"Why are you so stubborn?" Jayden sighed tiredly, acting helpless. At that moment, Elena suggested. "Since no one can reach a middle ground, how about having a rematch?"Let's up the stakes, and the winner gets to decide. How does that sound?""I'm fine with that. Let's see if Sheila dares to have a rematch." Roxanne accepted the idea and looked at Sheila provocatively. Jayden acted concerned for Shelia. "Sheila just hurt herself. How can she ride a horse now? Aren't you making things difficult for her?""If Sheila can't do it, someone else can replace her. She has so many friends here; any one of them can help her." Roxanne lifted her head arrogantly and looked at Shelia's friends. "Hey! Which one of you has the guts to challenge me? One billion dollars for a race."You'll pay if you lose, and the winner gets to take Gale."Evan, Vivian, and the others looked at each other nervously. The stakes were high. After all, it was one billion dollars for a race. They knew their
"Am I seeing things? Dustin actually chose a pony?""He's not thinking of racing against a Thoroughbred like Midnight Shadow with this short-legged pony, right?""Oh my God! What is this guy even thinking? Is he out of his mind?"Everyone watched in shock as Dustin brought out the pony. As the name implied, a pony was a small and docile horse. They were specifically for the children or the elderly to ride. They had short and stumpy limbs and were shorter than three feet. They were primarily used for recreational activities. Meanwhile, Midnight Shadow stood at a towering 5 feet. It had long, muscular limbs, a well-proportioned physique, and ran like the wind. It outclassed the pony in every aspect. With the two horses standing together, it was like comparing a fully grown adult to a three-year-old child. There was no point in comparing them since it was clear who was the winner just looking at their size alone. "Hey, you! Are you here to make a fool of yourself? Are you
Dahlia, the ice princess, had barely said anything from the start. Her sudden statement captured everyone's attention. She had always projected an unapproachable persona, discouraging anyone from getting close. That was why her unexpected show of support for Dustin was a surprise. "Dahlia, why are you helping him?" Elena was shocked. Her actions now were clearly out of character for her usual cold personality."I'm just curious. I want to see why he's so confident of winning this race," Dahlia said indifferently. Although that was what she said, an odd sensation prickled her mind. It was like she had acted impulsively to defend this stranger. It was truly unusual."Since Ms. Nicholson is so interested, let's indulge him this once," Jayden said politely. "Out of respect for Ms. Nicholson, I'll give you a chance to lose gracefully. Now, get on your horse!"Roxanne mounted Midnight Shadow and looked down at Dustin in contempt. With ten million in the bag, she had no reaso
"Come on, come on! Keep up!"Pick up the pace! Come on, faster!"As Roxanne rode Midnight Shadow, she paused frequently, looking back to taunt Dustin. She didn't take Dustin seriously at all and began fooling around. When she got bored, she even circled the pony. This frightened the pony, causing it to run even slower."Is this even a race? It's like she's taking her dog out for a walk!" "Exactly! He's so calm even when Roxanne is toying with him. It's embarrassing!" Roxanne's friends openly mocked the situation."He openly challenged Roxanne without a good horse and riding skills? What an ignorant fool!" Vivian said scornfully."What a clown. If this useless trash wins, I'll eat a load of shit!" Evan scoffed."He's a grown man being humiliated by a woman. If I were him, I'd find myself a hole to hide in. It's so embarrassing!" Elena mocked. Ever since Dustin slapped her, she had been holding a grudge. Roxanne's actions now felt like a satisfying form of revenge on her beha
It was truly unusual. "How is this even possible? The pony outran a Thoroughbred?""What the hell just happened? How could he have won?""What the hell was Roxanne doing? Why didn't she just gallop straight to the finish line? Why did she waste time?"After Dustin won, the entire scene was thrown into chaos. Everyone gaped in disbelief, finding it hard to accept. In the beginning, they were certain that Roxanne would win. The horse race proceeded exactly as expected, with Midnight Shadow dominating the entire course. However, no one could have predicted that at the last moment, Midnight Shadow would suddenly falter and refuse to run.What just happened? Was it a protest? A tantrum? "We won! We won! Dustin won!" After collecting herself, Sheila beamed as she cheered and leaped for joy. She couldn't believe that Dustin had won even after choosing a pony. It was truly astonishing!"This guy was lucky. He won just like that." Vivian was irritated. "What the fuck? How? H
"Oh my God!" The crowd was shocked as they watched Roxanne fly in the air. Nobody expected Midnight Shadow to kick her. They could hear bones cracking even from afar. "Roxanne!" Jayden screamed and rushed up to her anxiously. He turned her over and was shocked at what he saw. Her face had been disfigured till it was hard to recognize her. It was a frightening sight. Although he had basic medical knowledge, it was limited to treating minor injuries like setting dislocated bones. There was nothing he could do about her injury."Quick! Someone call a doctor!" When he realized the severity of the situation, Jayden started yelling. His words snapped everyone into action. Soon, a severely injured Roxanne was carried away. Jayden's group departed with her in a hurry. Before Jayden left, he glared at Dustin, full of hatred. "That was terrifying. She flew a few feet away. Can the doctors even save her appearance?""She can only blame herself. She lost, so why did she have to b
"Thank you, Ms. Nicholson, but that won't be necessary." Dustin shook his head without taking the name card. "What?" Dahlia raised her eyebrow, surprised. "Are you sure you don't want to think about it?"There were only a few people who would reject her offer. Dustin not only rejected it altogether, he didn't even hesitate."No, thank you. Being an insurance agent is pretty good. I won't adapt to a corporate lifestyle." Dustin declined again. "Hey! Do you know how many people are dying to get into Ms. Nicholson's company? She's giving you a chance, don't be ungrateful!" Elena said arrogantly.As Sir Mosey's goddaughter, even the aristocrats in Oakvale had to show Dahlia respect. How dare an insurance agent decline her offer? He was disrespectful!"Why don't you take the offer instead? I don't need it." Dustin glanced at her coldly."You—!" Elena was about to retort when Dahlia raised her hand to stop her."Forget about it. Since he refused, I won't force him. I'll be off
"Uncle Edgar, these are my friends! What are you doing?" Sheila was shocked and stood before her friends with her arms wide open."Hmph! They're nothing but a bunch of troublemakers! "Just one look and you could tell that they're bad influences! Now, step aside!" Edgar roared."No! They're innocent! You can't hurt them!" Sheila reasoned."Mr. Murray, we didn't do anything. This is a misunderstanding!" Vivian hastily explained."That's right! It was an accident that Roxanne got hurt. It has nothing to do with us!" The group was panicking.Edgar was a very decisive man and held authority within the family. It would only lead to trouble if they were to be apprehended by him. Even if they escaped death, they would probably still be tortured."Still trying to argue your way out? If it wasn't for your schemes, how would Midnight Shadow have suddenly gone berserk? "Do you think I'm stupid?" Edgar bellowed.Based on the information he received earlier, he found two aspects of the
Mulder's body trembled, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His energy drained, and his entire being seemed to collapse.Dustin's finger flick had not only shattered his sword but also injured his internal organs. With the effects of the enhanced serum wearing off, Mulder was now back to his original state and completely spent.His once-powerful frame now shrank like a punctured balloon. He looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Mulder could no longer fight. Even standing up was a challenge."He's finished," Dustin said coolly, then looked at Warrick. "Now it's your turn.""Hmm?" Warrick frowned, and his expression turned serious.Dustin's display of strength earlier had made him feel a sense of crisis. If they fought head-on, there was no telling who would come out on top.But Warrick was just one step away from escaping West Lucozia, bound for Artea and a life of freedom and luxury. He had no intention of risking his life in battle unless he absolutely
"This is interesting." Dustin smirked as the dense barrage of swords came slashing down at him. In the blink of an eye, his figure dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.A storm of sword shadows carrying the force that could split rivers and overturn seas crashed down on the fishing boat where he had just been standing. The entire vessel broke apart in an instant—some sinking into the depths while others drifted across the water."What? He dodged it?" Warrick's eyes flickered with surprise.Mulder's attack just now had been a 360-degree attack. Once caught in its range, there was no chance to dodge—only the option to endure. He couldn't understand how Dustin had managed to avoid it. Did he just teleport?"Hiding like a coward? What kind of warrior are you? Come fight me face-to-face."Frustrated after his attack missed again, Mulder grew desperate. His enhanced serum would only last for 15 minutes. If this dragged on, he'd collapse from exhaustion before Dustin even touche
"Oh? Are we going all out now?" Dustin smirked, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.Mulder, who had advanced to become a grandmaster martial artist through drugs, had a weak foundation. Even after taking the enhanced serum, he still posed no threat to Dustin. If Mulder were a hundred times stronger, he might just barely be able to fight Dustin.As the serum's effects pushed his body to the limit, Mulder suddenly let out a furious roar. His muscles swelled rapidly, and his bones cracked as they expanded. His body grew larger at an alarming rate, and his clothes tore apart under the strain.His six-foot frame stretched to nearly seven feet in mere moments as his body swelled to monstrous proportions. His face twisted fiercely, and his skin darkened as black scales surfaced.With another guttural growl, his roar turned beastlike. He grabbed his shredded shirt and ripped it away, exposing his broad chest covered in dark scales. A faint, eerie sheen flickered across their surface."D
Dustin's words made Mulder frown.Mulder knew all too well that Warrick was the kind of man who had no sense of loyalty or honor. If Warrick could kill his own personal guards without hesitation, what would stop him from killing a stranger? Mulder was certain that the moment things went south, Warrick would be the first to flee. Given the choice, he'd never willingly risk his life as Warrick's sacrificial pawn. But now, there was no turning back.With his undercover identity exposed and him helping Warrick escape, Mulder became a sworn enemy of West Lucozia. His name was now on the most-wanted list.Tonight was their best chance to escape. If they missed it, finding another way out would be nearly impossible.There was only one path left for him—kill whoever stood in his way and make it onto that escape boat."Enough talk, punk. Let's see what you're really made of," Mulder said.After weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and finally decided to draw his longsword. His fig
"You had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next," Dustin said.With a slight squeeze of his fingers, the steel blades clamped between them shattered with a sharp clang.Before the two Hall of Gods members could even react, Dustin waved his hand.The two men were sent flying as if they'd been hit by a truck, hurtling over 30 feet through the air. Blood sprayed from their mouths and noses before they hit the ground. They were critically injured and on the verge of death.Dustin slowly turned his head and looked at the man who had just tried to ambush him.The man glanced at the broken sword in his hand, then at Dustin, who looked utterly unfazed. He hesitated for a split second—then bolted.With a powerful leap, he dove straight for the sea. He knew Dustin's strength was on a completely different level. There was no chance of outrunning him on land, so the only hope was to disappear into the water.It might have worked—if not for what happened next.Just before he hit
"You're not a fisherman? Who the hell are you?"Mulder's guard shot up the moment he got a clear look at the young man's face.Fishermen who spent their days at sea were usually tanned from the sun, but this one had a fair complexion. It felt a little strangeNoticing something was off, the men behind Mulder drew their blades and fixed their sharp gazes on the fisherman.The so-called fisherman standing guard wasn't just anyone—it was Dustin, who had been waiting for them all along.Since his plan was set in motion, he'd been stationed there from morning until midnight. After what felt like an eternity, his targets had finally arrived."Isn't it obvious? I'm here to capture you."Dustin rose from the deck and rolled his shoulders before speaking in an even tone. "If you don't want to die, surrender now. Otherwise, it'll be too late.""Watch out! It could be an ambush." Mulder swiftly pulled out his dagger. His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings for any sign of hidden troops.
As night fell, Warrick sat motionless in his room as he tried to calm his mind through meditation. He had always been able to clear his mind with ease. But tonight, no matter how hard he tried, focus eluded him. A restless unease settled over him and refused to let him relax.Nearly two hours passed before Mulder's scouts finally returned. This time, they brought good news.The smuggling route they had scouted was completely safe, with no signs of an ambush. The West Lucozia army had yet to discover this potential escape route.Once everything was confirmed, Mulder let out a breath of relief. Warrick, too, finally felt the weight lift from his chest."Since the route is safe, we should set out immediately to avoid any unexpected complications." Warrick said. He had no intention of waiting any longer. He was a wanted man, and every moment in West Lucozia increased his chances of capture. There was no telling when the army might surround him. Only by escaping to Thaloria would he
After a hearty meal, the burly Warrick sprawled lazily onto the bed and dozed off. He slept soundly till dusk, lost in a deep dream. When the sky was painted in brilliant hues of the setting sun, only then did he wake up leisurely.The exhaustion from the previous day seemed to have melted away. He felt invigorated, refreshed, and in high spirits.At that moment, Leigh had already set the table in the hall with quiet efficiency. Compared to the first meal, this spread was far more lavish.At the center of the table sat a whole roasted pig. Its golden-brown skin glistened with a rich, crispy sheen. The mouthwatering aroma filled the room, making it impossible not to crave a bite.Warrick had never been one for formalities. The moment he saw the feast, he didn't hesitate. He strode over, took a seat, and started digging in. He ate with zero restraint without sparing a single thought for Mulder, who was still out gathering intel.After a while, half of the roast pig was gone. His fac
"Who is it?" Warrick's grip tightened around the hilt of his steel blade. His eyes, sharp and alert, were like those of a startled predator—full of caution and menace.For the past few days, he had been on edge, like a cornered animal. He barely slept and was constantly on high alert, fearing danger would strike at any moment.The door slowly creaked open. An elderly man with gray hair stepped inside with a tray of fruit and pastries in both hands.Before he could even register what was happening, a flash of cold steel appeared, and Warrick's blade was at the elderly man's throat.The elderly man trembled with fear. The tray slipped from his grasp, and fruit and pastries scattered on the floor."Easy, Sir Prescott. He's one of us." Mulder stepped forward and pressed down on the flat of Warrick's blade with a finger. He smiled and explained, "His name's Leigh Houston. He's mute and has served the Hall of Gods for years. He keeps watch over this tunnel entrance and has never slipp