Axel

Chapter 537: Annie's Advancement Schedule

Added 2025-07-01 15:07:01 +0000 UTC

Charlot hadn’t expected yet another challenger from the New Continent Council to step forward. Activating the Eye of Insight, he scanned the cold and elegant beauty before him. Her strength was right at the limit of his challenge level—Saint Rank, Tier 22.

Charlot thought to himself, "Why do these New Continent Council people assume I’m obligated to duel them one-on-one?"

His intent was to make contact with the Council’s new leadership and discern their plans. He had no love for dueling.

With a casual whistle, Charlot summoned Gareth Mecklenburg. The great Gareth soared into the sky, intercepting the fourth councilor of the New Continent Council, Abelia.

Gareth wasted no movements. Spreading his fingers wide, he reached out to grab Abelia's chest. Since switching to the Blood Butcher path, every muscle in Gareth’s body had been tempered like steel, rivaling any Saint Rank extraordinary artifact. Moreover, having secretly consumed several of Emilia Mecklenburg’s “little snacks,” he was now infinitely close to Tier 24. This grab was ferocious, forcing Abelia, one of the top experts of the New Continent, to arch her body like a startled cat and retreat several hundred meters.

In the skies, the two exchanged only a few moves. Seven flaming hands emerged behind Abelia, struggling to block Gareth. She used the Swiftstep Technique with all her might, fleeing back to Arcadia Port.

The cold and elegant beauty, who moments ago was radiating allure, now had sweat streaming down her face. The rapid exchange had lasted mere moments, but if her reactions had been any slower, she might have perished on the battlefield.

Gareth’s strikes were ruthless and overwhelming, relying on sheer rank to suppress the fourth councilor.

Romeos, watching from afar, wore a peculiar expression. He had intended to step in and assist, but before he could make a move, Abelia had already been forced to retreat.

The New Continent Council leaders began to understand why Avish, Mocher, and Monteblanc had suffered such crushing defeats at Black Phoenix City. Mocher had defected, Monteblanc had fallen, and now it was clear that Charlot Mecklenburg’s strength was terrifying. His subordinates alone were formidable enough to nearly kill one of the New Continent’s top experts.

Romeos chose not to personally intervene. With a wave of his hand, a black curtain descended, enveloping Arcadia Port.

Charlot observed for a moment from the high skies before returning to the Radiant Holy Kingdom, where his commanders had already gathered. Despite the wartime conditions, even without indulging in luxuries, simply being aboard the Radiant Holy Kingdom was a delight, uplifting their spirits.

Charlot didn’t convene a war council. Under these circumstances, strategy held little value. To take Arcadia Port, he would either have to wait for land-based reinforcements or continue to stalemate the New Continent Council’s fleet at sea.

Returning to his cabin, Charlot found Princess Annie Mecklenburg already waiting for him. With a faint smile, he said, "Don’t worry about me. I won’t take unnecessary risks."

Annie clenched her small fists, replying, "I just hate that I can’t help you."

"My cultivation is far too slow."

She was deeply frustrated, wishing she could contribute more to Charlot’s efforts.

Charlot comforted her with a few kind words before remembering something. Smiling, he said, "If my Annie wants to train, I have some unique items from the Aggras Sea that might help."

He retrieved several dozen Fragments of Divinity, handing them to Annie. "These are Fragments of Divinity! They can enhance the quality of cultivation."

At the sight of the shimmering objects, Grandma Saint Karen, who was always by Annie’s side, lost her composure for the first time. "Mr. Mecklenburg! Are these truly Fragments of Divinity?" she exclaimed.

"Where did you acquire such precious items?"

Charlot replied, "From a labyrinth in the Aggras Sea. The New Continent people call it the Evil God’s Arena. I found quite a few of these there, but I have no use for them."

Charlot had tested them himself, but their effects on his cultivation were negligible. Unlike Zimourman Axel Robin, he hadn’t experienced a dramatic breakthrough. However, they were more than sufficient to delight Annie.

Grandma Saint Karen gasped, "How could you not need them? These can elevate someone’s extraordinary rank!"

Charlot had intended to respond that their effect on extraordinary abilities wasn’t impressive, but seeing Grandma Saint Karen’s astonishment, he instead asked, "Are these rare on the Old Continent?"

Hand to her chest, Grandma Saint Karen replied, "This small pile of Fragments of Divinity would suffice as a dowry for proposing to the Emperor himself without seeming paltry."

Charlot was startled. "They’re that valuable?"

Grandma Saint Karen explained in a low voice, "With the proper secret techniques, just two or three of these can raise a person by one rank, effective all the way to Saint Rank! Do you think they’re precious?"

"Even after Saint Rank, they still work, though the required quantity increases significantly."

Finally grasping their worth, Charlot thought, "So these are the Western fantasy equivalent of cultivation pills that grant decades of inner power."

"But what are these so-called secret techniques? Could they really improve efficiency? Zimourman needed dozens for a breakthrough. Could he not have known? Then again, with his memory wiped by the Emerald Secret Scroll, it’s possible he simply forgot."

Charlot didn’t hide his thoughts and asked, "What happens without the corresponding secret techniques?"

Grandma Saint Karen smiled. "In that case, their effectiveness is diminished dozens of times. However, the energy contained within doesn’t dissipate—it accumulates in the body. If not properly digested, it’s like a powder keg that could explode at any moment."

Charlot now felt certain that Zimourman had squandered the fragments due to ignorance.

Hearing Grandma Saint Karen’s explanation, Annie grew slightly excited. "Grandma Saint Karen, do you know the secret techniques for digesting these fragments?"

Grandma Saint Karen laughed. "I do, but I’ve never seen a Fragment of Divinity before today."

She then shared the techniques with Annie, without hiding them from Charlot. After hearing the method, Annie stored a small portion of the fragments and returned the rest to Charlot, saying, "You need them more than I do!"

Charlot shook his head. "I don’t need to increase my strength for now."

"I need to consolidate my foundation!"

"This journey has been too intense. In my pursuit of power, I’ve pushed myself too hard. My body can’t take much more."

Annie’s eyes glowed with deep affection. Charlot, of course, wasn’t foolish enough to admit that he had far more fragments stashed away. Back in the Evil God’s Arena, he had discreetly hoarded a significant amount, especially after Zimourman’s forced withdrawal. Saying he didn’t need them now sounded like an excuse—a “noble lie” to protect someone he cared deeply for.

Annie never doubted her choice, but at this moment, she felt a warmth in her heart she couldn’t suppress.