Magnus stood beside him, looking tense. "He possesses a determination no one else has. If we stop him now, he’ll lose his confidence. He must do this himself."Inside the hamlet, Gerry struggled to get back to his feet. He looked ahead, where an ancient stone altar stood, bathed in a dazzling purplishblue light. It was the energy core Aethelgard had promised. To reach it, he had to cross the bridge of souls, guarded by thousands of shadows.Gerry knew he couldn’t cross the bridge with physical strength alone. He had to use Authority Resonance. He closed his eyes, focusing his mind on the connection between himself and Obsidian Fang. He felt a new heartbeat in his gut, the source of power he had stolen from his own destiny."I am the owner of this legacy," he muttered. "I am the Sovereign of the Abyss."Suddenly, a pitchblack aura erupted from his body. The surrounding mist was swept away instantly. The shadows attacking him recoiled, as if they sensed an authority far greater than any

The Vesper system’s virtual scan flickered rapidly, casting searing red lines that cut through the silence of the ruined temple hall. Behind the cracked stone altar, the air suddenly shuddered violently. The sound of stone grinding against ancient metal pierced the ears, followed by a gust of cold wind carrying the scent of rust and blood dried for millennia."He’s coming," Magnus growled, hoisting his sword high, the muscles in his arms tensing until the veins stood out beneath his skin.Caelum squinted, staring intently at the thick shadows beginning to crawl from behind the altar. "Brace yourself, Gerry. The soul manifestation of Aethelgard will show no mercy. He is testing whether your bloodline is truly worthy of inheriting this legacy."Before Caelum’s words had fully faded, a towering shadow encased in golden armor erupted from the darkness. Its speed defied reason, slicing through the void with a whistling sound that created a massive shockwave. The golden armor radiated a col

Gerry stood before the swirling vortex of light. He wore a rough gray cloak to conceal his combat gear, while a thin leather mask lay ready in his hand, intended to mask his true identity the moment they set foot on the surface. Within his grip, he clutched the old Aethelgard map scroll, its surface emitting a chilling sensation that seeped into his palm."Gerry, everything is ready," Magnus called out from near the light vortex, also wearing a travel cloak to avoid unwanted attention. "This teleportation channel will take us directly to the outer forest on the border of the Azure clan’s territory. Stay close and don't be reckless."Gerry nodded slowly. He took a deep breath, savoring the cold air of the abyss one last time before stepping forward toward the destiny of his revenge. His eyes flashed with cold determination, ready to face anyone in the upper world who dared to stand between him and the healing of his meridians.Without a moment’s hesitation, Gerry stepped into the silve

The streets of AzureGate City pulsed with a noisy, intriguing rhythm. The acrid scent of medicinal herbs mingled with the sharp tang of wrought iron, filling the humid twilight air, churned up by the constant flow of cultivators from various factions wearing robes embroidered with their clan insignias. Amidst the throngs busy trading weapons and spiritual pills, Gerry walked with a calm stride. His gray hood was pulled low, while the thin leather mask on his face concealed a cold expression, ready to tear through anyone blocking his path.Magnus and Edgar flanked him on his left and right, acting like hired bodyguards, wary of every prying eye. They had just emerged from a hidden inn in the city’s western corner, where they had mapped out their first strategy to infiltrate AzureGate’s black market."This city is much more crowded than we anticipated," Magnus whispered, his eyes tracking a group of goldarmored cultivators from a rival faction passing by an openair tea stall. "The Sterl

Gerry tightly gripped the heavy, gold-plated V.I.P. ticket handed to him by Mr. Vane. The surface of the ticket felt cold against his palm, reflecting the dim light from the crystal lamps in the association head's office. Beside him, Magnus and Edgar nodded slowly, signaling that the exit route from the Dark Merchant Association building was secure."Use that ticket wisely, Mr. Vane," Gerry said in a deep voice modified by the Vesper System. "And make sure none of the rats from the Sterling clan learn that I was in this building."Mr. Vane bowed deeply, his back drenched in cold sweat. "You have nothing to worry about, sir. The security and confidentiality of our esteemed guests' identities are the highest laws of our association."Without wasting any more time, Gerry turned and walked out of the luxurious office. Together with Magnus and Edgar, he made his way through the underground passage that connected directly to the streets outside the commercial district. The night air of Azur