John watched Holly seriously consider practicing her autograph and could only shake his head.

"She is completely hopeless."

"Her imagination is far too active."

The consecutive appearance of two Skyvault Consortium participants at the top of the ranking caused an immediate uproar.

Messages flooded the public channel.

"What kind of miracle medicine did the Skyvault Consortium take?"

"First place belongs to them, and now second place does too?"

"This is absurd."

"At least John had a record of fighting the Demon King Council and killing transcendent Saint-grade powerhouses."

"But where did Holly come from?"

"I have never heard of her."

"Did none of you notice the important detail?"

"Holly and John came from the same universe."

"They entered the Skyvault Consortium together."

"What kind of blessed land is that universe?"

"How could it produce two monsters of this level at the same time?"

The name Holly spread across countless worlds.

In an extremely distant universe, there was a place known as Los Novice Village.

Skittershade stood beneath the sky and looked at the golden ranking.

When he saw Holly’s name in second place, a faint smile appeared on his face.

"My disciple has finally become a true powerhouse."

Then he remembered that Holly was traveling with John.

His smile became bitter.

"I raised her for so long, and now she spends all her time with that scheming brat."

"The cabbage I protected for years is about to be stolen by a pig."

Despite the complaint, relief soon appeared in his eyes.

"Still, remaining beside John may be the safest choice."

Skittershade remembered the World-Ending Sunfrost Seed.

He remembered the approaching Apocalypse Tribulation.

His expression became solemn.

"At the very least, John will protect Holly when the cosmic calamity arrives."

"And I must prepare for my hundredth reincarnation."

"This cycle may destroy me."

"Or it may allow me to enter the realm of a Great Sovereign."

"If I fall, Holly will have no one except John to protect her."

Memories returned.

He remembered living with Holly on Earth.

He remembered being present when she was born.

He remembered watching her grow.

He also remembered her death.

Holly had died before.

Her current life existed because of the reincarnation art.

Skittershade closed his eyes.

"Forgive me, Holly."

"I am not merely your master."

"I am your elder brother."

"Our enemies are too powerful."

"I may die at any moment."

"For your safety, and to spare you from grief, I did not awaken the memories of your previous life after reviving you."

"I allowed you to believe that I was only your teacher."

"If I survive this hundredth reincarnation and become a Great Sovereign, I will reunite our entire family."

"Even our parents can be drawn back from the river of space-time."

The fear in Skittershade’s heart gradually disappeared.

What replaced it was fierce battle intent.

His first reincarnation had lasted one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years.

The hundredth would last twelve million nine hundred sixty thousand years.

He had already endured ages of repeated cycles.

If he succeeded once more, he would step into the realm of a Great Sovereign.

The ranking in the current stage differed from the early-stage list.

The earlier positions had granted rewards, but they were not final.

The ranking now displayed by the will of the universe would continue through the advancement stage and the finals.

If John and Holly maintained their positions until the end, even a defeat in the last battle could grant rewards millions of times more valuable than those from the preliminary ranking.

The premise, of course, was survival.

Within Secret Realm No. 1, two participants had already advanced.

John.

Holly.

The remaining participants became restless.

Someone had to claim the remaining eight positions.

Why could that person not be them?

A group of competitors moved through the secret realm without a clear destination.

They remained near one another for temporary safety while discussing the ranking.

"I never imagined the Skyvault Consortium was hiding experts of this level."

"Their foundation is deeper than we thought."

"The Consortium must be blind."

"John is clearly stronger than the seeded heirs, yet he never received the same resources or treatment as Kaine and Aldric."

"That is not entirely fair."

"How long has John been a member of the Skyvault Consortium?"

"The tournament began soon after he joined."

"Kaine and Aldric have powerful backgrounds and displayed exceptional talent from childhood."

"Giving them supreme-heir treatment was understandable."

"That is the problem with the Skyvault Consortium."

"You care too much about seniority and background."

"In Evernight Palace, strength determines everything."

"The strongest fist belongs to the eldest brother."

"Whatever the reason, John has restored an enormous amount of prestige to the Skyvault Consortium."

As they spoke, a figure appeared in front of them.

It was Leon.

One of the participants recognized him.

"Leon?"

"Why are you here?"

"Do you need something?"

Leon’s lips curved upward.

His gaze settled on Karen.

"Yes."

"I need to borrow something from you."

Karen felt every hair on his body rise.

He took several steps back.

"What do you want?"

Leon’s eyes became sharp.

"Your head."

Karen reacted instantly.

His body blurred as he fled toward the horizon.

He finally understood.

He was Leon’s designated hunting target.

Leon grinned, revealing white teeth.

"You cannot escape."

He disappeared and pursued Karen.

The two figures vanished from sight.

The surrounding High Gods looked at one another.

They already knew what would happen.

The ranking would soon gain another name.

They did not have to wait long.

The voice of the will of the universe echoed across the three secret realms.

[Congratulations to Leon, independent cultivator, for completing his advancement-stage objective.]

[Leon is the third participant to obtain advancement qualification.]

[Until the tournament ends, Leon temporarily occupies third place.]

Golden light gathered on the ranking.

[3. Leon - Independent Cultivator.]

The appearance of Leon’s name caused countless participants to look toward Secret Realm No. 1.

All three successful advancements had come from the same battlefield.

What was happening there?

Why had Secret Realm No. 1 produced three qualified participants before either of the other secret realms produced even one?

Soren listened to the announcement thoughtfully.

"Leon."

"His abilities are well suited to the rules of this stage."

"If this were a direct battle, our chances against each other would be roughly equal."

"But when the objective is finding someone, he possesses a clear advantage."

"Even so, he is only third."

"John and Holly completed their hunts even faster."

"Do they also possess talents capable of locating targets?"

Soren clenched his fist.

Frustration rose in his heart.

"Leon is already third."

"I need to move faster."

Cedric’s expression was even darker.

"The rules of this stage severely restrict my talent."

"The top three positions are already occupied, and I still have not found my target."

He looked across the vast secret realm.

Every mountain, ruin, forest, and river could conceal the participant he needed to kill.

At the same time, his own hunter could appear without warning.

For a direct combat specialist like Cedric, the uncertainty was infuriating.

Back in Secret Realm No. 1, John looked at the ranking.

First place belonged to him.

Second belonged to Holly.

Third belonged to Leon.

The stage had only just begun.

Yet Valhalla already occupied two of the three highest positions.

Holly studied the list with satisfaction.

"Guild Leader, we’re still first and second."

"Do you think Odelle and Hilt will take fourth and fifth?"

John smiled.

"That depends on how quickly they locate their targets."

Holly nodded confidently.

"They will definitely succeed."

"Then the five highest positions may all belong to people we know."

John did not answer.

The rules of the advancement stage were complicated, and the strongest combatant was not guaranteed to advance first.

A participant could be eliminated if their protection target died, even if they had already located their prey.

Luck, deduction, speed, judgment, and cooperation were all important.

Still, John had no doubt that Odelle and Hilt possessed the ability to survive.

The golden ranking hung above the secret realm.

Three names shone upon it.

The remaining participants stared upward with envy, fear, and determination.

The hunt had only begun.