After coming back from months of retreat, there were a lot of things to do—checking up on his investments and companies, and directing his ideas to the people in charge to implement the deals Damon wanted with the World Tournament.
His net worth, in the months he was missing, had soared to one hundred and fifty billion USD, making him one of the top three richest men in the world. He now stood among renowned families and even surpassed many of them in terms of wealth.
For the future, he had directed the development of military equipment and various magical devices that could change the tides of battle against magical beasts in water.
Knowing the future, he planned to enter the market for water-based equipment and new technologies—mainly naval and space-element-related innovations.
The world now knew Damon as a visionary, a man of great foresight and a history of revolutionary investments. But when they learned of the new ventures he was aiming to enter, they were stunned.
Water and space-based technologies were long dominated by major powers. The naval industry, though vast, was already home to established names; entering such a market wouldn't be easy.
Did Damon acquire new technologies? Was there another major power behind him?
Many speculated, but no one knew what was going on inside Damon's mind.
After spending some time with Mu Nujiao and Fira, Damon devoted the rest of his days to overseeing his blooming investments. A movie date with Mu Nujiao followed by a salon visit for a complete grooming session restored him to his civilized self.
With his return, multiple packages also arrived bearing his name. What were they? Resources? He had already reached the Super Level; no amount of precious resources could help much in advancing further.
"Hmm, let's see," Damon muttered, looking at the giant packages that had arrived at Mu Nujiao's apartment. His own house was wrecked—thanks to himself—so, for now, he had decided to move in with his girlfriend.
Under the curious gazes of mother and daughter, Damon unpacked the largest package first. Inside was a humanoid figure—an exact replica of Damon's own physique.
In the middle of its chest, an ethereal blue crystal was embedded in a triangular shape, with silver lines tracing its edges.
"Is it...?" Damon guessed what the object was as he tapped the gem with his finger. Instantly, black metallic particles burst out, engulfing the figurine completely.
If Damon had to describe it, the process resembled the suit-up of the Black Panther—nanomachines forming the entire armor. Before his eyes, a similar magical scene unfolded.
The black particles solidified into a suit—beautifully designed, compact, and sturdy—crafted by the best artisans using materials of immeasurable value.
Black Totem Snake's scales, feathers of the Silver Skyruler, claws and cores of Monarch creatures, combined with the rarest and most resilient metals of the world.
The suit before him was one of a kind—representing the peak of magical technology at its highest level.
Damon took a deep breath as he looked at the luxurious yet formidable armor covering the figurine. It came with its own stylish cloak and hood, giving it a mysterious and enchanting look. Mu Nujiao and Fira clapped in awe as Damon placed his hand on the gem, imprinting it with his intent and marking it as his own before storing it away.
The suit possessed self-repair capabilities and could withstand attacks from Monarch-level beings. Embedded with the Crystal Shield—the strongest defensive magic—it was the sturdiest piece of equipment one could ask for.
Next, Damon opened the second package. Inside was a silver-colored wing emblem, the size of a human palm. When equipped, it transformed into a winged magic device made from the Silver Skyruler's feathers—its speed unmatched, capable of extending to the full span of the original creature's wings.
The third item was a pendant-shaped magical artifact, a focus device that could ward off psychic magic weaker than the Super Level. Following that were the Deathstrike weapons—offensive tools Damon had spent a fortune to acquire.
When he equipped everything, Mu Nujiao's jaw dropped. She stared at Damon like he was a monster, her eyes wide as she watched him don equipment worth billions—each piece so powerful that even the word "overgeared" didn't do him justice.
The final package contained what appeared to be a few simple accessories made of black, gem-like materials.
"What's this?" Mu Nujiao asked curiously, examining them.
"Accessories made from the Black Snake's scales," Damon replied. "Some leftover scales weren't used fully, so when they asked what to do with them, I told them to make these accessories."
Taking a necklace in his hand, Damon went behind Mu Nujiao. "This is for you."
He clasped the beautiful black necklace around her neck. "It's beautiful," she said softly, eyes filled with affection as she leaned back into Damon's embrace.
"I'm glad you like it... but it's not just an ordinary accessory," Damon whispered. "It's made from the scales of the Black Snake—the ancestor of all poison. It grants complete immunity to any poison."
Mu Nujiao's eyes widened. She wanted to return it after realizing its immense value, but Damon refused to take it back.
A few more accessories remained, though Damon had no plans to sell or gift them for now.
The day ended with the trio visiting the Awakening Hall—just like last time—this time for Damon to awaken his new element.
Previously, he had planned to go with the Chaos element, but after bonding with Flame Belle, his choice was obvious—the Summoning Element.
Using the guiding stones for the Summoning Element, he successfully awakened his chosen dimensional element without any incident. He also officially registered as a Super Mage, marking him as the youngest in the world to reach that level—unknowingly setting off waves across the entire mage community.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly and peacefully, but in the world of novels, peace never lasts long—
"The Undead are stirring up chaos around the Ancient Capital! The rescue team that Zhang Xiaohou was a part of has gone missing!"