, like a living ocean turned upside down.They were in the Azure Expanse. The System spoke once, clear and final.[Phase Two: Survival Gauntlet Initiated.][Objective: Survive seven days. Retrieve one Rift Core.][Failure Condition: Death or Extraction.]The message vanished. Silence followed. Wind moved through tall grass that shimmered faintly, each blade glowing with soft mana veins. Trees rose in clusters, their leaves shaped like glass petals. Far away, mountains floated slightly above the ground, anchored by threads of light.The world felt alive. And dangerous. Iris stood beside Oliver, eyes wide but steady. Billy appeared a few steps away, already scanning the horizon, hand near his gear.Around them, ot
Last Updated: 2025-12-22
Chapter: Chapter 402Morning light moved slowly over the rebuilt arena. It touched stone and steel like water rising over a shore. The stands filled early. People came in waves. Some spoke in low voices. Some laughed too loud. Some sat in silence, hands locked together.Banners hung high and moved with the air. Their colors shone under the pale sky seal above the arena. The seal curved like glass, hiding the true world beyond.Today was not a lesson. Today was the combat phase. Today, the System would not ask what they knew.It would ask what they could face. It would ask who could stand when fear pressed close and the body wanted to fall.Oliver Beckett stood at the edge of the arena floor. He did not stand with the other candidates. He stood alone.At the center of the arena, a wide circular platform rose from the ground. It was smooth and white. Thin lines crossed its surface. Those lines pulsed with a soft light, slow and steady, like a quiet heartbeat.The standard-bearer platform. When Oliver stepp
Last Updated: 2025-12-21
Chapter: Chapter 221The university admissions agents started arguing loudly.Draken stood there watching them fight over which of them would win him over to attend their school but deep inside, he was not interested.Draken had other ambitions. He didn’t want to take the normal journey anymore, as he had been through things none of them could bear.The homeroom teacher noticed and hurried over. "Draken, hurry and choose which school you want to attend!"The admissions agents quieted down and turned to Draken.Draken replied calmly, "Thank you for your offers, but I want to try to create my own academy into the top-ranked space for talents."Everyone fell silent.Draken had thought about this for a while and knew it was his goal. With his talent and strength, he felt he should aim for the best school in the country.The other admissions agents quickly tried to change his mind."Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?""Berserk College didn’t even send anyone to invite you. They don’t seem serious.""Th
Last Updated: 2024-08-16
Chapter: Chapter 220When Gaffa announced Draken as first place, the entire room fell silent.Everyone thought they misheard, but recalling Draken’s performance, they realized it made sense.Class Two students cheered collectively.“Draken is amazing!”“He’s the pride of F-level talent!”“Number one in the entire state! Draken made a miracle happen!”The students in other classes had mixed emotions. They didn’t feel great knowing the top student was from another class.“Prepare for the second stage of the exam, now we will have a halftime break,” Gaffa said.The mages began to rest as they stopped their formations. The students returned to their classrooms to rest.Draken also went back to his class to rest. Many people approached him, curious about his strength improvement.“Draken, how did you get so strong?”“Yeah, how can an F-level talent improve so quickly? Any tips for us?”“I understand Draken comes from a low-income family and can’t afford good equipment and potions. He’s extraordinary to have im
Last Updated: 2024-08-09
Chapter: Chapter 219Draken turned to Lord Luke and said, “The exam rules require me to accept the first two matches. If I win, I can choose whether to accept the next match.”“I also have the right to pick my opponent.”Lord Luke frowned and asked, “Are you saying you’re rejecting my challenge? Are you a coward?”Draken glanced at the black horse behind Luke. Using his Eye of Truth, he saw the horse’s stats.Night Spirit HorseAttack: 40Speed: 700Health: 930Mana: 100Defense: 200 The horse’s speed and health were impressive. Draken thought having this horse would make his travels easier. Although cars existed in this world, rare mounts like this were more valuable.Draken decided it would be great to have this horse. “Lord Luke, if you want to fight me, you must place a bet.”“If I win, I get your horse!”Luke clenched his teeth. The horse was his prized possession. How did it quit just like that? But he thought beating an F-level talent would be easy, so he agreed.“No problem, but what if you lose?
Last Updated: 2024-08-07
Chapter: Chapter 218Draken activated his Split Claw skill, and in an instant, he destroyed all the vampire bats flying towards him!Everyone watching was shocked.“What just happened? Did he really kill all those bats in a split second?”“This doesn’t seem like F-level strength.”“These bats are Lord Nazzy’s strongest attack, and Draken just blew right through them!”Even Lord Nazzy himself was stunned. He knew how powerful his vampire bats were, and normal attacks wouldn’t usually harm them much.Lord Nazzy glanced at Draken and started to rethink Draken’s power. Seeing Draken’s sharp claws made him nervous. He realized he might not be able to beat Draken.Draken, not wanting to waste time, charged at Lord Nazzy. Seeing Draken rush at him, Lord Nazzy tried to run away, but Draken was too fast. In the blink of an eye, Draken was right in front of him.“Damn it. He’s too quick!” Lord Nazzy shouted in shock.“Didn’t you say you found me a grave?” Draken asked coldly. “You’re the one who’s dead!”Draken sa
Last Updated: 2024-08-06
Chapter: Chapter 217Akpi was shocked by Draken’s words.He quickly backed away, trying to put some distance between them.“Why aren’t my attacks working?” Akpi wondered aloud.After thinking for a moment, he reassured himself, “You must have focused all your training on defense. That has to be it. Your attack, speed, and health must be much weaker than mine.”Confident once again, Akpi decided he could break through Draken’s defenses with his speed over time.Just then, Draken’s figure flickered and vanished!In a flash, Draken reappeared right in front of Akpi.Akpi’s eyes widened in disbelief. Draken’s speed was faster than his!Draken raised his right hand, which transformed into a powerful dragon claw. His muscles expanded, scales emerged, and five sharp claws gleamed menacingly.Akpi was stunned. How could such a fierce-looking dragon claw be considered the weakest F-level talent?Swallowing hard, Akpi stammered, “Bro, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things…”Draken remained calm. “I told you
Last Updated: 2024-08-05
Chapter: Chapter 216Gaffa stood in the center of the formation and shouted, “Start now! Find your opponents! You have one minute!”Immediately, more than half of the male students in Class Two locked their eyes on Draken and moved toward him.One student rushed forward and yelled, “Draken! Let me be your opponent!”This made the others panic. They all wanted to face Draken and didn't expect someone to cut in line.“Draken, come and fight me. I’ll be gentle!”“Draken, we used to be friends. Let me have this opportunity!”“Grant me this opportunity, and I’ll make it up to you!”The scene was chaotic as everyone rushed toward Draken. He gave a faint smile, finding it ironic how they had just comforted him in class. Their hypocrisy was now clear.A quick-footed student reached Draken first. “I’m the first here. I’m Draken’s opponent. The rest of you are too late!” he announced proudly, thinking his ranking would improve easily.The others stopped, filled with regret.“This guy sure runs fast!”“I missed it.
Last Updated: 2024-08-02
Chapter: Chapter 128The broken earth still smoked from the last clash, and the cries of the wounded hung faint in the air. Yet no one moved. No one breathed. Every soldier, every priest, every king, all stared at the figure of black fire that had stepped from the east.It was not whole. It was not finished. Yet it stood tall, crowned in flame, its body shifting like smoke made flesh.And when it spoke, the world shivered. “You cannot kill what is not finished.”The words slid into every ear like knives. Men cried out, clutching their heads. Some dropped their swords, stumbling back. Others turned and ran, their screams tearing across the field.The kings shouted, their voices desperate. “Hold the line!” “Stand, you fools!” But their words carried no weight. Fear moved faster than command.Priests fell to their knees, chanting broken prayers. Some wept, some tore at their robes, others stared at the shadow with glassy eyes, whispering, “It is the end. It is the end.”The line buckled. The army was breaki
Last Updated: 2025-12-02
Chapter: Chapter 127The drums did not stop. All through the night, they beat. Slow, heavy, endless. Each sound rolled across the valley like thunder, rattling armor, shaking bones.When dawn broke, the horizon burned black. The sky glowed as if it had been cut open, spilling fire darker than coal. From that fire, shapes began to march.The shadow host.Soldiers rose from their blankets, their eyes hollow with no sleep. They gripped spears and swords with trembling hands. Some prayed aloud, whispering the names of gods. Others kissed small tokens, rings, cloth, bits of home, before fastening armor with pale fingers.The kings argued even now.King Alaric shouted hoarse. “We cannot face this! Pull the banners back! Save the men while we can!”Queen Seraya snarled at him. “If we run, we are already dead. Do you not see? The shadow will chase us to the ends of the world!”Lord Brennar struck the table with his scarred fist. “Enough! The men need leaders, not cowards. If you flee, then flee. But I will stand.
Last Updated: 2025-12-02
Chapter: Chapter 126The march east did not grow easier. Each day the air grew heavier, darker, as if the very sky bent low with dread. The land was sick beneath their feet. Ash drifted over fields where no fire had been. The rivers they crossed ran black, thick as oil, and the priests whispered that the water carried curses.Soldiers grew silent. At first, they marched with songs and cheers. Now they moved with bowed heads, their boots dragging, their voices hushed. Every sound felt swallowed by the land itself.On the seventh day, they found a village burned to nothing. But unlike the others, this one held no corpses on the ground. Instead, the air carried whispers. Faint, chilling voices rose from the ashes, as if the dead still begged for water, for mercy, for life.The soldiers froze. Some clutched their ears, others fell to their knees. A priest cried out, “The shadow binds their souls! This is Vazquez’s work!”Mason stood in the center of the ruin, silent, his silver eyes scanning the ash. His s
Last Updated: 2025-09-28
Chapter: Chapter 125The messenger’s words still hung in the tent like smoke. “The east burns. Vazquez’s remnants gather. The shadow is not dead.”No one moved. The kings sat frozen, their crowns heavy on their heads, their eyes wide and pale. The generals stared at the messenger as though the words themselves were poison.It was Queen Seraya who spoke first. Her voice was low, sharp as a knife. “Then all our arguments mean nothing. If the shadow marches, none of us can stand alone.”King Alaric snarled, his hand clenching the table. “And you would put us all under him?” He jerked his chin toward the camp outside. “That… creature who walks in fire?”“Creature or not,” said Lord Brennar, his scarred hands steady, “he is the only one the men will follow now. You know it. I know it. Deny it if you wish, but the fire has already crowned him.”The tent erupted again. Voices clashed, curses flew, pride and fear filled the air like smoke, then the flap opened, and Mason entered.He did not storm in. He did not s
Last Updated: 2025-09-28
Chapter: Chapter 124The fire shuddered. The great column of flame, tall as a tower, trembled as though it would tear itself apart. Sparks burst in every direction. The heartbeat thundered, faster, stronger, rattling armor and splitting stone.Men screamed. Women wept. Some fell to their knees, pressing their foreheads into the ash. Others stumbled back, hands over their faces, crying that the fire would consume them all.The priests raised their arms higher, their voices shrill. “The Saint is here!” they shouted. “The Flame Eternal rises!”But even their cries cracked with fear, for the fire shook like a living beast ready to break free.The column of fire began to fold inward.At first it sank slowly, as if collapsing under its own weight. Sparks spiraled down, drifting like burning snow. The glow dimmed to gold, then to red, the edges shrinking smaller and smaller.A whisper spread through the crowd. “It’s fading. It’s over. He’s gone again.”Some soldiers sobbed in despair. Others sagged in relief, b
Last Updated: 2025-09-27
Chapter: Chapter 123The altar was gone. In its place stood fire. A column of flame towered from the earth, white at its heart, gold at its edges, sparks falling like embers of a forge. The light blinded the valley, brighter than sun, searing the eyes of all who looked upon it. Heat washed over the battlefield, heavy and suffocating.The heartbeat shook the ground again. Once. Twice. Steady, louder, stronger. Men fell to their knees, some in awe, others in terror. Priests shrieked and wept. Kings shielded their faces with their cloaks. Soldiers cried out to gods old and new. The flame pulsed. Shadows leapt and twisted across the broken stones. For an instant, shapes seemed to move inside the fire. One priest cried out, his eyes wide and wet. “I see him! The Saint walks with wings of fire!” He tore at his robe, beating his chest with bloody fists. “Bow! Bow before the Flame Eternal!”Another priest laughed, wild and broken. “No! Look! A crown of light rests upon his brow. He is the king of fire, ruler o
Last Updated: 2025-09-26
