"Traitor?" Dustin raised an eyebrow at the unexpected revelation. Although a similar notion had crossed his path before, the urgency in Donovan's voice gave the matter newfound significance."Abbot Lumen …" Dustin pressed, "Who's this supposed traitor?""The culprit is none other than General Reston Rever, a key figure under your father's command," Donovan disclosed."Uncle Reston? That can't be right! Didn't he sacrifice himself?" Dustin's face displayed disbelief.Reston Rever, a loyal general in his father's service, stood as a brother-in-arms, sharing the trials of life and death. A decade ago, Reston, who led the guard during their arrival in the capital, successfully foiled numerous assassination attempts. His bravery became even more evident during the Aylka Rebellion when he courageously guided Dustin and Alba out of the city, eventually sacrificing himself in a heroic act.How could someone so gallant and virtuous turn out to be a traitor?"When I first got wind of t
The round-faced monk was interrupted by Donovan's raised hand. "No need for more words. Just go," Donovan said."Yes." The round-faced monk shot Dustin a glare and left in a hurry."Edvan, take Mr. Rhys to the back of the mountain. Make sure to protect his safety," Donovan added."Abbot, what about you?" The monk in the yellow robe furrowed his brow in concern. Before becoming a monk, he served as the commander of the Prince of Carsonne's guards. He had never left the prince's side. Now, he was reluctant to leave the abbot and escort a stranger down the mountain."With Fedrick and Clarick here, I won't be in danger. You two, go quickly. Don't delay," Donovan instructed."Yes," Edvan said nothing more, immediately leading Dustin out the door. Before leaving, Dustin glanced back at Donovan, who had once again entered a state of meditation, continuing his recitation."Mr. Rhys, this way, please," Edvan led Dustin into the monastery's backyard, opened a hidden door, and went in f
A resounding crash echoed as the stone door descended, deepening Dustin's furrowed brows. It wasn't fear that gripped him but the sheer displeasure at Edvan's actions. Entrusted by the Prince of Carsonne to ensure Dustin's safe descent, Edvan had instead led Dustin into a well-prepared ambush. It was a betrayal far more infuriating than mere bystander apathy."Logan, no need to look around. This place is no man's land—no savior will come for you. Today marks the end for you!" A masked man with a wolf's head confidently stepped forward, his voice projecting loudly."Anders," Dustin replied coldly, "Hiding behind a mask, are you too ashamed to show your face?"At these words, the man behind the wolf-head mask hesitated for a moment, then erupted into a boisterous laugh. Rather than denying it, he casually removed the mask, unveiling his true identity. It was Anders. "Surprisingly, you have a keen eye, spotting my disguise," Anders expressed his surprise. He hadn't anticipated Dust
Grandmaster martial artists skillfully hid within the assembly, discreetly blending in with Anders and his formidable Fang Legion. The ambush was nothing short of imposing."Logan, think this is the end? Bit too optimistic." Anders sneered and shook his head. "Truth is, we've prepared for the worst. What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg. More skilled warriors are on their way. Even if you have supernatural powers, today is your judgment day!"The assembled group appeared to be sufficient for Dustin. However, a lingering unease persisted—the potential for enemy reinforcements. Maintaining vigilance was, as it had always been, a wise decision."Anders, is Moseys Mansion also a puppet for the Dragon Guard?" Dustin questioned."It's an honor to serve the Dragon Guard. Unfortunately, it's your misfortune," Anders replied candidly. "You had the option to play dead and live a quiet life. But by delving into the truth of the past, your existence is now a threat and must be elimi
"Up for the challenge to reach the end? Go ahead, take a spin," Dustin remarked, his face impassive and his gaze indifferent."Hmph! Foolish thing that doesn't know its place, I'll teach you the might of the Nexus Dominator Fist today!" Brock snorted, poised to strike, when another voice interrupted."Hold on!"Within the Stormfire Order, Silver Sage, in elegant attire, exuding an otherworldly presence, took a couple of steps forward and announced, "Master Brock, your strength is commendable, but you're not Logan's match. This situation is more complex than it appears. Allow me to handle it for you."The mission to defeat Logan was a confidential order from the Dragon Guard, and the one who achieved the first victory would receive significant rewards. Such opportunities were not to be missed."Master Elias, your words sound like you're underestimating me," Brock furrowed his brow, displeased. "The Nexus Gate has its reputation, and if I can't handle this kid, I might as well shut
"Where's Master Brock? What just happened? He was here a moment ago.""Weird, he vanished in the blink of an eye.""Could he have tunneled underground? Does Master Brock have some mystical tricks up his sleeve?"The crowd looked around, engrossed in their discussions, completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation. They found it perplexing—Brock, who had been commanding respect just moments ago, had suddenly disappeared."Where's our leader? Where did he go?""Master! Master!" Disciples and elders of Nexus Gate shouted, trying to find their master, but their calls went unanswered.Only a few individuals from various sects understood the grim reality."No need to shout. Your master is already dead," Silver Sage said with a heavy tone.While others were in the dark, being a grandmaster martial artist, he saw it clearly. After the clash of fists, Master Brock's body exploded like an inflated balloon, leaving no trace behind."Dead? How is that possible?""Master Elias, d
In a relentless assault, a storm of poisonous needles and darts rained down on Dustin. It resembled a furious storm."Formation!" Silver Sage bellowed. In an instant, several aces of the Stormfire Order scattered, forming a tight encirclement around Dustin. Each of them clutched a golden talisman that materialized seemingly out of thin air."Golden Alchemy Sword! Attack!" Silver Sage commanded, tossing his golden talisman into the fray. Simultaneously, the other aces mimicked the motion. Five golden talismans transformed into colossal swords, homing in on Dustin from various angles.Without any prior warning, the talismans, appearing almost weightless, burst forth into a dazzling light. They underwent a transformation, morphing into five massive golden swords that exuded a chilling brilliance, sharp enough to slice through iron as if it were clay effortlessly.Radiating a terrifying killing intent, even a grandmaster martial artist would hesitate before confronting them.The S
Dustin stood his ground as he gazed at the five flaming giant swords descending from the sky. Instead of dodging, he calmly raised his palm and struck upward lightly."Boom!"A powerful surge of energy was unleashed from the center of his palm, engulfing the giant flaming swords.With five explosive sounds, they burst apart simultaneously, resembling fireworks as they scattered into the sky."What? How can this be?" The Silver Sage was taken aback. The other elite martial artists of the Stormfire Order were equally shocked and exchanged stunned glances.The explosive power and destructive force of the Emberstrike Saber far surpassed that of the Golden Alchemy Sword, and they had unleashed it with full force, not holding back whatsoever.They had expected Dustin to suffer severe injuries even if he managed to withstand the onslaught. Instead, Dustin emerged unscathed and effortlessly dismantled the Emberstrike Saber with just one move.It was truly unbelievable!"Keep the form
"Get lost! I'm not in the mood for anything right now. If you want to eat, go on your own." Warrick snapped, looking annoyed."I'm not going either," Percival refused flatly. "I'm on a health regimen these days—only tea, no alcohol.""Fine. If you're going to wait, then keep waiting. I won't be sticking around." Huxley forced a smile and acted like he was about to leave.But as he turned, he almost bumped into Boston, who was approaching from the other direction."Sorry, Sir Thatcher! I hope I didn't startle you." Since he was surrounded by so many high-ranking officials, Boston was already on edge. He had momentarily spaced out and almost caused a mishap by running into Huxley, which left him flustered and a bit tongue-tied.Unlike the other generals, Boston didn't come from an influential background or have any powerful connections. He had worked his way up from the bottom, and the last thing he wanted was to offend Huxley and risk losing everything he had fought so hard for.
After parting ways with Boston, Jovian checked into a nearby hotel to await the good news. Boston wasted no time. After changing into a fresh set of clothes, he headed to the castle to deliver a letter of introduction. But when he arrived, he was stunned by what he saw.The gates of the West Lucozian monarchy had already gathered quite a few people, and among them were several figures he immediately recognized. These included Huxley Thatcher, the Commander of the Militia; Warrick Prescott, the Major General of the State Guard; and Percival Wentworth, the Chancellor of the National Academy.These three were first-ranking officials. In West Lucozia, they were nothing short of kingmakers who wielded immense power and influence. Warrick, in particular, was two ranks above Boston. Hence, he felt the need to be cautious in his presence and was eager not to make a bad impression.Alongside these three prominent figures, several second- and third-ranking officials also stood in line at
The following morning, Jovian stood at the entrance of West Lucozia Airport, wearing a sharp suit.Before the trip, he had contacted his comrade with whom he had fought side by side in the military. After earning military merit and with the Ballard family's influence, he was fortunate enough to stay in Oakvale and secure a decent position.His comrade, on the other hand, had moved to West Lucozia to carve out a life for himself. Years of hard work had paid off—he was now a third-rank general with considerable power, influence, and a strong network of connections. Jovian's meeting with the Prince of West Lucozia would depend entirely on his comrade's connections.Just then, the roar of an engine cut through the air as a military jeep pulled up beside him. The window rolled down, and the first thing that came into view was a bald head gleaming in the sunlight like a lightbulb. The glare nearly blinded him.Under that shiny dome was a face that looked ordinary at first glance. But w
"Grandfather, I understand why you sent Uncle Jonathan and Uncle Jensen to the Spanner and Fallon families to gather information," Natasha began. "But West Lucozia is thousands of miles away."She shook her head slightly. "They've always stayed out of the government's political matters. Sending Uncle Jovian there wouldn't achieve anything. He'd likely just be turned away." Oakvale and West Lucozia were worlds apart. The fight for the Oakvale throne didn't really affect the West Lucozian monarchy. Both sides had long adhered to an unspoken agreement to avoid meddling in each other's affairs."I know, but it'll be different this time. The royal throne is at stake, and every faction will do whatever it takes to secure West Lucozia's support. If the West Lucozian monarchy picks a side, the balance we've maintained for years will collapse. That's why I need to be ready for whatever happens," Simon replied.It would be best if the West Lucozian monarchy stayed out of the political strug
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
After hearing Nathaniel's words, Tristan's expression darkened. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.It seemed he had underestimated the situation. He had assumed it was just a simple rivalry between brothers; he hadn't anticipated Seamus seizing the chance to further his own agenda.Seamus already wielded considerable influence. Under the guise of supporting Matthias' ascension to the throne, he had been forming alliances and recruiting talents. His influence had grown to rival the royal family's.If Seamus really supported Matthias' ascension, he'd overshadow the king, and no one would be able to stop him. The worst-case scenario would be Seamus using Matthias as a puppet to overthrow the House of Linsor."Nathaniel, is everything you said true?" Tristan frowned."Absolutely. Every word," Nathaniel replied solemnly. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate.""I believe you. But… taking down Seamus won't be easy. Do you have a plan?" Tr
An hour later, Nathaniel quietly entered a private mansion wearing a disguise.Inside the living room, Tristan had already prepared tea and refreshments. He looked as if he had been waiting for a long time."Sorry to have kept you waiting, Tristan." Nathaniel took off his coat and walked forward with a smile."No need to apologize. I'm happy that you made the effort to arrange this. A few extra minutes are nothing, especially since it's rare for us to meet." Tristan gestured for him to sit while he poured two cups of tea and handed one to his brother.Nathaniel accepted the cup and discreetly set it aside. Whenever he was out, he was always cautious about food and drink—this wariness had become second nature."You asked to meet me on short notice. Is this about official matters or something personal?" Tristan took a sip from his cup and got straight to the point."Both," Nathaniel replied, still smiling."Oh?" Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it, then.""Given how things
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t