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Chapter 1445
Kaugnay na kabanata
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1446
They weren't confident about taking Dustin in a one-on-one battle. However, they were certain they could defeat him if they were to join forces."Hold it!" Right then, a group of people entered the dojo. Leading the group was a tall, white-haired elderly man. He was dressed in a suit and carried himself with an air of authority that had developed through the years. There was a beautiful woman by his side. She possessed delicate facial features and an attractive figure. She carried herself elegantly like a queen. The woman was none other than Natasha, who had arrived just in time. "The audacity! Who are you people? How dare you intrude into Celestial Dojo?" one of the Fallons shouted angrily. "Silence!" Dante paled as he delivered a harsh slap to the Fallon who had spoken out. He then hurried up to the elderly man and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Duke of Lachshire.""What? The Duke of Lachshire?"The atmosphere shifted as realization dawned upon the crowd. The previ
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1447
Dustin felt pressured by Simon's scrutinizing gaze. However, he had already anticipated a situation like this and showed no outward signs of discomfort. "My Lord, I've long heard of your name, but we've never met. Perhaps you find me familiar because I possess a rather unremarkable appearance," Dustin explained humbly. Over the past decade, his height, appearance, and temperament significantly changed. Even his closest friends from the past wouldn't recognize him at first glance. "Is that so?" Simon looked him up and down again. He then replied impassively, "Perhaps that is true." "Grandfather, Dustin is an exceptional man. He excels in both the literary and martial arts and has outstanding medical expertise. He has also helped me out many times in the past. "It would be difficult to find a young talent as outstanding as he is in all of Oakvale," Natasha introduced Dustin proudly. She was always eager to highlight the merits of her man. "Haha. Don't you think you're exagg
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1448
Dante glared at Dexter as he said, "Today is a golden opportunity for you to redeem yourself. "If you manage to defeat Dustin and overcome your inner demons, your martial arts cultivation will reach new heights!" Dexter flinched. He wanted to retort but was too cowardly to do so. He could only beg, "Uncle Dante, I haven't healed from my previous injuries. Why don't you get someone else to go?" "What do you mean someone else? You just suffered minor injuries. Go up now lest you embarrass us!" Dante rebuked. "A-Alright …" Dexter looked miserable as he entered the battle ring. Why did he end up being implicated in this situation? His sole intention had been to just watch Dustin make a fool of himself. "Dexter, are you sure you want to fight me?" Dustin smiled slyly. "Dustin Rhys! The men of the Fallon family never back down from a duel. Even though I'm heavily injured, I'm not afraid of you! Give me the best you've got!" Dexter maintained a brave facade.However, he was cry
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1449
Dante gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, anger written all over his face. How could a disciple of the prestigious Fallon family flee from a fight? This was a disgrace!Most importantly, he fled in the presence of the Duke of Lachshire. If news spread out, it would tarnish the reputation of the Fallons, one of the ancient houses. "Sir Dante, your nephew is quite smart! He knows when to give in," Natasha teased. Dante's eye twitched, and his expression turned sour. This was truly humiliating! "Go and bring Dexter back here! He will suffer under the house law!" Dante shouted at the other Fallon disciples. "Yes, sir!" They didn't dare to hesitate and immediately scattered, searching for Dexter everywhere. They knew that Dexter had landed himself in big trouble this time. He would probably face severe consequences if not death. "I've always heard that the men of the Fallon family were brave and fearless. But what I've seen today has disappointed me," Simon remarked cas
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1450
Dexter's fists rained down relentlessly, and a series of punches descended upon Dustin. The force behind each punch was strong, resonating loudly."I didn't expect Dexter to have improved again. His Fiery Storm technique is now comparable to Samson's.""The Fiery Storm technique is the Fallon family's signature move and is known for its destructive power. If Dexter manages to seize the right moment, there is a chance that he could defeat Dustin."The crowd was astonished and expectant as they witnessed those swift and relentless punches. Perhaps Dexter could pull off a miracle.A suddenly thunderous crash shattered the crowds' hopes. Before Dexter's fists could land on Dustin, he was sent flying by Dustin's palm strike. He struck him so effortlessly that it looked like he had swatted a fly. With a loud thud, Dexter collided with a wall after flying more than ten meters. He lost consciousness almost immediately. The Fallon disciples sighed deeply. Even though they had expected t
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1451
Declan had a nonchalant tone, exhibiting no signs of emotion. He even casually tucked one hand in his pocket, his body language showing that he barely considered Dustin a challenge. After all, there were very few who could compel him to exert his full strength. The nobody before him clearly didn't belong to that category."Three moves? Are you sure about that?" Dustin raised an eyebrow, wearing a faint, ambiguous smile.These geniuses in Oakvale were shamelessly bragging when they couldn't even estimate their opponent's strength. Dustin wondered if they were really confident or just foolish. "What? Three moves aren't enough for you?" Declan continued calmly, "Alright, I'll give you ten moves then. If you can even touch a single strand of my hair within ten moves, it would be considered your victory." His remark drew laughter from the Fallon disciples."Hahaha! Declan is so ruthless!""He's not just underestimating his opponent by giving ten moves as a head start. He's sho
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1452
This was enough to prove that Dustin's skills were not far behind his own."What's the matter? I thought you were going to allow me ten moves? Why did you dodge?" Dustin retracted his palm, a faint smile playing on his lips."He did say that, but that didn't mean he was going to stand there and get hit!" Daphne retorted indignantly."Dustin, I must admit, you're stronger than I expected." Declan said seriously, "Honestly, I wasn't taking you seriously since I didn't think you were qualified to be my opponent. However, that strike you delivered just changed my perspective.""So?" Dustin smiled."So, from now on, I'm going to take this seriously," Declan responded as he slowly took off his coat. His once indifferent gaze grew sharp. "Take it seriously? Will that even make a difference?" Dustin was doubtful. However, Declan ignored him and stated, "It's been a long time since I've taken a duel seriously, and you're one of them. Consider yourself honored to be defeated by me!"
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1453
"Good luck, Declan! Teach that insolent brat a lesson!" Daphne cheered enthusiastically as she admired Declan's imposing figure.Growing up as a Fallon, she had always admired powerful individuals. That was why she had always been close to Declan since childhood. In her eyes, only exceptional people like Declan deserved to stand on equal ground with her."Sweetheart, looks like your boyfriend here might be in danger."Simon remarked, his eyes narrowed on the scene, "Declan is the top talent of their family. With his improved skills and ascent to the level of a semi-grandmaster, few among his peers can truly rival him.""Grandfather, let's not jump to conclusions. Nobody knows how it will end yet," Natasha said with a smile. While Declan was undeniably strong, she believed that Dustin had the upper hand. "Oh?" Simon raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued."Sweetheart, you seem quite confident in this young man.""Of course," Natasha replied with pride. "The man I've chosen i
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2530
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2529
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2528
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2527
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2526
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2525
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2524
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2523
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2522
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
