In the mid-twentieth century, the world had witnessed an earthshaking event.Etrax and Jesund launched a brutal and shameless campaign of aggression against many nations. The Second World War erupted soon after.Among the countless major events of that cruel war, the appearance of nuclear weapons stood out as one of the most shocking.At the time, Jesund held great power. With Etrax at its side, it expanded its invasion across the world. In the end, Agylae dropped two nuclear weapons on two of Jesund's major cities and brought the war to an end."Nuclear weapons."Those three words alone were enough to make ambitious King Phase masters fall silent and disappear from sight. Leander could not think of anything else that could achieve that.Nuclear weapons had only just emerged during that era, and the technology behind them was far from mature. Yet a single detonation could destroy an entire city.The destructive force was terrifying and awe-inspiring.Even the strongest Infernal Crown Transcendent could only sever a skyscraper at full strength.A city held countless towers. For an Infernal Crown Transcendent to destroy an entire city and leave nothing but scorched ruin, the effort alone would likely kill them. Even a King Phase master would struggle to accomplish such devastation. Jimmy shook his head with a sigh."A King Phase master had great power. People saw them as godlike, but they were still made of flesh and bone. How could they survive a nuclear blast?"One nuclear weapon could kill more than ten King Phase masters. And they don't even need that. A single supersonic missile can threaten the life of one King Phase master."The birth of nuclear weapons and Agylae's unstoppable rise made every King Phase acknowledge reality. They hid themselves away and refused to show their faces again."Leander did not argue. He could rip a tank apart with his bare hands and halt a speeding train without protection with his current strength.Even a direct hit from a heavy rifle would barely scratch him, yet he had no confidence that he could survive a direct missile strike.He knew he stood no chance against a nuclear blast.A mortal body had limits. It was nearly impossible to stand firm against high-energy weapons. Even King Phase masters had to bow their heads before such force."That's interesting."His tone rose with a quiet thrill. A faint smile touched his lips.A martial artist's strength could topple mountains, yet the world remained under the control of the great nations. Facing an entire nation alone was pure fantasy.Still, nuclear weapons did not frighten Leander. They awakened something else in him, and his blood seemed to burn with excitement.In that moment, he realized he had found a new goal.Nuclear weapons had pressured the world, terrifying King Phase masters into retreat. If one day his strength reached the point where he could stand against a nation's might and feel no fear even in the face of nuclear fire, what kind of overwhelming presence would that be?He blinked and let the surge of excitement fade. His face settled back into calm."Mr. Wilder, you came all the way here just to tell me this? What's your point? You didn't climb Swallow Hill in the middle of the night just to tell me a story, did you?"Jimmy finally let his expression grow heavy."General Ashcroft, I told you this because you need to know about a piece of history that even our nation sealed away for more than a hundred years."And now, because of your battle at Aorinth Peaks, many things that should have stayed buried have started to return."Those hidden King Phase elders have been meeting again. They look ready to reemerge."Leander turned his head, surprised."Why?"He could not understand it.His battle at Aorinth Peaks had been astonishing, and he had wiped out more thanfifteen Infernal Crown Transcendents. Yet it had still been a battle between Transcendent Realm masters. Why would King Phase masters care?Jimmy offered a helpless smile."General Ashcroft, what you did was too shocking. Everyone knows that only above the Infernal Crown Transcendent level does the King Phase begin Even if two Infernal Crown Transcendents fight 's nearly impossible for one to kill the other. "But you didn't just kill one. You killed eighteen. And you did it alone.Your combat strength is already being ranked as King Phase combat power by classified agencies around the world."Not long ago, we received intel that Agylae and Skarovia described you as not quite a King Phase, yet stronger than one."Europa Union has also been discussing you in private. They called you the first man since the birth of nuclear weapons who dared to act openly like a King Phase."Leander finally understood.Those adjudicators he killed had all been extremely close to the King Phase. Even Khaedor, the God of Madness, had stood one step below it. Killing them all with one person made others assume he belonged to that level.He let out a soft laugh."I'm not a King Phase master. I never expected my battle to cause such a storm." He looked at Jimmy again. "You still haven't told me why you came."Jimmy let out a deep sigh at Leander's fearless composure. "General Ashcroft, you're one of Astria's strongest. Your service and contributions are beyond measure.I came here not only by my own will, but also under direct orders."I'm here on behalf of the nation to warn you not to leave Astria without careful thought."The whole world is watching you. Beyond the King Phase masters, every major nation has already put you on their Level-One Danger List."As long as you stay in Astria, King Phase masters won't dare act recklessly, and no foreign nation will risk crossing our borders to harm you. Leave Astria, and we might not be able to protect you."By the end, Jimmy's voice grew solemn.Leander was a rare treasure of Astria. If he fell, the loss would be immeasurable.Leander understood his situation clearly. His battle today revealed power equal to a King Phase master. Naturally, the other nations felt threatened.They wanted him dead.The hidden King Phase masters had survived by letting the world forget they existed. When time passed and tension faded, they could return and move in the shadows.Yet his battle dragged the idea of King Phase masters back into the light. Their plans shattered. How could they not hate him?Both the King Phase masters and the great nations now saw Leander as an obstacle.Jimmy and Christopher waited in silence for his answer.A fierce wind tore across Swallow Hill, sending clouds flying. Moonlight washed overLeander as he stood alone on the peak. His eyes glimmered like twin stars."So they want me trapped in Astria just because the King Phase might return and the world is watching?" He laughed. "I understand the nation's concern, but I never fear anything. Whether it's a King Phase master or great nation, it doesn't matter. If someone wants my life, they can come and try." noveldramaLeander raised his hand and curled his fingers into a fist that seemed to seize the air itself. "Once, this world belonged to the King Phase. Now it belongs to the great nations but in. the near future, will write a new name across this era-Jeff Ashcroft."