Finishing eating the ancient dragon piece by piece, Zick''s higher form of energy reached a tipping point. He could feel that it had been strengthened by a few levels, but at the same time felt that it had still not evolved to its next form.


    Zick did not know if he had officially be a demigod or not, but he knew that his higher form of energy was stronger than before. In other words, his attacks would receive a boost in strength.


    With that, Zick had reached the limit of how much he could grow in this one week.


    ''Things really can go downhill at an unexpected time, all my prior preparation was wasted, but still, I don''t regret preparing in vain. It was the best course of action I could take at that time.'' Zick moved around his body, feeling the difference from before.


    Zick''s body also received a minor enhancement by eating the ancient dragon. His potential did not get much boost as it was already off-bound.


    For now, Zick put Arianell to sleep on the bed.


    ''This might as well be thest time I see her...But I guess it can''t be helped, she will probably just die in the end...'' Zick looked at Arianell''s face for a second before moving to another room.


    The training room was made just for Zick, a mirror was ced in one of its corners. Standing before the mirror, he started taking off his clothes. His robust body was reflected in the mirror.


    Zick did not appear to have excessive muscles, but his body gave a feeling of fullness.


    Zick turned around, exposing his back. A strange tattoo or a drawing could be seen on his back, it shone in a purple light. It was in the shape of a sphere with many strands like waves in it, and this tattoo-covered half of his back.


    ''This is myst trump card, or more like an escape route. Using this, I should be able to get to the other side of the mist barrier.''


    ''Even the dragon lord could not pass the mist barrier, so it must be able to stop the demon lord for sure.''


    The creation of that tattoo was the first order Zick gave to Yuriel as her first assignment. He was worried that he might not be able to beat the demon lord from the beginning.


    ''....Though it is a 50/50 situation, this inscription or whatever has a chance of failing ording to Yuriel. And it has not been tested, so no one knows if it can even go past the mist of annihtion.'' Zick looked at it intently.


    Even if more time was put into it, that would be a waste of time.


    ''I have a bad feeling for some reason, if I don''t move now I might never get a chance to...'' Zick''s instincts were enhanced after eating dozens of dragons, therefore he put a lot of his trust in it.


    As for what awaited him on the other side of the mist, Zick had no idea. The most he knew is that there are another five continents on that side.


    Zick touched the inscription on his back: ''I will keep this as ast resort, if I can take care of the demon lord, its use would be eliminated.''


    Having such a train of thought, Zick decided to train the whole night to get used to his body and increase his proficiency in controlling higher forms of energy.


    .....


    The next day, in the morning.


    The fortress moved towards the demon continent, located at the western seas.


    Flying to the west for a while, a yellowish continentnd mass became visible at the end of the horizon. The morning sun''s gentle rays fell onto thend and sea, producing a spectacr sight.


    ''So the time hase atst, I hope I can make it through this hurdle without too much damage....'' Zick, sitting on the couch, looked at the yellow-redndmass before him.


    The wholend appeared very barren and deste, with not even a single habitat as far as thend stretched. That was the demon continent, a continent with nothing to offer.


    With a sh, a figure appeared before the fortress, a demon general.


    The general had an appearance simr to humans, excluding the tail and horn.


    Seeing the brown skin demon, Zick knew his identity instantly: ''The ruler of the rock demon, they excelled in defense and have a high affinity with controlling the earth element.''


    Aeiron had faced him once in the novel, facing a huge challenge, he was almost buried thousands of feet underground.


    This demon general''s name was Nheriff, the earth overlord.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Nheriff floated before the fortress with no sign of attacking, clearly, he didn''te with bad intentions.


    Using warp magic, Zick teleported before him instantly.


    "His highness has sent me to wee you to the pce." Nheriff bowed elegantly, not like the usual mindless demon who kills a human with immense hatred.


    Zick nodded his head in eptance, However before he opened his mouth to invite Nheriff into the fortress, he was interrupted by him.


    "And hand over the ownership of that flyingnd to us." Nheriff continued emotionlessly.


    Hearing Nheriff speak, Zick felt his eyebrow twitch. There was no way he was handing over the fortress no matter the cost.


    ''He is already treating me as hisckey....'' Zick''s cold eyes traveled to Nheriff with a sharp ze. All of his dragon fear was let free, freezing the air in the surrounding.


    Nheriff body started shuddering involuntarily, Zick''s dragon fear was already off the chart with all the dragons he ate. Even a grandmaster would feel threatened, but they could still move thus it could not render immobile as of yet.


    "It seems like your master has misunderstood something. I never epted his offer of subordination, I only said we can talk about the conditions today." Zick''s voice was so cold that it caused Nheriff to feel chills raise all over his body.


    "Do you understand? Garbage like you doesn''t even have the qualification to touch my fortress."


    Zick was in out humiliating Nheriff now, veins could be seen bursting on Nheriff''s forehead hearing him. Even his colleagues did not ever dare to treat him with such contempt.


    "...Sir, I do note with any intention to offend you. I apologize for my prior request, I was not aware of your standing." But still, Nheriff did not fly into a fit of rage, the demon lord''s order must be followed even if it means that he would die.


    "Just lead the way." Zick snorted and moved back into the fortress using magic.


    The fortress continued moving deeper into the demon continent. Surprisingly the demon continent wasrger than the other two, though its fertility rate was close to zero.


    Within the fortress, Zick who was already wearing tons of equipment put the cursed sword on his hip. He didn''t bother wearing a suit as his natural endurance already surpassed it to arge degree and it would tear when he turned into a dragon anyway.


    Looking at his palm, suddenly his heartbeat thumped louder, with certain emotions rising within him. This feeling traveled to every part of his body, making a smile appear on his face.


    ''Every path I have left is filled with riddles and danger. But, instead of any anxiety or fear, what I feel is excitement. This might be thest moment of my life, but I feel no regret. I followed my path of strength till the very end, even if I were to fall here, I will do so with a smile.''


    There were still many things that Zick wanted to do, but he had epted one thing — till the very end, he followed the path he believed in.


    ''Bye then, Yuriel, Arianell, and everyone. I will have to abandon you all in the end. I will fight till the veryst moment of my life, to have a chance of survival.'' Zick got up seeing the ck pce in the distance.


    A barrier covered this pce, but a gap appeared the moment Nheriff arrived before it. This hole was only the size that can let in a few people at a time.


    "Let''s go, Yuriel, unit one and unit two." Zick and the three biological golems appeared before the hole.


    Nheriff began leading them into the pce.


    An ominous feeling wafted around the pce as it shone in a grim light. There were many guards stationed around the ce and all of them had peak master rank strength.


    Even without concentrating, Zick could feel the demon lord''s presence. It was on another levelpared to him, though they were in the same rank their strength could not bepared.


    The demon lord was a being very near to godhood. Which meant that he would have ess to energy just a little weaker than divinity.


    The two guards at the entrance opened the huge door, exposing the huge entrance hall.


    "This way, his highness is waiting in the throne room." A servant bowed toward Zick and Nheriff.


    Zick''s eyes closed before opening, filled with immense determination.