With a loud "boom," the 30-foot-tall decorative rock formation shattered into pieces. At the same time, the pond split apart.The crowd was silenced, their wide-eyed looks showing their disbelief.About 40 feet away, another decorative rock formation also collapsed to the ground."Is he a grandmaster martial artist?""Wait! I remember hearing about a rising young genius in the martial world. Could it be him?""Wow! He's in his twenties and already a grandmaster martial artist. Unbelievable!"The crowd buzzed with excitement. While some were shocked or in awe. Meanwhile, Leah, Quinton, and Livie were dumbfounded. They hadn't expected Dustin to be a grandmaster martial artist. They struggled to accept reality."No ... It can't be?" Trent's expression shifted from joy to sheer horror. He realized that he was in deep trouble.The reveal shook the Harmon family and struck them like thunder.It was fine if they had to face Dustin only. But it was now different after learning that
"I object! Being a grandmaster martial artist doesn't mean you can bully others with your title?" A stern middle-aged man in military attire stepped forward confidently. He was followed by a group of intimidating-looking, fully armed elite soldiers."General Zink!"Dylan's face brightened with relief as if he had found a savior. The despair in his eyes was replaced with hope."He's here! Our savior has arrived just in time!" Jacob exclaimed. He had lost hope for his son's survival but now saw a glimmer of hope."Wait, is that General Zink? What is he doing here?""I wonder if he's as strong as they say.""You guys don't know? General Zink is one of the Four Generals of the Dark Panther Cavalry. He's just one rank below the Scarlet Warrior and commands an army of one hundred thousand. His power and influence are unmatched in the region.""Wow, that's impressive!""General Zink being here means things are about to get interesting!"The arrival of Gideon sparked a wave of excit
At that moment, Gideon believed he could defeat any grandmaster martial artist with his army of one hundred thousand soldiers."Rhys! Your strength means nothing to General Zink. Surrender now, or you'll regret it!" Dylan grinned menacingly.With Gideon and the Dark Panther Cavalry by his side, Dylan had no reason to fear Dustin anymore. "Gideon Zink, let me warn you again. Gather your men and leave immediately. Otherwise, don't accuse me of disrespecting the Spanner family," Dustin warned sternly."What?" Gideon frowned. "You, a nobody from the martial world, dare to threaten me? Are you looking for trouble?""I'm offering you a choice. If you don't take it, you'll regret it," Dustin cautioned."Regret?" Gideon looked at Dustin, puzzled Then he burst into laughter. "Kid, haven't you realized? We've got you surrounded. One word from me, and my troops will shoot anytime!"Dustin narrowed his eyes. "Don't push your luck.""What if I do?" Gideon sneered. "Do you think being
"Do you still want to interfere in others' affairs now, Gideon?"Dustin's grip tightened on Gideon's neck. Gideon struggled to breathe, and his heart raced."Young man, don't act recklessly!"Gideon gritted his teeth. "Holding a high-ranking military officer hostage is a major offense. Even if the military can't catch you, the Martial Arts Union exists. They won't let you go if you hurt me!"The Martial Arts Union was responsible for supervising martial artists' conduct. They would usually punish those who broke the rules. It applied to all martial artists, regardless of their status, including grandmaster martial artists."Are you trying to threaten me? Do you think I won't dare to kill you?" Dustin's eyes grew colder."I'm just warning you. Don't ruin your future," Gideon advised. "You're young, talented, and have a promising future ahead. Stop what you're doing; it's not worth sacrificing your future. Think it through.""So, are you trying to stop me?" Dustin asked."L
Just as Gideon was about to speak, he was interrupted by Trent's furious shouting. "Quick! Fire! This punk wants to kill General Zink! Shoot him down now!"Trent looked impatient. It was as if he was afraid that Gideon would beg for mercy. Upon hearing Trent's words, Dark Panther Cavalry soldiers removed their safety locks. Then, they proceeded to load their bullets. "What the hell are you guys doing? Stop it! Stop it now!" Gideon yelled with all his might. He was shocked.At this rate, he would be shot all over his body before Dustin died. However, in the next second, the sound of gunfire was heard. When he locked eyes with them, Trent had secretly signaled the Harmon family's gunmen hidden among the crowd. That was why they fired. Trent thought it would be best if they managed to hit Dustin. But it did not matter if they failed and accidentally killed Gideon instead. They could just pass it off as a desperate attempt to save a life. If that were to happen, Trent could
"The Scarlet Warrior is here!" When the clear female voice sounded, everyone suddenly fell silent. Instinctively, all of them turned and looked at the entrance. Their eyes fixed on the door. Soon, a woman dressed in red walked in casually, holding a viridescent sword. The woman had short silver hair. Her beauty was truly breathtaking.Every move of hers exuded an air of confidence. She looked imposing and dignified at the same time. Especially her eyes, her gaze was cold and arrogant. It seemed like she was looking down on everyone. The woman appeared like a higher being without regard for all living things. She was none other than the Scarlet Warrior, the most formidable Goddess of War in Dragonmarsh.After a brief silence, the crowd burst into shouts of excitement."The Scarlet Warrior! It really is the Scarlet Warrior!""Oh my gosh! I didn't expect the Scarlet Warrior to come. What an amazing day!""It is said that not only is the Scarlet Warrior stunning, but als
"This guy is done for! The situation escalated to the point that the Scarlet Warrior came. His life is about to become a living hell!""All I can say is that he's very unlucky. It just so happened that he ran into his greatest enemy. There's nowhere for him to run now.""I guess it's his honor to die in the hands of the Scarlet Warrior." Many people's gazes fell on Dustin as they gossiped. Some pitied him, while some took pleasure in his misfortune. Some looked at the scene sorrowfully. Scarlet was the commander of the Dark Panther Cavalry. Meanwhile, Dylan was a high-ranking commander.So, everyone naturally believed that Scarlet came to save Dylan.Dustin was indeed formidable. However, he could never go against Scarlet. That was an undeniable fact. There were no reasons or logic to explain it. It was simply because she was Scarlet. After all, she was an undefeatable legend. "My Lady! What brings you here?" After collecting himself, Gideon was the first one to greet h
Suddenly, Dylan's head dropped to the ground with a thud and rolled to a stop. His eyes were still wide in disbelief, his face filled with shock.Till his death, Dylan never expected that Scarlet would kill him. She was supposed to be his savior. However, she turned out to be the reason for his death. "W—what?" The sudden turn of events shocked everyone. They gasped as they looked at Dylan's severed head on the ground. They looked as if they had seen a ghost. They couldn't comprehend what was happening. As the commander of Dark Panther Cavalry, wasn't the Scarlet Warrior supposed to help Dylan?Why did she kill him instead? Did she make a mistake? "H—he's dead?" Trent stuttered, his eyes wide. He was frozen in shock.Kate was terrified at the sight of Dylan's lifeless body. She could not believe Scarlet actually killed Dylan. "How did it turn out like this? Why would the Scarlet Warrior kill Dylan?""T—that's impossible …" Jacob muttered as he stood there dumbfounded.
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs. From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods' plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining. According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power. Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher c
The chaos of the night quickly settled.By morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, Sacred Wrym Summit had regained its usual tranquility. Yet, the bloodstains across the ground and the wreckage of buildings stood as grim reminders of the previous night's violence.The military forces summoned by Grace had already taken the Hall of Gods' prisoners into custody.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling gossip throughout the martial world as all the major guilds watched with keen interest. After all, very few in history had ever dared to challenge Sacred Wrym Summit, and a bold invasion aimed at destroying it was nothing short of unprecedented.The outcome was clear to all who bore witness. After many years, the world had come to recognize the true terror of Arion. He was no mere mortal—he was almost a godlike figure.…Inside the Hall of Gods' headquarters in Streuqua, the core members were gathered, seated in two rows on either side of the grand hall.On the thr
After dealing with the Hall of Gods' elite fighters, Arion disappeared in a blur. When he reappeared, he was hovering above the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit.The scene at the entrance to the forbidden ground was one of utter carnage. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, and rivers of blood flowed freely. All members of the Hall of Gods, including Hank, lay motionless on the ground.Dustin and Willard, both covered in blood and exuding killing intent, had fought fiercely. After a long, grueling fight, they succeeded in defending the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit. They had thwarted the Hall of Gods' plan to destroy the Dracan force.At that instant, Dustin seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up. Through the mist and darkness, he pinpointed Arion's figure hovering above. Arion smiled faintly and nodded at Dustin before disappearing again.Crossing several mountains in mere seconds, Arion arrived above the Sacred Wrym Summit's grand hall. Below, the discipl