He Became A Monstrous Genius After Obtaining A Time Dilation Artifact

The video initially revealed Kailen Darkhaven standing in front of the first mountain.

Wondering what Kailen Darkhaven was doing at the Sword Conclave Mountain, a sudden realization dawned on him.

"No, that can't be." He denied the possibility.

However, reality hit hard.

Eyes glued to the video, the guy began to transform into the very same person he wanted to recruit as his right-hand man.

The Crimson Devil.

Kailen Darkhaven had transformed into the fucking Crimson Devil!

What the hell was going on?

He remembered the conversation between the elf and the werewolf earlier.

Now, it all made complete sense.

Scenes flashed in his mind.

The time his father and the Harkers were buttering up to the Crimson Devil in front of the Long Hai Training Hall in the virtual universe, attempting to rope him into their ranks.

The way the fellow remained calm and uttered nonsense with his spittle flying all over while using a completely different identity, saying that he belonged to a power and all that.

Acting respectful and using words like, "Thank you for the consideration, seniors."

All that time, he was Kailen Darkhaven—right under their noses?

Playing with them?

Making a fool of them?

The bounty hunters had scoured regions for him but had not found him.

Yet, this fellow was right under their noses, comfortably playing with them and making a mockery of them?

No wonder he kept his virtual universe account details private. Now it all made sense.

"I underestimated him again. The most terrifying enemies are those who are strong and also use their brains well. Is he only just a seventeen-year-old? How can a seventeen-year-old kid be so sly, like some old fox? And possess so many terrifying abilities at the same time?"

Bryce couldn't help but ask himself sincerely.

It seems this Kailen Darkhaven wouldn't be easy to get rid of.

"I have no other choice. If I don't get rid of him, he will one day become a threat when it comes to inheriting the Darkhaven fortune. Also, that guy has a vengeful personality. Even if he shows no interest in the Darkhaven fortune, if allowed to live and grow strong, he will come after father—which I honestly don't have a problem with, as it will just make getting rid of that old piece of shit easy for me. But will I be spared in the process? Definitely not!

I need to get rid of him. I suppose now that his identity as the Crimson Devil has been revealed, the senior members of the Darkhaven Society will be more hateful towards him and attempt to end him in order to curry favor in father's eyes. Also, the old bastard will definitely issue a command soon for the senior members of the Darkhaven Society to get rid of him.

If that does not work out, I'll have to just become strong enough, alongside the force I build, to kill him."

Bryce heaved a sigh tinged with incredulity.

He had really been shaken.

This Kailen Darkhaven was akin to a mighty wall standing in his path.

He would have incited the guy into having a life-or-death battle with him if he were strong enough, using that platform as the perfect opportunity to get rid of him.

But he was currently too weak.

If only he had the strength... Things would have been simpler.

Strength—he needed to be strong.

Then building a force and slowly growing strong to get rid of Darkhaven would be unnecessary.

Then relying on the Darkhaven Society would be unnecessary.

Bryce didn't know, however, that a Vimodial was lurking in the shadows, studying his every move, awaiting the perfect opportunity to strike a deal with him.

Everlong stood before the first mountain with a shocked expression on her face.

"Why is this place so crowded? Isn't it supposed to be around the 12th Mountain where Senior Lian Yu is challenging the Mountain that's supposed to be crowded?"

She could not help but mutter to herself.

With otherworldly hearing capabilities, a couple of awakeners picked up on her words.

"Hey, is that not the fifth-ranked beauty of the first years and the third-ranked first year, the princess of the Atrexia Conglomerate, Everlong Atrexia?"

"Yeah. Isn't she having beef with Lian Yu? From her words, it seems she came here to watch his challenge."

"Anyway, it seems she's not aware that there's a freak breezing through the first mountain."

Everlong sighed with helplessness.

"These cliché rumors again?" She thought. "I don't know who began spreading those rumors. But the guy only hit on me at the party and I politely said no, to which he backed off, but everyone has been saying we had a falling out? Why do people always like to twist the truth to their liking? Ah, forget it. It's not like I give a damn anyway. But those guys are saying someone is breezing through the first mountain?"

Everlong proceeded towards the first years who had been talking about her.

One of them, a gentleman with his girlfriend, stared at her with an expression that made the guy's girlfriend pout and pinch him in obvious jealousy and annoyance.

The guy, coming back to his senses, coughed awkwardly in an attempt to dispel the awkwardness.

Everlong ignored him, donned a polite smile that made even the fellow's girlfriend empathize with why her boyfriend had been gawking at the lady, then she asked them the curious question on her mind.

"Hi. I couldn't help but be curious about your conversation. Can I ask who's breezing through the first mountain?"

The couple, open-minded, simply told her to watch the video tagged There's a freak breezing through the Sword Conclave Mountain.

Everlong curiously opened the video and started watching it.

Various expressions of shock appeared on her face from time to time.

Her mind was full of various thoughts.

Was this some sort of novel protagonist?

What the hell did a mere seventeen-year-old have to do with all these terrifying capabilities?

Apart from all his monstrous abilities, he was also the Crimson Devil.

The video was very surprising to watch. Others were panting and catching their breath at different staircases, yet this guy was literally taking a walk in the park.

6000 steps.

6500 steps.

7909 steps.

…..

10000.

Suddenly—

[ Academy-wide announcement … ]