"Caitlyn's here with me as well," Maximus replied."After Mr. Jones left, Caitlyn's quite lonely at home. That's why I brought her along for a little adventure. "We haven't been to Oakvale. We heard it was a great place and wanted to see it for ourselves.""Oakvale may be a great place, but it also has its dark sides. You wouldn't even know it if someone sold you out," Dustin said helplessly."That's why we have you, Dustin. We have nothing to be afraid of." Maximus laughed heartily."That's enough. Stop flattering me. Where are you now?" Dustin asked."Oh, we just got off the train. We're at the south station," Maximus replied."Wait there. I'm coming to get you." After the call ended, Dustin asked the driver to turn around and headed straight to the south station.The car stopped at the south station after an hour."Dustin! Over here!"Dustin saw Maximus and Caitlyn waving happily to him as soon as he exited the car. They had a lot of luggage with them. Looking at them,
Dustin didn't force Caitlyn to stay at the five-star hotel. Instead, he took them to another suburb further away from the city and bought a bungalow there. It was fully furnished with two stories and a small garden. They could move in right away after paying for the house.Dustin had been thinking about it. He knew staying at hotels or renting rooms would be inconvenient as he planned to stay longer in Oakvale. With that, he bought a bungalow to make things easier. He had a lot of money anyway.Caitlyn felt much better once they moved into the bungalow. She was glad to find out that it was a good investment, as the property prices around Oakvale were on the rise. Besides, they could save more by cooking at home. It was a sweet deal.Once the house had been paid for, Dustin took both of them to buy daily necessities and showed them around the neighborhood. It was already nightfall when they finally settled in the new house.Dustin and Maximus were both starving at the end
There were around a dozen gaming tables offering different games, and the guests scattered across different tables. In the VIP lounge, guests had a beautiful waitress attending exclusively to their needs as they gambled. It was the epitome of excellent customer service.Only the rich and famous could enter the VIP lounge. The simplest bet could casually start with hundreds of thousands or even millions. For the generous ones, they would even wager tens of millions and hundreds of millions. This was something a commoner could never achieve in their lifetime.Dustin immediately spotted two familiar figures seated at the central table as soon as he entered the VIP lounge. It was Cody and Harper. With Harper's status, it was obvious that she couldn't have entered the VIP lounge alone. Cody must be the person who wanted to meet him."Hey! Dustin's here! Join us! Let's play a few rounds." Cody immediately stood up and welcomed Dustin enthusiastically. Though he wore a friendly smile, the
"Oh?" Pablo followed Cody's gesture and focused his attention on Dustin. He observed Dustin closely, and his eyes glinted with interest. "You're a very impressive young man."Don't just stand there; take a seat. I want to talk to you about something." He sat on a nearby couch and took a sip of red wine from a waiter, looking confident."Dustin, this is the renowned Mr. Hans. I've brought you here to make sure you make a good impression. Don't miss out on this opportunity," Cody said with a half-smile."So, you brought me here for him?" Dustin asked casually."Mr. Rhys, Cody called you here because I want to make a deal with you."Pablo took a long drag from his cigar and exhaled a smoke ring. It drifted lightly towards Dustin's face, dissipating about a foot away from him, vanishing into thin air."A deal?" Dustin remained unfazed. "Are you talking about the Dew balm formula?""Good! I appreciate talking with smart people," Pablo snapped his fingers and grinned. "Now that yo
Upon hearing this, Pablo's smile faded, and his expression hardened. "Mr. Rhys, I can't bear to be rejected again. I have been patient long enough, so don't disappoint me," he warned menacingly."Dustin, you need to be wise. It is a privilege to earn Mr. Hans's favor; stubbornness could only get you in trouble," Cody cautioned."Enough with the chit-chat!" Pablo roared, growing impatient. "I want that Dew Balm formula today! Give it to me, and you'll be safe and get a lot of cash.""What if I say no?" Dustin asked."What if you say no? Hmph!" Pablo sneered, clapping his hands together.The VIP room door burst open, and about 40 to 50 gangsters in suits came storming in. They looked like a bunch of wolves."Kid, this is my territory. A word from me will determine your fate," Pablo said, glaring at Dustin. "If you don't give up that formula today, you may never leave this place.""Mr. Hans, I don't want any trouble. But if you continue to be stubborn, I'm pretty sure I'll en
"Mr. Hans, we all come to the Golden Balcony for a good time. What's gotten you so worked up?" Lana askedHer hips swung as she stepped into the room with a dazzling smile.As soon as she entered, she caught everyone's attention. Her voluptuous figure and the unique allure radiating made her look like a cunning fox."Ms. Camron, I've got some work to attend to, but If you're here for fun, I can arrange a private room," Pablo said, his voice softening though he still held his gun tightly."Mr. Hans, this young man is actually my friend. I hope you can cut him some slack." Lana smiled as she took Dustin's arm affectionately.Dustin was confused but didn't argue. After all, Lana was trying to help him, and he didn't want to embarrass her in front of everyone."A friend?" Pablo glanced around and said icily, "Well, Ms. Camron, your friend is quite bold. "He has refused me multiple times and threatened to damage my Golden Balcony. He does not show me any respect at all.""Really?
Lana smiled flirtatiously at Pablo. "Lana, if you want to have some fun, I'll be happy to join you later," Pablo said, then grabbed her wrist and gave her a wicked grin. "But first, I have to deal with this kid here, so stay put and stay out of trouble.""Mr. Hans, you're hurting me!" Lana complained, her face twisting into a scowl. She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her go."Slut, weren't you trying to seduce me earlier? Once I'm done with this kid, I'm sure your night will be one to remember." Pablo grinned wickedly, drawing Lana closer to him. He looked at Dustin tauntingly. "Kid, it seems like something is going on between you and this slut here, doesn't it? "I doubt your scrawny arms and legs will do her any good, but I'll make sure she has the best time of her life. She'll be on cloud nine.""Mr. Hans, please don't be reckless. I'm from the Camron family!" Lana panicked."What about the Camron family? I'll do whatever I want with you today. Your fami
Pablo's breath caught in his throat, his face flushed, and his forehead veins bulged. He tried to struggle but found his limbs weak. He felt a sudden surge of fear. He had always thought of Dustin as weak as a kitten, but now he looked like a fierce tiger. His strength was so great that Pablo had not doubted that Dustin could snap his neck easily."This is insane!""He's out of control!""Let Mr. Hans go right now!"After a short pause, the VIP room erupted into chaos. The group of gangsters in suits began shouting."Dustin! Have you lost your mind? How dare you touch Mr. Hans? You're only getting yourself into trouble. Let him go!" Cody exclaimed."Rhys, we're at the Golden Balcony. If you hurt Mr. Hans here, you'll suffer consequences you can't imagine," Harper said worriedly. She had brought Dustin in, and any harm to Pablo would put her in a difficult position."I didn't mean to do this, but you put me on the spot. You think I'm easy, don't you?" Dustin said, taking Pa
"Logan, I have to admit that you're stronger than I thought. I never expected you'd push me this far," Poseidon said.His arms slowly spread wide, and his blue eyes glowed with murderous intent. "As a mark of respect, I will give it everything I've got. You'll witness the true extent of my power."With a flick of his hand, he made a grabbing gesture. His trident, which had fallen to the bottom of the sea, shot back up through the water and landed firmly in his grasp.Compared to his earlier arrogance, Poseidon now stood with a newfound seriousness. It wasn't just Dustin's strength that had him on edge but his terrifying potential.At only 20, Dustin already possessed this level of strength. If he continued to grow, he would become a serious threat to the Hall of Gods. Hence, Poseidon resolved to eliminate him today."Watch closely," he said.Poseidon slowly raised his trident and gripped it like a javelin. While channeling his energy into the weapon, it pulsed with an intense blu
Dustin was Dragonmarsh's elite prodigy, while Poseidon was the famous royal god of the Hall of Gods.Every move they exchanged unleashed destructive power. Within moments, the area within a 300-foot radius was reduced to wreckage.Dustin wielded his true energy-infused longsword. Each swing unleashed a blinding flare of light as if it could split the sky apart with the Celestial Blade.On the contrary, Poseidon's trident commanded the winds and rains. Each strike could summon huge rolling waves as if he were a god reigning over the forces of nature.Sword aura clashed against walls of water and plunged the entire area into chaos.Warrick and the others watched with rapt attention. Their eyes were locked on the battle ahead as they tried to make sense of the chaos.But Dustin and Poseidon were moving so fast that their actions were almost impossible to follow. Their movements blurred together, and they could only catch flashes of two figures constantly clashing. Their strikes ca
"Let me correct you," Dustin said.As his hand slowly tightened into a fist, a white longsword formed from his true energy. "In Dragonmarsh, there is no 'God. ' We only have the Lord of the Dead."The moment the words left his mouth, a tempest of sword aura exploded outward. Within a radius of several dozen yards, the winds howled, sand and stones were sent flying, and the waves along the shore grew even more violent."Such overwhelming pressure. That sword aura is insane. Is this Logan's actual strength?"Feeling the surge of energy, Warrick and the others couldn't help but turn pale. It was then they realized that Dustin hadn't been fighting seriously before. Or perhaps, with their strength, they hadn't even earned the right to make him fight for real. They figured only someone of Poseidon's caliber could force Dustin to go all out."Interesting… truly fascinating." Poseidon suddenly laughed. "I thought you were just a pup, but it turns out you're a hungry wolf. Now, this is s
Poseidon hovered in the air with his trident in one hand and radiated a commanding presence. He stood like a god, and his figure was so intimidating that it struck fear into those who beheld him.With a wave of his hand, an invisible energy struck Warrick and expelled the three silver needles from his body. Feeling sensation returned to his limbs, Warrick's face lit up. He quickly rose to his feet and clenched his fist to his chest in salute."Thank you, Lord Poseidon, for saving me. I will never forget this kindness!" he said."No need for formalities, Sir Prescott. Now that you've pledged yourself to the Hall of Gods, it's only natural that I ensure your safety," Poseidon replied with a faint smile as he descended gracefully."Your timely arrival was a blessing," Warrick said as he bowed his head slightly in deference. "Otherwise, we would have perished tonight."The Hall of Gods' royal gods were figures he could only look up to. Everything about Poseidon, from his power to hi
Mulder knew Warrick had been on the battlefield for years, and his physical strength was unmatched. On top of that, he was already halfway to becoming an ultimate grandmaster. Even if Warrick couldn't defeat the prodigious Logan, Mulder figured the difference wouldn't be too big. But he never expected Logan to take down Warrick with a single finger, leaving him severely injured and unable to stand. The difference in their strength was far beyond anything Mulder could have imagined.In other words, Logan had been toying with them from the start and didn't take the fight seriously. If he had, they would've all been dead.Warrick clutched his chest and coughed up blood as he staggered to his feet. His chest was a charred ruin, the flesh torn open and slick with blood. It was an awful, gory mess."I didn't expect you to be this strong. I underestimated you," he growled.He slowly raised his head, and his face twisted with a menacing look. "Guess I was just unlucky to fall into your
"Oh? You guessed it?" Dustin smirked. "Now that you know who I am, it's up to you to decide what to do."If Warrick chose to surrender, Dustin would simply seal his pressure points and leave him to Austin's judgment. But if he resisted, Dustin wouldn't hesitate to cripple him."Haven't you given up your title as the prince? Why did you return? Are you going to compete with Austin for the throne?" Warrick asked.Uncertainty flickered across his face before he continued, "If that's your intention, I can help you. Spare me today, and I guarantee you'll become the next Prince of West Lucozia."Power was a tempting beast. History was filled with stories of brothers turning against each other and fathers murdering their sons for it.In Warrick's mind, Logan's quiet return to West Lucozia meant one thing—he was after the throne."Guarantee?" Dustin scoffed. "What guarantee are you offering?" His voice was dripping with disdain. "You're a cornered rat now. You're barely holding on to you
"Warrick's blade technique is terrifying," Mulder mumbled. "This should be the finishing blow, right?"Watching from a distance, he was awestruck by the dazzling blade aura. Only now did he truly grasp the sheer gulf between Warrick and Dustin.Warrick's strike descended with such overwhelming force that it seemed to split the earth and obliterate everything in its path. Even from 300 feet away, the pressure rolling off it sent a chill down Mulder's spine.Under Mulder's stunned gaze, Warrick brought his full weight down, with blade and body merging into a single force that swallowed Dustin whole.The instant they clashed, an incandescent explosion of light erupted. It was so blinding that Mulder couldn't even open his eyes.A split second later, a deafening blast erupted, and a shockwave shot outward like a tidal surge. The force flattened the waves and overturned several fishing boats docked at the pier.Even Mulder, more than 300 feet away, was caught in the blast and tumbled
"So what if I am? And what if I push even further?" Dustin's smile slowly faded. "If you don't like it, do something about it."There was no reasoning with tyrants like Warrick."Punk, are you really willing to risk your life against me? Have you ever considered what happens if you lose?" Warrick's face turned grim as a wave of killing intent spread from him.He had already taken a step back to avoid unnecessary trouble. If Dustin refused to back down, there was no choice but to fight."Cut the crap. You wanna fight, fight." Dustin didn't bother with more words. With a flick of his wrist, a silver needle shot out and aimed toward Warrick's forehead—silent, unassuming, but deadly."Hmm?" Warrick's brow furrowed as he instinctively raised his arm. Sparks flew as the needle deflected off his arm and buried into the ground."Oh? You've mastered the Adamantine Body Technique?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. At that instant, he saw through Warrick's technique. Not only was he halfway
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