Sure Enough, I Had Grown Stronger

The storm stopped without anyone noticing.

The garden of the Tohno family had already changed drastically.

Just like the Matoba after a typhoon, the surrounding trees fell one after another, the ground became a mess, with cracks everywhere, and wood chips and gravel scattered all over the ground, creating a chaotic scene.

In this area, countless black beasts lay scattered on the ground, eventually turning into shadows and disappearing on the spot.

Silence begins to arrive.

Only the sound of breathing rose and fell in the air.

As Fang Li watched Nero struggling to get up from under the trunk of a broken tree, Fang Li tightened his grip on Bō Xié, silently thinking to himself.

"I am indeed getting stronger."

Nero Chaos.

The tenth of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostle is a force to be reckoned with, ranking in the upper echelon of the Third Level. Among the opponents Fang Li has encountered so far, he is one of the top figures.

However, even now, facing such an existence, Fang Li is finally able to fight it and gain the upper hand without using the powerful side effects of the Holy Mark.

If this doesn't count as getting stronger, then what does?

After all, Fang Li only had 50 attribute points left to reach the limit of the Fourth Level.

Although still at the Fourth Level, thanks to the class and title bonuses of the Main God Envoy, Fang Li's attributes are now comparable to those of Third Level being.

Furthermore, Fang Li constantly tempered his Star Pulse Energy day after day. With the support of what could already be considered a massive amount of Star Pulse Energy, his physical abilities were greatly enhanced. He also used a Third Level weapon, which, combined with the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception that ignored level differences and directly caused fatal damage that was neither defensible nor curable, meant that he was in no way inferior even when facing an opponent of Nero's level.

This is Fang Li's current strength.

Just as Wilhelm said, by striving to become stronger without any ulterior motives, Fang Li achieved a state of no thoughts, no desires, and no distractions, which allowed Fang Li to reach his current level.

Of course, Fang Li had not yet defeated Nero.

However, Fang Li did not feel that he would lose to Nero.

So, Fang Li, carrying Bō Xié, turned his Ice-Blue Demon Eyes and looked in Nero's direction.

There, Nero had struggled to his feet and seemed to have escaped serious injury.

The Dead Apostle are not like humans; they are extremely immortal.

Among the Dead Apostle, Nero is known for his tenacity. Even if he is kicked or killed, he will immediately revive unless his 666 lives are wiped out in an instant.

However, Nero's gaze towards Fang Li had changed.

They became extremely wary.

"I see, I was indeed mistaken."

Nero stared intently at Fang Li and spoke in a deep voice.

"Not an ordinary human. With combat power that can reliably defeat even Dead Apostle, are you Magus from the Mage's Association or an agent of the Holy Church?"

It's no wonder Nero thought that way.

Indeed, as non-human beings, vampires like the Dead Apostle possess abilities far surpassing those of ordinary humans, even to the point of viewing humans as food.

But that doesn't mean that there are no threats to humanity in this world.

In fact, humans are the true rulers of this world. Vampires and similar beings can only operate in the shadows because humans have the ability to defeat them.

Among humans, there are two factions.

One is the Mage's Association.

As the name suggests, it is an association that brings together all kinds of Magus for the purpose of studying magic.

Among them are some extremely powerful Magus, and even sorcerers.

Another one is the Holy Church.

A large armed organization that developed for the purpose of hunting down heretics, promoting the miracles of God, and managing various Holy Relic.

Within this church, there are highly skilled combat personnel who specialize in eliminating heretics and have been hunting non-human beings, primarily vampires, for centuries.

These combatants were called agents.

"And, an agent who can even rival me, you wouldn't happen to be someone from the Burial Agency, would you?"

Nero spoke calmly.

The so-called Burial Agency is a group within the Holy Church that gathers the strongest group of agents.

Ordinary agents are no match for beings of the level of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostle.

Only the agents within the Burial Agency have the means to subdue the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostle.

That's why Nero had such doubts.

Unfortunately, Nero guessed all of them wrong.

"He's not an agent; he doesn't have the smell of those annoying guys."

This statement came from a carefree young girl.

Arcueid appeared in the courtyard at some point, first glancing at Fang Li as if looking at him with new respect, then looking at Nero with terrifying pressure in her crimson eyes.

"Nero Chaos, the tenth of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors of the Dead Apostle. I didn't expect you to be here. I thought it would be that 'Serpent' who was after me."

It seems Arcueid was unaware of who his enemy was until this moment.

Nero met Arcueid's oppressive gaze with a blank expression and spoke.

"Princess of the True Ancestor, you are indeed as I saw yesterday, extremely weak. You look nothing like the vampire executioner who struck fear into the hearts of the Dead Apostle."

Last night, the Azure Crow was manipulated by Nero.

The beasts created by Nero's Inherent Skill can be used not only for combat but also for reconnaissance, as seen here.

Therefore, after noticing Arcueid's weakness, Nero launched a large-scale attack tonight.

Otherwise, Nero would have to carefully consider his own abilities before facing Arcueid at his peak.

At least in Fang Li's view, Arcueid in his prime, even if he couldn't instantly kill Nero, could easily crush him.

However, Nero could kill Arcueid easily now.

"So, that's why you brought in this helper?" Nero stared at Fang Li and whispered to Arcueid, "To actually join forces with humans, that's not like something you would do, Princess of the True Ancestor."

"Don't get me wrong, before this, I was thinking about how to kill you all by myself." Arcueid frowned and said with considerable dissatisfaction, "So, this is just an unexpected surprise."

"Is that so?" Nero lowered his head and suddenly said, "It seems I can't kill you today. I'll have to find another opportunity later."

With those words left behind, Nero's coat billowed in the air.

"Trying to escape?"

Fang Li raised his head.

The Ice-Blue Demon Eyes reappeared.