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
"Mr. Harrison! They're right here. My men spotted them coming in." This announcement caused a stir as a group from the martial arts alliance enforcement team stormed into the arena.At the forefront was a stern figure in black clothing. He was an alliance supervisor. Next to him was the enforcement team captain, who had been injured earlier by Dustin."Oh no! The enforcement team is here!" Lyn's expression changed as she quickly stood in front of Dustin. "Mr. Rhys, they're looking for you. You should leave now. I'll distract them," she said, wanting to repay Dustin for saving her life earlier."Lyn, why are you worried about him? Many alliance members are on their way. Let's hide and avoid the situation," Toddy suggested. He had the confidence, but not enough to take on the entire alliance."Mr. Rhys, please leave! If you don't, it will be too late!" Lyn became concerned as Dustin refused to leave."I'm not afraid of Graham, so why should I fear these guys?" Dustin smiled and
No one anticipated Dustin's impressive background. Many believed he was a disciple from a small guild with above-average abilities. But now, it was clear that this seemingly ordinary young man was actually the young grandmaster.Dustin's outstanding performance at the Knighthood Society Tournament, his victory over Augustus at Shinefield Lake, and the events in the Black Forest have solidified his legendary status in the martial world.In addition, Dustin challenged the leader of the martial arts alliance. Each of these events had a profound impact.He outshone his peers, and even veteran grandmasters were eclipsed by his reputation. Seeing this living legend in person put everyone in awe."Is he really a young grandmaster?" Lance was so startled that his body shook uncontrollably. He couldn't believe the person he had challenged was the legendary genius behind these extraordinary events. Dustin had defeated him with only one finger, and his leader had suddenly fled. Everythi
The captain immediately snapped out of his stupor. He quickly went forward and cowered. He showed his respect, and his voice trembled as he said, "Grandmaster Rhys, I take full responsibility. Please forgive me."Suddenly, a thunderous cry rang out. "What in the world are you doing?"Quincey and a group of top martial arts alliance members entered the arena. When he saw the captain and Wayne in such an embarrassing position, his expression darkened."You are a disgrace! Your actions have brought shame to our alliance!" Quincey stormed toward the two and slapped them. The two severely beaten people, feeling unjustly treated, hesitated to retaliate. They wondered if asking a grandmaster for mercy had been a mistake or if they should just accept their fate."Mr. Reeds, this is Grandmaster Rhys. The one who has challenged Sir Reeds," Wayne said nervously. He hoped Quincey would forgive him.Quincey angrily exclaimed, "You still dare to speak?" He continued to slap Wayne.He added
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs. From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods' plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining. According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power. Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher c