"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.
"Arrest all those who caused a disturbance today. Conduct a thorough investigation, too!" Scarlet ordered and signaled the Dark Panther Cavalry.They followed her orders and seized every member of the Harmon family. Once again, the crowd was bewildered by Scarlet's decision. They couldn't understand what was happening. Weren't Dustin and Kirin Gang the ones who caused a disturbance? Why did Scarlet arrest the Harmon family?She did not apprehend the attackers. Instead, she ordered Dark Panther Cavalry to capture the victims. What was going on? Why was the situation getting even more out of hand? Trent was momentarily stunned. After returning to his senses, he cried in distress, "My Lady, we're innocent!""My Lady, we didn't do anything! Why are you arresting us?" Kate hurriedly asked. She was shocked and scared as well. "Yes, My Lady! We're innocent! If you want to arrest someone, it should be Dustin!" The members of the Harmon family started crying out, one after anothe
At that moment, Gideon was unsettled. He could see that Scarlet and Dustin had known each other for a long time. Moreover, they were pretty close. In fact, they were closer than he thought. After all, Scarlet was known for being ruthless and decisive on the battlefield. She had always been that way since she was 18. She would always keep everyone at a distance, too. No one had seen her smile before, be it her family, friends, or subordinates. Right then, Scarlet was not just smiling. She was grinning. It was as if she had become a completely different person. Her current behavior was the opposite of her usual cold and aloof self. Gideon wondered if Scarlet had hit her head. Otherwise, why was she smiling? He even considered the possibility that Dustin had cast a spell to enchant her."Yup, I've sorted out the situation in Oakvale. We've killed several scapegoats as a warning. This should keep things quiet for a while," Scarlet answered truthfully. Dustin nodded wit
"We can't count on Trent anymore. So, we have to find another way now."Tyler pondered for a moment. "Find a few scapegoats and have them work on behalf of Trent. Remember, don't expose our identities." "Yes, sir!" his subordinate replied and left hurriedly."Hopefully, there won't be any more mistakes this time," Tyler muttered as he narrowed his eyes.If it weren't for Natasha's grandfather, Tyler would not be so cautious. He was indeed troublesome. Otherwise, Tyler would have taken action himself. …It was lunchtime. Dustin and Scarlet sat at a table by the window at Roseate Restaurant.They happily chatted while enjoying their meal. Halfway through, Scarlet suddenly asked solemnly, "Logan, should I kill everyone who offended you?"Upon hearing her words, Dustin did know whether to laugh or cry. "Their offense doesn't deserve a death penalty."Let them suffer a little will do. So, I suggest locking them up for a few days."An eye for an eye. Dylan deserved to die bec
Glenn wasn't just skilled in swordsmanship, but his technique was also flawless. Every strike was unpredictable, relentless, and impossible to block. His attacks came in waves, and each one was stronger than the last.What made him even more terrifying were the six divine swords that obeyed his every command. They were like extensions of his will. The swords threw Dustin off balance, attacking from every direction and blocking any chance of escape. They moved in perfect sync with Glenn and left no room for counterattacks.Dustin had no choice but to dodge and parry. If not for his incredible agility and mastery of the sword, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few breaths.Even so, the pressure was overwhelming. It felt like he wasn't just facing Glenn but six or seven skilled opponents at once. Any slip in focus, or any opening, could be his last.The real challenge was that Dustin wasn't gaining any ground. While he had to stay focused on dodging and blocking, he also had to se
Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Dustin and Glenn stepped onto the battle ring. They stood about 30 feet apart, and their eyes locked across the distance. Their gazes met like sparks, and they could feel the weight of the other's stare."Are you Logan?" Glenn asked, breaking the silence.He had heard the rumors about this dark horse before stepping into the ring, but now that he was facing him, he wasn't sure."Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is who wins this fight." Dustin didn't confirm or deny it, but his words left Glenn with no doubt.Both men were at the top of the Legendary List and held equal rank on the Champ-Tier List. Until they fought, no one could say who was the stronger of the two."I heard you're Seth's disciple, so I'm really looking forward to this." Glenn's gaze sharpened.Many years ago, his mentor, Cyrus, was defeated by Seth. That loss had always haunted Cyrus ever since. Now, with the disciples of both men about to face off, Glenn was determin
"Since Madam Penelope has spoken, I’ll follow her lead," Alloy said with a smile. "What about Mr. Hadley and Sage Foyer?""I'm in if you want to make a bet," Cyrus replied coolly."It's not every day we get an opportunity like this. Let me stir things up a bit." Kaden nodded with a grin.Once the three had agreed, Penelope waved for Abigail to come over.Soon, Abigail approached them with a wide grin. "Esteemed guests, I hear you want to bet. The current odds are—bet on Dustin to win, and you'll get 1.6 times your stake. Bet on Glenn, and it's only 0.4."She continued, "And no worries—if you win, I'll exchange your winnings for celestial stones." Abigail smiled brightly, and the other parties' eyes gleamed with the unmistakable shine of greed.Many had already placed their bets with her. Though she couldn't control the match's outcome, she knew how to adjust the odds to her advantage. Over time, that could turn into a huge fortune."I'm betting on Glenn to win." Cyrus quickly
"We're ready for the ultimate showdown of this tournament. The winner will be crowned the Combat Tournament Champion. Now, let's welcome both contestants to the ring." Oron's voice thundered as he stepped onto the battle ring.There was thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.The long-awaited showdown was finally at hand. Today's outcome wasn't just about personal glory, but it would also decide the future of the martial world.If Glenn triumphed and claimed the crown, the Sword Union would rise as the undisputed guild. The Celestial Alliance and the Mystic Arts Order would have no choice but to bow to their supremacy.But if Dustin won, it would be even more sensational. A dark horse, without any guild affiliation, defeating the elite disciples of the major guild—such a story would send shockwaves through the martial world.Once that happened, every major guild would fight tooth and nail to claim him. It would spark a fierce battle for dominance."Dr. Rhys! Good luck!"
"H-Hold on! I-I surrender!" Abigail said urgently. With the sword inches away from her throat, she decisively raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.She didn't expect herself to win the match. Her goal was simply to take this opportunity to test Dustin's strength and also gauge her own progress. But now, it was clear that there was still a sizable gap between them."You've done well. In a few more years, I might not even be able to keep up with you." Dustin smiled and lowered his Celestial Blade. His words weren't flattery; he genuinely saw potential in Abigail.The dark Phoenix flames carried a corrosive power that even his mystical pure energy couldn't resist. In other words, Abigail's black flames were the bane of any martial artist.Her journey in the martial world was still short—barely two years. She hadn't unlocked the full potential of her Phoenix bloodline yet. But with more training and experience, the sky was the limit for her."Don't try to console me, Sir. I'm n
With a resounding bang, the golden light erupted with a burst of terrifying energy wave. In an instant, the earth trembled, and fierce winds whipped through the air.Dustin and his sword were sent flying several yards. After landing, he stumbled back several steps before finally steadying himself.He looked up and saw that Abigail's body was now covered in a layer of golden armor, though he couldn't tell when it had happened. The armor glowed brightly, and it made her look imposing and striking.It was clearly a divine artifact.The Mystic Arts Order had been around for centuries, with deep roots and countless treasures. As the Grand Sorceress, Abigail would obviously have several divine artifacts for protection.Dustin wasn't surprised, but the armor's counterforce caught him off guard. Not only did it protect her, but it also had offensive capabilities.When his sword struck the armor earlier, the blow didn't leave a scratch. Instead, the armor absorbed the hit and sent the for
Dustin raised his hand as the black feathers rained down on him. A white energy shield flared into existence to form a wall before him.The feathers slammed into the shield and sent ripples across its surface but failed to break through. However, the black flames on the feathers spread across the shield and burned through its energy at a visible pace. In the blink of an eye, the once impenetrable barrier cracked open and left a gaping hole.Dustin couldn't hide his surprise. His mystical pure energy was far stronger than the average grandmaster's internal energy in offense and defense. It was meant to be impenetrable. He hadn't anticipated it couldn't hold up against Abigail's phoenix flame.Seeing the raw strength of her bloodline, he knew he couldn't afford to take any chances. As the black flames spread, he swiftly waved his hand to summon a furious gust of wind that sent the feathers and flames flying."Glaring Wings!" Abigail wasn't done yet. She quickly formed hand seals and
Abigail moved with lightning speed, and her figure weaved in and out like a shadow. Her swift movements left a blur of afterimages that was hard for anyone watching to keep up.On the contrary, Dustin stood still without making any movement."Fallen Fist!"After closing in, she unleashed a flurry of strikes—dozens of black palm shadows slamming toward his body, and each one was like a bullet aimed at its target.Abigail practiced a unique martial art, and it was imbued with voodoo-like properties that could kill anyone who made contact with her. But Dustin's body was immune to all poisons, so it was a perfect counter to her deadly attack.As the shadow palms closed in, he remained unshaken and thrust his palm forward.A fierce gust of wind surged and ripped through the air with unrelenting force. It collided with the black palm shadows.Abigail's black palm shadows exploded on impact and disintegrated into thick clouds of dark mist that quickly spread. Within moments, the mist e
The whole arena suddenly fell dead silent. Everyone stared blankly, and not a soul dared to breathe. Alloy shot to his feet in the main spectator seats, and his face was tense with worry. Yet, he didn't dare make a sound. He feared it might startle Glenn into making a mistake that could cost Fenley's life.After all, Fenley represented the future of the Celestial Alliance. Alloy had invested all his effort into Fenley, and he provided him with endless resources. If Fenley were to die in the match, it would deal a devastating blow to the entire guild.While Alloy was gripped with worry, Cyrus and Penelope cheered silently. They secretly hoped Glenn's sword would strike Fenley. If that happened, the Celestial Alliance would take at least a decade to regain its former glory.Fenley's body stiffened as he stared at the Fang Master hovering inches from him. A shiver ran through his spine as goosebumps prickled his skin. Sweat trickled down his face, and each drop hit the ground with a