Sheila was surprised by Dustin's irrational behavior. She never imagined he would become violent over a minor disagreement. At first, she believed he was a good person, but his actions have left her bitter and skeptical. "Ms. Murray, I'm joking. You have nothing to worry about. I'll not use violence unless provoked," he said calmly.Vivian retorted, "Hmph! You're saying you're only joking? If Sheila hadn't intervened, things could have turned violent!"Evan added, "Dustin, knowing martial arts doesn't justify reckless behavior. The Murray residence is no place for such conduct!""If someone doesn't annoy me, I don't resort to violence. But if they do, I might. That's my advice, and I'll give you a break now," Dustin said coldly."Sheila, this guy is out of control. You should consider kicking him out before he disrupts the celebration!" Vivian suggested, hoping Sheila would agree."Vivian is right, Sheila. One troublemaker can ruin the celebration. Today, we're celebrating Gen
"Sheila! They're lying!" Vivian was concerned about the situation. She continued, "All this talk about saving you and repaying their kindness is nonsense. From the moment Dustin approached you, it was all part of his master plan to win your favor. Don't be fooled by him!"Evan interjected, "She's right, Sheila! He's a sly guy with hidden motives. You have to be careful!"As she listened to them, Sheila's momentary guilt vanished. She realized that Dustin's actions were not out of genuine kindness. Instead, he had ulterior motives. She saw his true nature yesterday. And now, she no longer felt any obligation or kindness toward him.Sheila took a deep breath and glanced at Dustin. "Dustin! I don't want to see you anymore. Please leave.""You—"Just as Cornelius was about to say something, Dustin interrupted him.Dustin looked disappointed. "Miss Murray, it seems you don't like me. Then, I'll leave now. Goodbye." With that, he turned and walked to the door.He noticed her deter
"Is this punk looking for trouble?" Caden narrowed his eyes, his expression hostile.Diego, who was sitting with the other guests, couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Well, this is getting interesting."After what had happened last night, he had expected Dustin to run away and hide. But Dustin's bold appearance at the Murray residence had caught him off guard."The kid's in trouble now! General Murray has his eye on him. He won't get away today!" Evan chuckled maliciously. "He brought it upon himself! He could've left earlier and avoided the whole mess. But no, he chose to stay and become a pain in the ass. He really wants to be in trouble!" Vivian sneered, her face filled with gloating satisfaction.They believed Christopher had learned what had happened to Jayden and wanted revenge."General Murray, please accept my well wishes. I've some other matters to take care of, so I'll take my leave," Dustin said. He bowed courteously and walked away."Stop!"Evan suddenly lunged
"Ouch!"Evan and Vivian winced at the unexpected slap that caught them off guard. They held their burning cheeks, confused by the sudden turn of events. They couldn't understand Christopher's actions, especially since Dustin was the troublemaker. The Murray family and their guests were also baffled. No one had expected Christopher to slap someone out of anger on his special day."General … General Murray." Evan tried to argue. "Did you confuse us with someone else? This punk is causing trouble and should be dealt with."Vivian added, "Yes, General Murray, he even assaulted Mr. Murray last night. He committed a crime and should be punished." She believed that Christopher might not know the truth."Quiet!" Christopher glowered at them. His authoritative voice filled the room. He continued, "Dustin saved my granddaughter's life. He's the savior of the Murray family and my most esteemed guest. Any more of this nonsense, and I'll have you removed!"Anxiety set in as Evan and V
As more and more guests arrived, there was a great commotion in the banquet hall."Hello, I'm the regional chief of Aurumvale. I wish General Murray a year filled with health and happiness!" "I'm Cullen Avery from Advantia. May General Murray's birthday be as wonderful as the memories you've created.""I'm the president of the Haydon Group. I wish General Murray a birthday filled with love and gratitude!" After their arrival was announced, a group of well-dressed guests entered the room. Among them were leading military leaders, mayors, affluent business moguls, and prominent figures. They all had rare and valuable gifts with them. "Thank you all for coming to celebrate with us. Please, take your seats," Edgar, the next family patriarch, warmly welcomed the guests. Christopher, the man of the hour, acknowledged the well-wishes with a smile."Sir Gage has arrived!" A clear voice cut through the chatter, and all eyes turned to the entrance. A middle-aged man dressed in whi
A shiver ran down Edgar and Caden's spines as they exchanged uneasy glances. In their family, Gage had always been the golden child. Everyone favored him.The brothers couldn't help but wonder why Christopher wasn't happy about Gage's return. What caused him to put on such a stern expression even though it had been five years? Any past misunderstandings between father and son should have been cleared up long ago."Father, it's my fault for being ignorant and a fool in the past. I'm sorry," Gage said. He showed respect to his father. He continued, "I've reflected on myself over the years, and I know it's my fault. I hope you forgive me.""Hmm?" Christopher raised an eyebrow. He knew Gage's stubbornness, so he was surprised to hear him own up to his past mistakes. After years apart, he had never expected his son to apologize. Gage's change and newfound maturity shocked him."Dad, the past is the past. Gage has admitted his mistakes. Please forgive him," Edgar tried to mediate
Christopher eagerly opened the gift box. But his smile instantly vanished when he saw what was inside. The box contained no precious gift or token of affection but plain white silk.Christopher raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is this the gift you prepared?""What's the matter, Father? Don't you like it?" Gage remained calm and humble."Do you like it?" Christopher's expression grew stern. He exclaimed, "Look what you gave me!" He threw the gift box to the floor, where it cracked open, and the white silk spilled out.The guests in the banquet hall were astounded."What's going on? Why would anyone give the birthday person white cloth?""That's not a white cloth. It's a white silk used for hanging.""White silk? That's strange. Why would anyone give that?""No wonder General Murray was upset. I would be, too. What the hell is Gage thinking?"Whispers and puzzled looks spread through the room. The previously friendly atmosphere grew increasingly tense. "Why did you give this,
A gruesome sound of flesh being cut apart filled the air.Out of nowhere, Gage stabbed Edgar's chest with the knife. Blood oozed from the wound and dripped to the floor."Huh..." Edgar stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the knife lodged in his chest. He never thought his beloved brother would attack him with such ruthlessness.Everyone in the banquet hall was shocked. Who would have thought that Gage, who had been calm and smiling, would attack Edgar? This was no longer a simple drunken fight."You … how could you …" Edgar stammered. He wanted to say more, but the blood gushed from his mouth. Then, his body swayed, and he slumped to the floor."Edgar, don't worry. The blade missed your heart by just an inch. It won't take your life for now. Just lie still and don't make any trouble," Gage said calmly. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off his fingers. His demeanor was strangely calm, as if his actions didn't matter. Christopher was furious. "Bastard! How co
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