Don't pick a fight you can't handle."Think fast. If you don't spill the beans, I'm going to use this poison for your extreme makeover." As he spoke, Dustin unscrewed the bottle. He held it threateningly over Harper's head."No, please! Don't mess up my face!" Harper's legs turned to jelly as tears streamed down his face. She pleaded, "Okay, okay, I'll talk. Just put that thing away!""It would've been easier if you'd started with that," Dustin said, putting the bottle away. After all, someone like Harper never changed unless she was backed against the wall.Harper gasped for air and composed herself. In a shaky voice, she began, "The story about Cinna goes back a few years. "One day, a stranger suddenly showed up at our door and chatted with my grandpa. I overheard a bit through the door. "It turns out this stranger is the one who saved Cinna ten years ago.""Wait! Wasn't it Dr. Busch who saved Mr. Shaffer?" Dustin interjected."This stranger brought the critically inj
The following morning, Dustin was in a cozy, secluded villa. He sat on the bed with his legs crossed, focused on his training. When the sun rose, he slowly opened his eyes.His martial arts cultivation was ascending at a breathtaking pace. He didn't need to work hard and train, empowered by the Celestial Pearl. The Celestial Pearl automatically helped him to absorb spiritual energy, constantly improving his powers. The better his natural talents, the more powerful the Celestial Pearl's effects.In less than a month, Dustin was close to becoming an ultimate grandmaster. He could break through to the next level anytime. Still, he chose to be patient and focus on building a solid foundation. After all, he had half a year left before his decisive year-long agreement with Nestor ended.Suddenly, his phone rang, and he retrieved it from beneath his pillow. Brooke's voice on the other end sounded urgent. "Hey Dustin, I've run into some trouble. I need your help."Dustin asked in c
"Mr. Welch Senior seems stable for now, but this bizarre sickness has us scratching our heads. I'm sorry to admit, I can't help much," Brooke sighed.Alistair implored, "Dr. Busch, you're one of the best doctors in South City. Please find a way to heal my Dad, and don't worry about expenses. We will do whatever it takes to get him back on his feet.""Mr. Welch," Brooke replied gravely. "The symptoms your father is displaying don't seem like an illness to me. It looks like he's bewitched.""Bewitched?" The word left the Welch family members bewildered. Hearing this from a doctor sounded absurd."Dr. Busch, what do you mean by that? Please explain?" Alistair probed.Brooke clarified, "When I say 'bewitched,' I'm referring to practices like witchcraft, sorcery, dark spells, and the like. "My knowledge in these areas is limited. I mainly read about it from books, so it's just a guess.""You mean something like voodoo and dark spells?" Alistair furrowed his brow. He wouldn't bel
"Wow! That's amazing! He could make the paper crane fly?""Is this the occult expert they were talking about? This is truly impressive!"The display by Theodore left the Welch family in awe. They'd only heard about such things in stories but had never seen them in real life."What do you think? Now, do you believe in Sir Crane's abilities?" Ezra said proudly."Wow, that's what you call a true master!" Alistair exclaimed with a newfound respect. He thought, "If Dad is truly under some sort of spell, then only someone with extraordinary abilities could cure him.""But it's just a simple trick, really, nothing much," Theodore remarked casually, appearing humble."The crane trick we just saw is just a small part of his skills. Sir Crane has more in store for us. Let's eagerly await the next performance," Ezra added."That's great." Alistair nodded with a smile. "Eleanor, you don't need to worry. With Sir Crane here, Grandpa will be fine."Ezra smiled smugly. But Eleanor responded
Ezra's brows furrowed as he looked at Dustin bitterly. "Ah, so you're Dustin," Alistair said, recognizing Dustin. After all, the recent family event, especially the Dew Balm formula debacle, was still fresh in his mind."Mr. Welch, I heard that your father is suffering from hysteria. Would you mind if I take a look?" Dustin offered with genuine concern.Alistair eyed the young Dustin skeptically. "You?" He thought, "Dr. Busch may have recommended you, but you don't exactly strike me as an expert.""Dustin, that's kind of you, but we already have Sir Crane helping us. No need for you to trouble yourself," Joanne interjected."Did you hear that? With Sir Crane here, we don't need you," Ezra added with a sneer."Young man, don't play around when a person's life is at stake. It's no time for you to fool around," Theodore warned sternly."Dustin, let it be." Brooke shook his head. He knew that saying anything now wasn't wise."Very well. Since Sir Crane is so confident, I won't i
"Oh my God! Mr. Welch Senior is finally awake!""Wow, that occult expert lives up to his name!""Just one talisman, and voila, the magic happens!"Surprisingly, Theodore's talisman worked like a charm, and Welch Senior's eyes snapped open. The Welch family members couldn't contain their joy and amazement.Ezra chimed in with a smug grin, "Haha! See? I told you the occult expert I brought over wouldn't disappoint." Alistair nodded in agreement, "Sir Crane, your occult skills are truly incredible. We are genuinely impressed.""Absolutely remarkable, Sir Crane!" The Welch family members were in awe, looking at Theodore with respect. Theodore's extraordinary abilities shattered their preconceptions and shed light on the power of occult techniques. "Well, punk, are you impressed?" Theodore sneered at Dustin arrogantly. Even though they were knowledgeable in the same field, he viewed Dustin as inferior to him.However, Dustin cautioned Theodore, "Sir Crane, just be careful. I hav
Theodore's demeanor had taken a dramatic shift from his earlier arrogance. "Doctor! Where's the doctor? Get me some bandages!" He cried for help, terrified.Alistair, Brooke, and the others exchanged perplexed glances at Theodore's frantic behavior. This wasn't what they had expected at all. What happened to the occult expert's dignified image?"He's mad! Mr. Welch Senior is insane! He bit my ear off and ate my flesh! Why on earth isn't he tied up?" Theodore shouted as he received medical treatment."Sir Crane, I mentioned earlier that my dad tends to become aggressive due to his strange illness," Alistair explained."Aggressive? This goes beyond aggression. It's outright cannibalism!" Theodore's composure was falling apart."Sir Crane, you've been injured. How about taking a breather?" Ezra cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. He had brought Theodore here to win the Welch family's favor and strengthen their relations, not to create an embarrassing spectacle."Oh, what
"Found it?" His words piqued everyone's interest, and all eyes focused on Dustin's hand. From beneath the mattress, he pulled out a black silk pouch. He opened it and pulled out a red crystal necklace.The crystal was circular, with a deep crimson hue that was eerily similar to blood. It was also engraved with peculiar symbols."What's this? Why was it under Mr. Welch Senior's bed?" The members of the Welch family exchanged confused looks."This is called a blood gem." Dustin lifted the crimson necklace, his gaze fixed upon it. "It's used as a medium for witchcraft, and it has a rather eerie backstory. Legend has it that when someone passes away, this gem is placed in their mouth. "As the person breaths their last breath, it begins a bizarre journey down their throat and diffuses into their bloodstream. "For a century, it soaks up the essence of their blood, ultimately becoming this unique, enchanting blood gem. "They're quite rare and incredibly valuable. It was highly
"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