Ernesta's voice rang out again, irritation evident: "Benjamin, what's the matter with you? You nearly crushed my cousin hand! Do you realize that?"The color drained from Benjamin's face. But he quickly recovered, scratching his nose: "I apologize. I felt a sudden discomfort. Perhaps I overexerted myself in recent training."Though not entirely convinced by his own excuse, he directed a sheepish smile at both ladies, conveying his regret. Without another word, he retreated to his previously arranged room, securing the door behind him.Not immediately resuming his meditation, Benjamin cautiously surveyed his surroundings, ensuring no surveillance devices. Reassured, he seated himself, gaze fixed on the door.As expected, soft footsteps sounded outside. A gentle voice soon followed: "Are you there?"Recognizing Ernesta's cousin, Tryphena's voice, his heart raced. What did she want? And how come Ernesta seemed unaware of their whispered conversation earlier?Despite his apprehensions, Be
The electric charge detonated, causing a part of the ship to erupt in chaos. The guard, who had been standing steadfast beside Ernesta, was hurled against a wall and lay motionless.The scene sent shockwaves among the remaining protectors. Meanwhile, Ernesta's complexion grew pallid.Initially, when their ship collided with a merchant vessel, Ernesta sensed something amiss. But, the realization of the gravity of their situation hit her only when she saw these masked assailants, armed to the teeth, boarding their ship.Despite having numerous skilled bodyguards by her side, the sheer number and prowess of the adversaries overwhelmed them.In the atmospheric dim of the cruise liner, the ship's burly driver, once its strongest denizen, now found himself surrounded by three mysterious figures donning enigmatic purple masks. His fate remained unknown.Upon seeing a figure of such formidable power emerging from the enemy's side, Ernesta's heart was gripped by a palpable sense of dread, a ch
A sudden gust from behind startled Benjamin, causing him to whip around."Go! And safeguard the artifact!" Before Benjamin could grasp the situation, the voice of the elderly driver reached his ears. An unseen force propelled him, catapulting him hundreds of meters away.Crash!His head spun, pain coursed through his chest, and the salty sting of the sea filled his throat, making him cough violently. Yet, the voice of the old driver once more pierced his thoughts, not from the surroundings, but directly within his mind, leaving him even more startled."Stay safe, and perhaps one day, we may meet again, War God!" The voice faded, and chaos overtook his consciousness, leaving Benjamin grappling with the sudden onset of dizziness.Was it the aftereffects of the fierce battle, or the force with which the old man had repelled him? Benjamin wasn't certain. But one thought crystallized in his mind: "Damn you, old man. I hope we never cross paths again..."His consciousness slowly faded, and
"Benjamin, I understand your anger. But it's not entirely Caroline's fault. The man in black... he's possibly a grandmaster. Moreover, they haven't harmed your sister. I believe they will contact us soon."Not long after Ancel's words, hurried footsteps echoed from outside. A military officer with the rank of Colonel quickly entered the room."Ancel, higher-ups have just issued an order. You and the Dragon Guardians team are to cease all operations. Also, Benjamin, can we talk outside?"Benjamin recognized this Colonel. He was one of the instructors invited to train the reserve Dragon Guardians for a major operation in Flower.But seeing the Colonel's formal demeanor, Benjamin's brow furrowed. Without responding immediately, he scrutinized Ancel and Caroline. Seeing their silence, Benjamin sighed and swiftly moved outside."Young Benjamin, I understand your distress regarding your sister's abduction. But you're aware of our current situation. The appearance of a relic connected to pra
Before he could finish, a loud explosion came from behind the trees. The man's face contorted in anger: "You dare deceive me, luring me out to free your sister? Well played! Just wait for her corpse."With that, he rushed away. For a moment, the trio stood stunned."Boss...""Let’s go!"Without waiting for Venn and Noam's reactions, Benjamin darted forward. He was uncertain of the situation. Yet, judging by the man's reaction, the explosion seemed to be near where his sister was held. He couldn’t take chances, knowing the danger she might be in. Like a whirlwind, Benjamin dashed at full speed.Boom! Boom!Before he could get to the explosion's source, fierce fighting sounds echoed from a nearby location. Benjamin halted abruptly, feeling a surge of powerful force rushing towards him."Ha ha ha, where do you think you're escaping to? Hand over your life to me now! Ha ha ha!”Suddenly, a middle-aged man was seen rushing toward Benjamin from in front. His demeanor was utterly menacing an
"Ximena, has he left?"In an apartment within the Grumpy complex, a woman in a black dress sat poised on a sofa, her eyes filled with complexity as she stared out of the window. Turning her gaze, she softly addressed another young woman in blue jeans and a white round-neck t-shirt.Upon hearing Olivia's question, Ximena's expression became a tad evasive. Yet, after a brief pause, she nodded, murmuring: "Yes."A shadow of melancholy crossed Olivia's face upon hearing the answer. But soon, a resolute glint shone in her eyes: "Come, let's head to the capital."Taken aback by the proposal, Ximena blinked in surprise. Yet, after a brief moment, her lips curved into a smile: "Alright, I'll accompany you!"...In the clamor and bustle of the airplane's descent, Benjamin's footsteps gracefully met the tarmac of the airstrip. His eyes darted around, taking in the surrounding sights. Almost immediately, a familiar figure emerged before him, igniting a spark of a smile on his lips.However, befo
Larry, visibly torn, likely had already made up his mind. Still, a weight seemed to press upon his heart. After all, he had trained the Dragon Guardians from their youth. Sending them on such a perilous task seemed at odds with the very purpose of their formation. They weren't mercenaries, after all.Understanding Larry's reservations, Benjamin pressed on: "I understand your hesitation. But we are under immense pressure. The artifact has vanished. This could also serve as invaluable experience for your troops. They lack the fierceness of veterans.”Before Larry could respond, a loud shout interrupted from outside: "Commander, the general is here for an inspection!”Larry's expression shifted dramatically, while Benjamin appeared equally taken aback. What impeccable timing!“The General?!” Larry's eyes darted towards Benjamin briefly before he quickly stood, heading outside.Outside, an impressive convoy of military vehicles awaited. An entourage of fully-armed soldiers surrounded two
In the Capital's Cemetery, Benjamin sat before a humble, cemented grave with no identity. It paled in comparison to the majestic tombs nearby. Yet, Benjamin lingered, an offering of fruits and burning incense set before the grave."Why did you summon me here?" A voice from behind prompted Benjamin to turn.Unexpectedly, behind him stood Roy, the renowned disciple of old man Wade: "Sit." Benjamin motioned calmly."What business do you have with me?" Roy inquired, his brow furrowed in impatience.Benjamin gently pointed at the grave: "Do you know to whom this grave belongs?"Roy glanced suspiciously, a hint of confusion evident: "This." began Benjamin: "was thought to be my resting place years ago. They believed I had perished in battle and buried my clothes here as a token. Over the years, memory of the once-celebrated War God, who nearly fell on the battlefield, has faded."Without waiting for Roy's response, Benjamin, with a wry smile, produced a cigarette: "Do you smoke?"Seeing Roy
Benjamin, unbeknownst to him, was oblivious to the demonic prince's frenzy over the armor. He held in his hand a command token, under which lay a somewhat tragic corpse. However, a familiar energy emanated from the token, causing his brows to furrow deeply, for a voice resounded urgently within his mind."Chirp chirp!"Deep in thought, Benjamin was roused by Alan's voice. The creature, now the size of a sparrow, perched gracefully upon his shoulder.Recognizing the intention behind the creature's head rubbing against him, a tender smile graced Benjamin's lips: "You did wonderfully." he praised."Chirp chirp!"In response, Alan regurgitated an ancient ring which landed deftly in Benjamin's palm. As it touched his skin, the ring transformed into a golden glow, wrapping around his finger. It was the space ring Benjamin had discovered in the Dragon Palace. Although the spirit inside was dormant, its basic functions remained accessible.Earlier, Benjamin had entrusted this ring to Alan to
Instantly, his face became grave. Only now did he discern the fading form of Alan, with even the flames upon it having waned by more than half. Yet, what was most alarming was the emanating ominous aura from the Demon God's heart, causing Benjamin to jolt and hurriedly shout,"Elder!""Hm?!"Hearing Benjamin's call, an ethereal figure suddenly appeared outside the central region of the altar. Its gaze locked onto the sealed space above the altar."Ha ha ha, foolish humans, my true form is almost here. Once it arrives, I'll reduce the both of you to mere ashes!"Sensing the familiar aura steadily nearing the altar, the Demon God's heart laughed triumphantly.However, a languid voice suddenly intervened,"Quiet!"Following which, an overpowering force, emanating from Benjamin, suddenly descended, shattering the very core of the heart."AHH!"A scream echoed from within. Simultaneously, an ethereal figure, eyes filled with disbelief, turned towards the altar."What is this force?!"Feeli
Boom!Boom!Several blows in succession, and Benjamin had lost track of time. But at this moment, cracks began to appear on the wall before him. They spread and widened until finally, with a full-force punch, the wall collapsed. A vast space revealed itself, stretching out before his eyes.Here, Benjamin beheld a huge sacrificial altar, filling almost the entire space. Above the altar hung a heart. Though he could not ascertain from what creature it was taken, its appearance allowed him to sense an incredibly evil energy, pervading the entire space.Moreover, this evil energy made his mind reel slightly. Were it not for his strong will, Benjamin feared he would have been bewitched by the heart.Instantly, his face marked with caution, he retreated a few steps."This is truly bizarre? How could such an altar appear here?"But just then, stepping back some twenty meters, a sound of great astonishment suddenly came from behind him.Startled, Benjamin quickly turned to see the people who
A few minutes later, a middle-aged man with blonde hair and glasses, holding a laptop, arrived looking somewhat harried and sleep-deprived. He looked toward Red, placed his hand over his chest, and rapidly spoke.“Prince Red, why have you summoned me here? My research is on the brink of completion, needing only one final step. If there's nothing urgent, I would like to return and continue with my work.”After speaking, the middle-aged man seemed incredibly impatient, ready to turn and leave.Seeing this, Red felt slightly annoyed but did not show anger. Instead, his face bore a placating expression, and he hastily replied.“Mr. Steven, I genuinely have a very important matter that requires your assistance. Agat and Orange are in trouble in New Braum, and I want you to go there and bring them back. What do you think?”Red's attitude was extremely humble, a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance and pride.However, Steven seemed not to care, his eyes sweeping the control room in a glan
However, Steven seemed uninterested, his eyes sweeping the control room before he spoke, a little annoyed.“Your Highness Red, such a trivial matter, and you call me here? If you feel overly bored, I can help you with some training time. Within the next twenty-four hours, I assure you that the time spent will not be wasted at all!”Hearing this, Red's eyes showed a hint of fear.Although the man was just a human, his strength was not particularly great. However, Steven's status in the kingdom was very special. He was a scholar, and his creativity was terrifying.Hundreds of years ago, when the kingdom of Autuman was just a small tribe on the planet Namec, their king, then a young man, luckily rescued a human, and this human was the middle-aged man before him, Steven.Harnessing the terrifying breadth of Steven's intellect, in less than a decade, Autuman evolved from a minor tribe, nestled in the wilderness of planet Namec, into a mighty empire. They conquered the entirety of Namec, an
Boom!Boom!Boom!Blood painted the sky, and countless pieces of metal debris littered the ground.A smirk formed on Benjamin's lips. He hadn't expected that after such a long slumber, its power had grown so immense.However, the sight of the scattered armor shards pained him.Such high-quality armor pieces, capable of enhancing a warrior's strength and providing incredible defense, were now in ruins. For someone of Benjamin's caliber, these armors might not pose much challenge, but if equipped by his soldiers, they would have been invaluable assets, exponentially amplifying their combat prowess.Although he felt a twinge of regret, Benjamin didn't blame Alan. Instead, he commended him."Alan, you did splendidly!""Chirp, chirp!"As Benjamin's praise graced his ears, a rush of exhilaration surged through Alan. In mere moments, his form swiftly contracted, taking on the delicate guise of a sparrow, which alighted on Benjamin's shoulder, its chirps melodious and relentless.Witnessing s
"Ha ha ha, I was merely jesting with you." he laughed with ease, his eyes dancing mischievously: "No need to take it so seriously. Anyway, feel free to examine it. It's now mine, and even if you wish, you cannot claim it."With a boisterous laugh, Benjamin, brimming with amusement, effortlessly tossed a ring towards her.Catching a glimpse of his action, a pang of surprise coursed through Fidelma. Still, she reached out, catching the item.Holding the ornate ring in her hand, she felt a strange force emanating from within. The intricate designs adorning it suggested an ancient aura. Fidelma could confidently deduce that this was a space treasure. Its grade was undoubtedly high, surpassing any artifact she had previously encountered in the annals or in the treasury of the Moonlight Religious Sect."Done examining?" His voice hinted at impatience: "If so, kindly return it."Watching Fidelma cradle the ring, almost reluctant to release it, a twitch of amusement played on Benjamin's lips.
Now, even though its headpiece had been severed, it was still far more complete than the other armors.Without hesitation, he approached, with a mere thought, his storage ring's light flared. The entire armor, along with the leader's corpse, was drawn into it.He then surveyed the surroundings once more, detecting no anomalies. Benjamin then proceeded towards Dermot's wooden house atop the hill."Boss, you're not hurt, are you?" asked Azaria, eyeing Benjamin's bloodstained appearance with a hint of concern.Benjamin glanced at him and shook his head."I'm fine; go rest. Tonight, there may be more to do. I'll handle it myself." he said, continuing straight to Dermot's bedroom.Upon seeing Benjamin's bloodied state, Irina suddenly rushed over, her face filled with alarm. She hastily grabbed his hand, her expression fraught with concern."You...you're alright?" she stammered.Seeing her worry, Benjamin merely shook his head without verbally responding. Meanwhile, Dermot emerged from the
Although puzzled, Benjamin refrained from questioning her outright. Instead, his gaze swept the room. Aside from scattered clothing and discarded food on the floor, nothing seemed amiss. It was logical. After all, someone fleeing in a hurry wouldn't leave traces behind."Where did the woman who was in your room go?" he inquired, his sudden question startling Irina, making her let out a soft gasp.At her reaction, Benjamin's eyebrows furrowed, his gaze growing wary: "What did you ask?" she stammered, fear evident in her voice.Reiterating his query but with more firmness, he watched as Irina visibly shrank back, finally murmuring: "She...she said she had something to do and left. Can...can you not look at me like that? I'm truly scared."Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke, every word dripping with fear. Benjamin felt a pang of confusion but, before he could react, she threw herself at him, gripping him tightly: "Please don't go. I'm truly terrified. This place... I can't bear to