However, Olivia's voice then softly reached him: "Benjamin, this is my stepfather. He lives with my mother and they have a daughter together. I was separated from my family and grew up in an orphanage for over a decade. Somehow, he found out my contact recently. But given his gambling habits and tendency to abuse alcohol and physically harm his family, I've distanced myself. He sought me out today, apparently his daughter, my stepsister, is gravely ill and needs funds for hospital care. So..."As if dreading that Benjamin might misconstrue something, Olivia urgently spoke up in her defense. At that moment, comprehension finally dawned on Benjamin's face, and he swiftly raised a hand to stop her."Alright, you needn't explain any further. If you wish to return to see your sister and mother, go ahead. But take care. I've been preoccupied lately and may not be able to accompany you." he cautioned.Hearing Benjamin's tender words, a hint of sweetness washed over Olivia, prompting her to s
As Caroline witnessed Ancel ensnared by the creature, a fierce resolve ignited within her. Swiftly pulling a sharp whip from her side, she faced the towering monster and roared: "Perish!"In Caroline's grip, the whip came alive, like a serpent's head, and with masterful precision, she struck it upon the monster's crown. Boom!Despite the whip's blinding speed, the giant creature could only hastily retract its head, reminiscent of a turtle seeking the safety of its shell. But Caroline had channelled her internal energy into the whip's strike, making its power immense; such that even a massive boulder might have been shattered upon impact. Yet, aside from a slight mark on its carapace, the monster seemed unharmed. Instead, its eyes ignited with fiery rage, and a low growl emanated from its throat. Simultaneously, its serpentine tail, seemingly out of nowhere, swung menacingly towards Caroline.Crash!Forewarned, Caroline narrowly evaded, and the tail's fury was spent on a nearby boulder
A cold smirk tugged at Benjamin's lips. As he had anticipated, the lizard was feigning death, intending to bait him closer for a stealthy strike. Such petty tricks would hardly deceive a seasoned warrior like Benjamin. Even if he hadn't faced such a creature before, Benjamin always held a principle close to his heart: never underestimate an adversary. Always be prepared, vigilant against sudden ambushes. That's why, despite sensing the lizard's weakening aura, he hadn't ventured close.Now, as the lizard's tongue shot towards him, without hesitation, Benjamin unleashed a fierce stream of azure flames from his hand. While this fire didn't morph into a phoenix, its heat was no less intense, causing the surrounding air to sizzle and pop alarmingly.Due to its rapid speed, coupled with the lizard's simultaneous strike, the flames from Benjamin's palm collided directly with its tongue.Hiss!Struck by the fierce flames, the lizard let out a pained shriek. Seizing the moment of distraction,
His heart was a whirlpool of complex emotions, yet Benjamin's actions showed no intent of halting. A soft muttering sound escaped his lips: "If you wish to use this power to divide, then allow me to assist."Without hesitation, Benjamin launched himself once more, directing a swift blade strike toward the original body of the Terrestrial Dragon. In his perspective, if this splitting power weakened the Terrestrial Dragon, he aimed to exploit this vulnerability, decisively severing its body into numerous segments. Only then could he significantly diminish the Terrestrial Dragon's might, rendering it manageable for his remaining troops.However, theory and reality were worlds apart. Just as Benjamin made his move, both Terrestrial Dragons simultaneously emitted a deafening roar. A throbbing pain engulfed his head, reminiscent of two hammers striking simultaneously, leaving Benjamin slightly disoriented.At that very moment, the two Terrestrial Dragons lunged, revealing their cavernous ma
Such an assault caught Benjamin utterly off guard; he had not anticipated these Terrestrial Dragons to pursue him so tenaciously, exploiting an opportune moment to strike. Yet, his face displayed no hint of panic. On the contrary, his eyes were aflame with defiance. With rapid motions, he targeted the very jaws of these relentless Terrestrial Dragons.Boom! Boom!Benjamin's strikes were swift, not allowing the dragons a moment to react. His punches were precise, landing squarely on their bodies.One after another, thunderous roars resonated as Benjamin's punches, each infused with immense power, met their mark. Though these Terrestrial Dragons were well-armored and possessed razor-sharp teeth, before Benjamin's mighty fists, they seemed as fragile as paper, effortlessly shattered by his blows.Roar! Roar!Successive anguished roars sounded as one by one, the Terrestrial Dragons were sent flying, crashing onto the ground, their maws oozing a noxious fluid that scorched the earth, relea
Despite their injuries and exhaustion, the soldiers demonstrated impressive efficiency in setting up the camp. In under ten minutes, more than a dozen tents stood neatly in formation. Benjamin, observing this from a distance, expressed his approval with a slight nod. After briefing his subordinates, he swiftly took his leave, eager to assess the surroundings. Initially, when they heard of Benjamin's solo scouting mission, both Venn and another junior commander vehemently objected, wanting to accompany him. However, Benjamin firmly declined. For, he reasoned, based on their capabilities, should they face peril, he'd likely have to rescue them. Plus, Benjamin had another motive for his solo expedition. Of course, he didn’t share this with anyone. It wasn’t a matter of trust but rather the significance of his personal mission. Besides, he was still unsure if what he sought even existed here. Thus, after some contemplation, he decided to personally investigate. If he acquired what he s
Upon glimpsing the phoenix on Benjamin's hand, a flicker of surprise flashed in Dragon Doctrine's eyes. But it was momentary, and soon the creature regained its composure. Even though it had suffered significantly from the celestial event, the Dragon Doctrine was still brimming with confidence about easily vanquishing the human before it. But before it could revel in its superiority, the phoenix in Benjamin's hand transformed into a beam of light, shooting straight at the approaching whirlwind. As it did so, an ear-piercing cry resonated. BOOM! BOOM! Immediately, the phoenix and the whirlwind collided, resulting in an explosive clash. Yet, the whirlwind couldn't withstand the phoenix's fiery might and was swiftly dispersed. The phoenix, in all its blazing glory, shot towards the Dragon Doctrine. Witnessing this scene, disbelief clouded Dragon Doctrine’s eyes, and its roar was filled with sheer indignation. "How can this be?" it thundered. Yet, barely moments after its outcry of
Despite having consumed it, an insatiable craving lingered in his mouth. With slight hesitation, Benjamin once again reached for another fruit, surrendering to its delicious call.Thus, in a state of trance, three Thousand-Year Fruits met their end. The once turbulent spiritual energy inside Benjamin began to simmer down. Upon consuming the fourth, it appeared to have halted entirely, with Benjamin's body showing no signs of reaction.Suddenly, Benjamin's movements ceased, and an electric jolt surged from within him. An immense force erupted, causing the very air around him to quake with intensity.After what seemed like an eternity, Benjamin stood up, feeling an augmented vitality, easily multiple times stronger than before. He felt so powerful that a mere punch might have the strength to vanquish a formidable beast.Of course, this might have been an illusion, a side effect of consuming such a potent fruit. Even so, his newfound strength hadn't yet transcended his current level, lea