The Celestial Blade turned into a bolt of dark lighting. After piercing through Antonio's chest, it returned to Dustin's hand.Blood flowed down slowly from the blade, gathering at the tip before dripping onto the ground. It created a blossom of bloodstains.Meanwhile, Antonio's body trembled and plummeted from midair, crashing heavily onto the ground. He landed on his knees, freezing in a motionless kneeling position. Silence engulfed the entire place. It was so intense that one could hear the faintest sound of a pin dropping. A collective shock seized them all. Their faces were etched with sheer astonishment.They never could have imagined that Kimboku's mighty Sword Sage, the highly skilled Antonio, would be pierced through the chest by Dustin's sword. The entire situation happened so suddenly and without any warning that no one had time to react. All they witnessed was a bolt of dark lightning, and the next thing they knew, Antonio was already seen on his knees. "Ugh …
Even the major official institutions would have to treat Dustin with utmost respect. Dustin was young, and he displayed formidable strength. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he could easily stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Christopher in the future. A young prodigy like him was someone to be admired and looked up to for a lifetime. The biggest issue was that Evan, Vivian, and their group had treated Dustin with disdain and contempt. They had even resorted to offensive language. If Dustin ever chose to retaliate, the consequences would be unimaginable.The thought sent shivers down their spines. They regretted having offended Dustin and how foolish they acted. They had underestimated him, causing them to miss out on a valuable talent. If they had established a good relationship with Dustin, they could have effortlessly risen to greater heights."Impressive, kid. You hid your true abilities so well that even I didn't notice," Christopher remarked. He exhaled a long sigh of r
Christopher had chosen his words intentionally. On one hand, he genuinely admired Dustin. He saw him as a young talent who excelled in both the martial and literary arts and had a promising future. Not only that, he also had an impeccable character and a pleasant personality. A young prodigy like him was a rare find in the whole of Dragonmarsh. If only Dustin could become his grandson-in-law, the Murray family would be in good hands. On the other hand, he had Sheila's well-being in mind. She was a kind-hearted and rather innocent girl who easily fell for deceit. She needed a strong protector by her side, and Dustin was the best choice. They were the perfect match. Sheila stood quietly behind the both of them. Her face was tinged with a blush, reflecting both shyness and anticipation. She waited for Dustin's response, hoping to hear the answer she desired."Thank you for thinking highly of me, General Murray. But an ordinary citizen like me is not worthy of Ms. Murray."
Christopher let out a soft sigh. "The more talented one is, the more prideful they become. "Going back to how things used to be won't be easy. You've made your decision. While he may not blame you, things will never be the same.""What should I do?" Sheila was visibly anxious."Just go with the flow, Sheila. Only time will tell. Perhaps you can meet again someday." Christopher shook his head.Although that was the advice he offered, he knew it was too late. Once a rift had formed, no matter how hard one tried to mend it, the scar would remain. …After leaving the Murray residence, Dustin drove back to Zephyr Lodge.As soon as he walked through the doors, an anxious Cornelius rushed out to meet him.yelleding as he ran, "Sir Rhys, we have a problem! We have a big problem!""Huh?" Dustin frowned instantly."What happened? Why are you so anxious? Calm down and tell me.""I-It's the Scarlet Warrior. She's here!" Cornelius was breaking out in sweat."What about it? It's not li
"Say that again?" Scarlet's expression was frosty. She pointed the tip of her sword against Natasha's throat. If she just pushed forward an inch more, Natasha would easily end up dead. "Hmm?" Natasha frowned at the sight of the blade against her throat. She hadn't expected Scarlet to have such a bad temper and draw her sword without a word. She was also certain that Scarlet was serious. If she provoked her further, she would be as good as dead. It seemed like she had met her match. This woman before her was harder to deal with than Dahlia. "Stop it!" Amid their deadlock, Dustin suddenly rushed in. "Dustin, you're here!" Scarlet immediately sheathed her sword. Her previous cold demeanor was replaced by a smile."Scarlet, what were you doing earlier?" Dustin frowned, evidently displeased. "Nothing, I was just joking around with Ms. Harmon," Scarlet said with a smile. "Joking around?" Dustin turned to Natasha and asked softly, "Are you hurt?""I'm fine. I was bored e
Half an hour later, two luxury cars slowly pulled up in front of A'roma. The doors opened, and Dustin and his group got off one after the other. A'roma was a newly opened restaurant. It was known for its excellent ambiance, service, and food. The restaurant had garnered favorable reviews. There were many high-ranking officials and prominent figures who frequented the place. They had made a prior reservation. Thus, a few senior waitresses promptly led Dustin and his group to the second floor. On the second floor was the VIP area. Regular VIP patrons sat in the main hall, with decorative screens placed between tables.Meanwhile, higher-tiered VIPs had private rooms. They enjoyed a better experience in terms of environment and services. "Ms. Harmon, this way, please." A senior waitress dressed in a white shirt smiled as she led the group. She brought them to the entrance of a private room named Celestial Room 3.She opened the door and was about to walk in when a woman dress
Dustin found it amusing. "Is this the kind of service A'roma provides? Requesting us to switch rooms for no apparent reason and not even being polite about it? "Are you trying to take advantage of your customers?"How were they supposed to enjoy their meal when they were being forced to switch rooms for a few people?"What exactly do you want, sir?" Sue was unhappy. "Are you saying you should be compensated? Fine, as long as you agree to switch rooms, I'll cover the cost of a complimentary fruit platter. That should do it, right?" She looked at him in disdain. "Firstly, I don't need compensation. Secondly, offering us a mere fruit platter as compensation? What do you take us for? Beggars?"In a restaurant, the customer usually came first. Yet, the woman before him seemed to ignore that completely. "You better not be difficult, sir. We have rules in this restaurant. If you're unhappy, you're always welcome to leave!" Sue was annoyed. Their restaurant was booming. Losing a f
"Ugh …" Sue couldn't breathe. As her feet dangled in the air, her face turned red. A sense of impending doom spread through her. She never expected the silent white-haired woman to be that strong. She was able to lift her up effortlessly with just one hand. She had no doubt that if the woman exert some force into it, her neck would snap."No need, just two slaps as a lesson will do," Dustin said."Okay." Scarlet nodded and delivered two hard slaps. The slaps left Sue dazed and disoriented. Her teeth were knocked out, and her nose was bleeding. After hitting her, Scarlet threw her out the door like a piece of trash.Sue coughed violently, and her face was pale and swollen. It took her a while to recover."You … you guys are too much! I will not let you get away with this!"Sue grimaced and made her way downstairs in a rush. However, as soon as she reached the foot of the staircase, she collided with a group of people. Tumbling to the ground, she let out cries of pain. "
When Dustin heard Felicia's word, his hand briefly hesitated before he placed the chess piece. He smiled and said, "I thought you came to learn chess, but I didn't expect you to be here as a messenger."Felicia gave a light, teasing laugh. "With a mind like yours, how could you not know why I'm here?"She added candidly, "Prince Nathaniel saved my life and welcomed me as an honored guest. It's only right that I repay the favor by helping solve his troubles. I hope that it doesn't bother you.""You're frank and gracious, Ms. Thorns. Why would I take offense?" Dustin replied with a faint smile.He had expected her to start with pleasantries or try to butter him up. So, her bluntness actually caught him off guard."To be honest, Prince Nathaniel has never taken this kind of interest in anyone before," Felicia said as she placed another chess piece on the board. She smiled and continued, "I can tell he truly wants you on his side. And as someone close to him, I'd like to help make
Nathaniel's mansion was huge. It was more like a maze than a home. Even with a detailed layout, Dustin had to stay sharp as he moved through the grounds. After all, blueprints never quite captured the twists and turns of the actual place.Led by a maid, he followed a winding path through the corridors for nearly ten minutes before finally arriving at a guesthouse with a garden.The place was spacious and quiet, filled with birdsong and blooming flowers. It was a secluded spot that was ideal for privacy."Mr. Rhys, you can stay here. If you need anything, just let me know," the maid said. Her gaze was warm with a hint of admiration. She had watched Dustin's performance in the training ground earlier and knew he was an important guest brought in by Nathaniel. If she could catch his attention, it could completely turn her life around.He waved her off and said, "Okay. You can go now. I don't need anyone to attend to me." "Uh… but…" The maid hesitated."Don't worry. I'll explain
The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas' face."That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too," someone commented."I never expected General Derin's secret move to be defeated like that. It's unbelievable," another said."I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost," a third added.Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin's strike shattered his broadsword.Lycas' loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.Even with Dustin's movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing. That strike wasn't just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display
Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative."Nice form," Dustin said.As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush. The broadsword whizz
Bryce knew Dustin was strong, but this was beyond anything he anticipated. Though he had gained the upper hand early on, Bryce still believed his skills matched Dustin's.From his observation, Dustin relied on martial arts techniques and hit-and-run tactics. Plus, he didn't dare to confront Bryce head-on.He had assumed that as long as he found an opening, he could exploit Dustin's weaknesses and defeat him. But when Dustin finally stopped holding back, Bryce realized how wrong he'd been.It turned out Dustin wasn't just playing hit-and-run tactics. Instead, he'd held back the entire time to spare Bryce from an embarrassing defeat.The moment Dustin stopped holding back, Bryce didn't stand a chance. Even without special techniques, Dustin's raw power, speed, and reflexes were enough to crush him.The difference in their abilities was staggering, so much so that no amount of skill could close the gap.And it wasn't just Bryce who was shocked. Except for Nathaniel, who had already
Bryce's request for a fight heated up the atmosphere.Soldiers around the training ground started murmuring among themselves."Lieutenant General Gantz is a legend in our ranks. His combat skills are no joke—he's taken down countless enemies on the battlefield. I haven't seen him in action in years," one young soldier said with awe."Yeah," a veteran agreed. "Lieutenant General Gantz has been through countless battles, and his strength is unmatched. If he steps in, Mr. Rhys might be in for a rough time."After the fight earlier, the soldiers knew firsthand that Dustin was no slouch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have easily defeated the five elite soldiers.But in their minds, no matter how skilled Dustin was, he stood no chance against Bryce.Bryce was a grandmaster not just in rank but in skill, physical strength, and battlefield experience. He was stronger than any expert from the martial world.Nathaniel had once recruited several grandmaster martial artists to spar with them, but
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern