Anders organized an exclusive gathering with two purposes—to win over them and gather intelligence. "It's an honor to have you all at Jadeleaf Manor. Let's raise our glasses to a toast." He grinned, lifting his glass for a round of toasts.Seeing this, the attendees, filled with respect, promptly stood up, toasting in return. After all, the man in their midst was the God of War, the mightiest warrior in Dragonmarsh, and he was also the pride of the Moseys.Anders was a figure who naturally commanded respect wherever he went, and today's warm reception pleasantly surprised them."Sir Anders, we're family. Your words make it sound like we're strangers. "Besides, if anyone should be toasting, it should be us to you. You are the backbone of the Mosey family!" Scott, seizing the moment, raised his glass passionately."Absolutely! Sir Anders, your combat skills are unparalleled, a real asset to the Moseys!" The crowd joined in with praises."Haha! Alright, let's drink!" Anders lau
Anders's smile slowly faded and expressed his displeasure. "Who dares invade my territory?" he sternly questioned."The intruder's identity is unknown, but they're tough! Our guys inside the manor couldn't handle it. Sir, we need backup now!" a guard reported, respectfully bowing."Serious firepower? How many troops are we talking about?" Anders narrowed his eyes."Just one person," the guard replied."What?" Anders scowled. "You're telling me you couldn't handle one person? What good are you all?""We messed up, sir. Our apologies!" The guard hung his head in shame.They should have had this under control with almost a hundred guards in the manor, and they were all elite warriors. But the intruder was exceptional, demolishing everything in his way, unstoppable in his drive."Sir Anders, whoever this intruder is, we can't let them off easy. Anyone daring to trespass on Jadeleaf Manor needs to pay with his blood!" Scott, fueled with anger, declared."Let's go. It's time to
"Don't worry, Sir Anders. I got this." Scott grinned. "Once we capture this bastard, I'll torture the Dew Balm formula out of him!."Anders hummed noncommittally. "This guy is not ordinary. Regular guards might not cut it. Are your people up for the task?""Don't worry, Sir Anders. I'm prepared to handle this bastard," Scott assured, clapping his hands.Soon, a man and a woman stepped forward from behind Scott. The man was in a black tee. He stood strong and towered over six feet, muscles flexing. Unlike a regular human, a subtle rumble came from him with every breath.The woman had a mask covering half her face, her lips showing a bluish tint, and her eyes purple. She wore a black robe, giving off a creepy and menacing vibe."Sir Anders, these two are exceptional individuals I brought. His name is Cooper Stiff—bulletproof and blade-resistant, unfazed by fire or water. "Plus, he's one tough cookie, unafraid of pain, and stares at death in the face. You're not getting away if
"Those who stand in your way will meet their end? You watched too many dramas! Do you think you're some kind of hero? Pathetic!" Scott jeered, smirking. "Cooper, go entertain him. Just don't kill him; Sir Anders might still have a use for him."Cooper, a powerhouse halfway to becoming a grandmaster with his metallic physique, considered dealing with Dustin an easy task."Got it!" Cooper nodded, then confidently strode forward. In his eyes, Dustin was already a lost cause."Today's your unlucky day, bastard. If you cripple yourself now, I might spare you. Otherwise, you'll wish you were dead once I make a move!" Cooper warned with a booming voice."Get lost, or die!" Dustin retorted, unfazed."Hmph! Fool. it looks like you need a taste of my power!" Cooper snorted, launching himself like a cannonball, heading straight for Dustin.Given his physical prowess, that impact could break not only a person but even the bones of a bull into fragments. This was his preferred offensive t
A deafening explosion reverberated through the air. Dustin and Cooper both threw a punch, creating shockwaves of energy. Cooper was sent flying, like he was hit by a train, soaring over 30 feet before crashing down.Before fully landing, his body suddenly burst with a resounding "pop," like a balloon, transforming into a gruesome shower of flesh and blood. His once robust physique now became a downpour of blood and flesh, with bones pulverized beyond recognition.The scene was akin to shoving a bomb into his belly.Following the explosion, an abrupt hush enveloped the entire area. The onlookers gawked, looking in disbelief and astonishment. Was Cooper, famed for his impenetrable skin and iron bones, just annihilated by a single punch?"H-How is this even possible? Cooper ... he turned into freaking dust!""Damn! One punch, and Cooper's gone. Who the heck is this brat?"After a brief moment of stunned silence, chaos erupted in the crowd. Spectators stared at Dustin as if he
In an instant, everything changed. Elysia's icy breath sent chills down the spine. Everything within 30 feet became solid ice, and even Dustin became an ice sculpture."Haha! Frozen solid! This bastard is a goner!" Scott laughed, clearly enjoying the spectacle.After Dustin pummeled Cooper with a punch, he couldn't help but feel a bit shaken. Now, witnessing his opponent frozen, his confidence soared."True to Elysia's reputation, her tricks are something else." The astonished crowd noted.It was downright terrifying to freeze a martial artist master with a breath."Die!" Elysia, wide-eyed and merciless, threw a punch at Dustin's chest. Freezing was her ultimate move; anyone she froze would shatter when hit.An explosion echoed as Elysia's fist hit Dustin's chest. The ice shards scattered, but to Elysia's surprise, Dustin remained intact, not a tear in his clothes."H-How is this possible?" Elysia's eyes widened, struggling to believe her mystical arts did not affect Dustin."G
Scott's eyes twitched as he took a few steps back.Acold sweat dripped down his body, and his hair stood on end. At that moment, he finally realized the severity of the situation. Dustin's strength far exceeded his expectations. For Dustin to take down the Undead Hexcasters with a single move showed that he wasn't just some divine master but a true grandmaster martial artist! Fuck! How could an unknown kid be this powerful?"Hey, pal, I appreciate your skills. I'm giving you a chance to rise to the top now." Anders, who had been watching coldly, suddenly spoke, "As long as you're willing to join me, I can overlook today's events. "Not only that, I'll get you into the military and give you a high position. From then on, everything will be under your control!""What?" Scott's expression changed instantly upon hearing this. He hastily said, "Sir Anders, this bastard is a ticking time bomb. Keeping him around would be asking for endless trouble!"After all, Scott and Dustin had
Scott trembled, his smile frozen as a blinding flash left him bewildered. Before he could comprehend what was going on, the light had vanished."What just happened? What's going on?" Panic gripped him as his heart raced. He felt a chill on his neck. When he touched it, his hand was covered in blood.Why was there blood? How was that possible? His thoughts were interrupted as the world around him spun.A jarring thud of something hitting the ground caught his attention. In the next second, Scott was startled to see the back of his own body from the ground.He was wearing a suit and standing tall, but there was no head on his shoulders. He had turned into a headless body."Where's my head? Where is it?" Scott tried to scream, but there was no sound. All he could do was watch as his headless body fell to the ground. Darkness enveloped his vision, and he succumbed to unconsciousness.Just like that, Scott was dead. His head had been severed in one swift move by Dustin.Everything
Under the watchful eyes of the audience, Dustin and Glenn stepped onto the battle ring. They stood about 30 feet apart, and their eyes locked across the distance. Their gazes met like sparks, and they could feel the weight of the other's stare."Are you Logan?" Glenn asked, breaking the silence.He had heard the rumors about this dark horse before stepping into the ring, but now that he was facing him, he wasn't sure."Who I am doesn't matter. What matters is who wins this fight." Dustin didn't confirm or deny it, but his words left Glenn with no doubt.Both men were at the top of the Legendary List and held equal rank on the Champ-Tier List. Until they fought, no one could say who was the stronger of the two."I heard you're Seth's disciple, so I'm really looking forward to this." Glenn's gaze sharpened.Many years ago, his mentor, Cyrus, was defeated by Seth. That loss had always haunted Cyrus ever since. Now, with the disciples of both men about to face off, Glenn was determin
"Since Madam Penelope has spoken, I’ll follow her lead," Alloy said with a smile. "What about Mr. Hadley and Sage Foyer?""I'm in if you want to make a bet," Cyrus replied coolly."It's not every day we get an opportunity like this. Let me stir things up a bit." Kaden nodded with a grin.Once the three had agreed, Penelope waved for Abigail to come over.Soon, Abigail approached them with a wide grin. "Esteemed guests, I hear you want to bet. The current odds are—bet on Dustin to win, and you'll get 1.6 times your stake. Bet on Glenn, and it's only 0.4."She continued, "And no worries—if you win, I'll exchange your winnings for celestial stones." Abigail smiled brightly, and the other parties' eyes gleamed with the unmistakable shine of greed.Many had already placed their bets with her. Though she couldn't control the match's outcome, she knew how to adjust the odds to her advantage. Over time, that could turn into a huge fortune."I'm betting on Glenn to win." Cyrus quickly
"We're ready for the ultimate showdown of this tournament. The winner will be crowned the Combat Tournament Champion. Now, let's welcome both contestants to the ring." Oron's voice thundered as he stepped onto the battle ring.There was thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.The long-awaited showdown was finally at hand. Today's outcome wasn't just about personal glory, but it would also decide the future of the martial world.If Glenn triumphed and claimed the crown, the Sword Union would rise as the undisputed guild. The Celestial Alliance and the Mystic Arts Order would have no choice but to bow to their supremacy.But if Dustin won, it would be even more sensational. A dark horse, without any guild affiliation, defeating the elite disciples of the major guild—such a story would send shockwaves through the martial world.Once that happened, every major guild would fight tooth and nail to claim him. It would spark a fierce battle for dominance."Dr. Rhys! Good luck!"
"H-Hold on! I-I surrender!" Abigail said urgently. With the sword inches away from her throat, she decisively raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.She didn't expect herself to win the match. Her goal was simply to take this opportunity to test Dustin's strength and also gauge her own progress. But now, it was clear that there was still a sizable gap between them."You've done well. In a few more years, I might not even be able to keep up with you." Dustin smiled and lowered his Celestial Blade. His words weren't flattery; he genuinely saw potential in Abigail.The dark Phoenix flames carried a corrosive power that even his mystical pure energy couldn't resist. In other words, Abigail's black flames were the bane of any martial artist.Her journey in the martial world was still short—barely two years. She hadn't unlocked the full potential of her Phoenix bloodline yet. But with more training and experience, the sky was the limit for her."Don't try to console me, Sir. I'm n
With a resounding bang, the golden light erupted with a burst of terrifying energy wave. In an instant, the earth trembled, and fierce winds whipped through the air.Dustin and his sword were sent flying several yards. After landing, he stumbled back several steps before finally steadying himself.He looked up and saw that Abigail's body was now covered in a layer of golden armor, though he couldn't tell when it had happened. The armor glowed brightly, and it made her look imposing and striking.It was clearly a divine artifact.The Mystic Arts Order had been around for centuries, with deep roots and countless treasures. As the Grand Sorceress, Abigail would obviously have several divine artifacts for protection.Dustin wasn't surprised, but the armor's counterforce caught him off guard. Not only did it protect her, but it also had offensive capabilities.When his sword struck the armor earlier, the blow didn't leave a scratch. Instead, the armor absorbed the hit and sent the for
Dustin raised his hand as the black feathers rained down on him. A white energy shield flared into existence to form a wall before him.The feathers slammed into the shield and sent ripples across its surface but failed to break through. However, the black flames on the feathers spread across the shield and burned through its energy at a visible pace. In the blink of an eye, the once impenetrable barrier cracked open and left a gaping hole.Dustin couldn't hide his surprise. His mystical pure energy was far stronger than the average grandmaster's internal energy in offense and defense. It was meant to be impenetrable. He hadn't anticipated it couldn't hold up against Abigail's phoenix flame.Seeing the raw strength of her bloodline, he knew he couldn't afford to take any chances. As the black flames spread, he swiftly waved his hand to summon a furious gust of wind that sent the feathers and flames flying."Glaring Wings!" Abigail wasn't done yet. She quickly formed hand seals and
Abigail moved with lightning speed, and her figure weaved in and out like a shadow. Her swift movements left a blur of afterimages that was hard for anyone watching to keep up.On the contrary, Dustin stood still without making any movement."Fallen Fist!"After closing in, she unleashed a flurry of strikes—dozens of black palm shadows slamming toward his body, and each one was like a bullet aimed at its target.Abigail practiced a unique martial art, and it was imbued with voodoo-like properties that could kill anyone who made contact with her. But Dustin's body was immune to all poisons, so it was a perfect counter to her deadly attack.As the shadow palms closed in, he remained unshaken and thrust his palm forward.A fierce gust of wind surged and ripped through the air with unrelenting force. It collided with the black palm shadows.Abigail's black palm shadows exploded on impact and disintegrated into thick clouds of dark mist that quickly spread. Within moments, the mist e
The whole arena suddenly fell dead silent. Everyone stared blankly, and not a soul dared to breathe. Alloy shot to his feet in the main spectator seats, and his face was tense with worry. Yet, he didn't dare make a sound. He feared it might startle Glenn into making a mistake that could cost Fenley's life.After all, Fenley represented the future of the Celestial Alliance. Alloy had invested all his effort into Fenley, and he provided him with endless resources. If Fenley were to die in the match, it would deal a devastating blow to the entire guild.While Alloy was gripped with worry, Cyrus and Penelope cheered silently. They secretly hoped Glenn's sword would strike Fenley. If that happened, the Celestial Alliance would take at least a decade to regain its former glory.Fenley's body stiffened as he stared at the Fang Master hovering inches from him. A shiver ran through his spine as goosebumps prickled his skin. Sweat trickled down his face, and each drop hit the ground with a
"Glenn had only seven swords in the past. I didn't expect that in just one year, two more divine swords would recognize him as their master. This punk is much better than I was back then," Cyrus remarked. He stroked his chin with a look of surprise and approval. He had always believed in Glenn's potential, but Glenn's performance had still exceeded his expectations.After all, the more swords Glenn wielded, the stronger he became. He had already topped the Legendary List with just seven swords. Now, with nine, his strength had grown even more overwhelming."He truly is the Chosen One." Even Kaden couldn't help but sigh.The nine divine swords recognized their master and responded with ease. Glenn's talent and cultivation were leagues ahead of his peers.Every generation brought forth new talent, and the old had no choice but to step aside for the new generation. Compared to their time, today's youth were on another level—monsters in their own right."Now, this is going to be int