"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
Lana had died because of them. Dustin planned to take Scott's severed head to show he had avenged her."You're dead meat!" Dustin's indifference and disdain annoyed Anders, leading him to throw a punch without exchanging further words. A scorching golden light shot out like a missile toward Dustin.Dustin raised his hand without dodging or evading, releasing a burst of blinding white light.The golden light and white brilliance collided with each other, resulting in a deafening roar. The collision caused overwhelming waves of energy that were like a tidal wave.There was a strong blast of wind. It hit the crowd like a tornado.The collision between two grandmaster-level experts was far beyond what an ordinary person could endure, even if it was just the aftermath of their battle.Realizing the danger, people scattered immediately to keep a safe distance."This bastard is indeed a grandmaster martial artist! No wonder he's so confident." Anders squinted his eyes. Even though
Once the dust settled, a massive crater appeared at the center of the explosion. It was roughly 30 feet in diameter, resembling a dried-up pond. It was a devastating sight. At the edge of the crater, Dustin and Anders locked eyes from a distance. Dustin was expressionless, his gaze indifferent, still holding Scott's severed head. Anders had a serious expression, facing a formidable opponent.The two stood in a tense standoff, neither making any sudden moves."Wait, did this bastard block Sir Anders' earth-shattering strike just now?" someone exclaimed."Not only did he block it, but he also looks like he hasn't suffered any injuries," another added."Wow! Since when did Oakvale have a genius who can go head-to-head with the Veros Warrior? That's pretty unbelievable!"As the two contenders battled it out, members of the Moseys looked at each other in surprise.Anders had long been an idol to everyone. In Dragonmarsh, only a few could be compared to him, and each was a top-tier
Anders shot the bald man a stern look. The bald man quickly apologized and ran away. He had intended to curry favor with Anders but was instead shot down by Anders."Men! Come here!" Anders gestured, and two guards rushed over, asking, "What are your orders, sir?""Deploy all resources and conduct a thorough investigation on Dustin Rhys. I want to know everything about him!" Anders commanded with a stern tone."Yes, sir!" The guards responded and promptly departed."Acting recklessly on my turf. Let's see who you really are!" Anders muttered, his expression cold.Knowing the opponent was a crucial part of a battle. With comprehensive information about his enemies, Anders believed he could deal with Dustin easily.…Dustin held Scott's head and confidently exited Jadeleaf Manor.He knew that his bold actions might lead to problems in the future, but he couldn't concern himself with that at the moment. His priority was to avenge Lana's death using Scott's death. It wouldn't
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
"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
"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
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
"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
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
"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
"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
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