Josie impressed everyone with her agility."Cloud palm technique!" she shouted. As she got closer, her palm hit Toddy from below. She aimed for his chest and abdomen.Toddy scoffed, "Just a petty trick." But before he could fight back, her palm hit his chest.In an instant, it felt as if he had been hit by a speeding car, and he flew several feet into the air. He spat out a cloud of gruesome mist in the form of blood. With a dull thud, he crashed to the ground and slid several feet before coming to a halt."Toddy!"The Moonlight Reverence disciples were shocked and rushed to his side. They couldn't believe their senior had been defeated so easily.A single blow was enough to send Toddy flying. It surprised them, and they began to doubt his supposed strength. Some wondered if Toddy was as weak as he looked."He was talking big before the fight. I thought he'd be strong because of his confidence. It turned out to be the opposite.""He's completely useless. He couldn't even take
"If you're not skilled enough, you shouldn't even think about trying a surprise attack.""Being brought down in a single move is embarrassing, and now, you've also lost your dignity.""If I were you, I'd probably look for a place to hide."When Toddy's surprise attack failed, the crowd erupted in laughter at his expense. Their faces were full of scorn and mockery.Dealing with such public humiliation was hard for anyone."No … this can't be real."Surrounded by ridicule, Toddy began to doubt himself for the first time. He was the strongest senior disciple in Moonlight Reverence. With his exceptional talent and strength, he was destined to become a grandmaster.Yet, he had suffered a humiliating defeat and injured himself in a failed surprise attack. He wondered if the difference between them was so great or if he really lacked the ability."You ungrateful punk! I spared you, and you still had the gall to launch a surprise attack?" Josie's expression turned icy. "If you want t
When did another skilled young martial artist emerge in the martial world?"Josie, are you in any trouble?"Suddenly, a man dressed in green approached her. He was accompanied by a group of young martial artists. The man in green had a commanding air and a piercing gaze. His presence was so powerful that it forced onlookers to avert their eyes."Look at their clothes. They seem to be the members of the Soul Reapers?""You're right. He's Lance Alcott, the top disciple of the Soul Reapers.""Huh? Lance Alcott? I've heard that he's an outstanding young martial arts master. He has unmatched marksmanship and mysterious strength. He's considered to be the best martial artist of the younger generation. He even surpassed Josie.""If Lance is here, the situation will only get more interesting."The appearance of Lance caught everyone's attention. It was worth noting that the Soul Reapers was a prestigious guild like Boulderthorn. Although they didn't have as many members, the Soul Re
Seriously! Is this guy crazy? Is that how he talks to Lance?""The kid is pretty rude, doesn't he? He doesn't seem to realize how serious the situation is.""Can you believe it? A martial artist from a small guild challenging the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers? He's just looking for trouble!"Dustin's words caused a stir in the crowd.The martial artists were pointing and talking, and everyone stared at Dustin as if he were a fool. They wondered if it would be wiser to back down in the face of such a capable fighter as Lance.Dustin could have shown some respect and used polite words, even if it made him uncomfortable. That would have been safer than provoking Lance when he clearly couldn't win."What's going through that guy's mind?"Josie frowned. She didn't want to escalate the situation, but Dustin's words had only made things worse. It wasn't her problem anymore. But now, the reputation and honor of the Soul Reapers was at stake."Mr. Rhys, he's the Soul Reapers
"Lance, catch!" One of the disciples from the Soul Reapers tossed a finely crafted steel spear. As Lance grasped the spear, he appeared fierce and dominant. His exceptional spear skills and advanced training had made him a renowned figure. He was undefeated in the martial world for years. Today, he intended to impress the martial community again with his exceptional skills."Brat, you're one of the few who have made me use my spear in years. If you meet your end today, consider it an honor." Lance scowled.With a swift thrust, the long spear shot forward like an arrow. Lance quickly narrowed the distance as he held the shaft and spun it rapidly.Instantly, he became one with his spear. He charged forward like a dark storm. As he moved, a whirlwind followed him, causing the nearby martial artists to tremble in fear."Celestial Pursuit!" Lance and his spear became an unstoppable force as he advanced toward Dustin. His menacing presence shocked the spectators."What an incredib
"Whoa! Can you believe it? This guy took down the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers with just one finger?""What's going on? How can this kid be so strong?""Where did this monster come from? Did he actually defeat Lance? That's terrifying, isn't it?"The unexpected turn of events caused quite a stir.Everyone had expected Lance to win, but Dustin overpowered him. This showed a clear difference in their abilities, and it amazed them."Is he really that powerful?"Josie was taken aback. Initially, she assumed Dustin was only good at hidden weapons, but his physical power was astonishing. With a single finger, he had effortlessly flung Lance into the air. Among the martial artists of Balerno, no one was his equal."Rhys … Mr. Rhys defeated Lance?" Lyn rubbed her eyes in disbelief. She had always admired the chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers. Even so, Dustin's easy victory was incredible."The chief senior disciple of the Soul Reapers? He's so weak! He couldn't e
Although the voice wasn't particularly loud, a commanding presence in the room silenced the noisy crowd.The stout old man with the white beard entered, radiating authority. He wore a black robe and had a gruff appearance with piercing eyes. As he walked, his robe fluttered in the wind. Although he wasn't particularly strong, he exuded a profound sense of grace.Without doing anything, all eyes were on him. It was Graham, the leader of the Soul Reapers."Sir Thorne is finally here. Something big is about to happen.""The kid dares to challenge Sir Thorne. There's going to be trouble.""Why be so foolish? Why provoke a grandmaster? Let's see how he handles it now!""Words can really lead to trouble!"People whispered, pointing their fingers. Some even had pity in their eyes. They thought Dustin had taken it too far when he challenged Graham."It's over now." Lyn trembled."Wow, this guy is playing with fire! Why mess with a grandmaster? That's like asking for trouble. I hope
"Huh …"As the crowd watched Graham hastily retreat, they were all confused. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and they wondered what had happened.Graham, the respected grandmaster and leader of the Soul Reapers, had actually been scared away? What had become of his authority and dignity?Lance hesitated before asking, "Master Thorne! Where are you going?" "I have urgent business at home. I'll be back soon." Graham's trembling voice came from a distance, and he quickly left.Graham's earlier injuries from the Black Forest had not recovered. Now that he was facing Dustin again, he realized running away was the best thing to do. If he ran into Dustin again, it could cost him his life. Making a wise decision meant preserving his life, even if it required swallowing some pride.Lance was speechless for a moment. Since joining the guild, he had never seen his mentor appear so shaken. He wondered what could have terrified Graham to this extent."What's going on? Why did Sir Thorne
"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
"Here's the problem—even if we know Warrick's intentions, how do we stop him?" Austin asked.Right now, Warrick had already disappeared without a trace. Austin's team hadn't even come close enough to get a hold of him, so there was no way to track him down.West Lucozia's vast territory and resources made it impossible to seal off every exit route completely. While it might be manageable in the short term, prolonging such an operation would significantly impact West Lucozia's economy. Wasting resources on a single fugitive wasn't a wise move."Warrick is a wanted man across the entire city. There's no way he's leaving through official channels. He'll have to sneak his way out," Dustin analyzed. He continued, "According to the maritime charts, if he's traveling from West Lucozia to Artea, he'll have to go through Thaloria. That's our lead. Get someone on it immediately—find out how many smuggling routes there are from West Lucozia to Thaloria.""Got it. I'll get it done right away