After the explosion, it was chaotic at the base of the mountain. However, it was eerily silent on top of the mountain. When the dust settled, the whole top of Quandary Mountain was bald. It was as if a typhoon had torn through the top. The Scenic Monastery was nothing but rubble, and most of the plants were uprooted.Even Cesar and Elder Shade, who were observing from the side, had to retreat further to avoid the aftermath of the explosion. At this moment, Seth stood quietly in the middle of the mountaintop. The Dragon Sparrow Sword glittered and floated in front of him.A few yards away, Frost's shimmering blue sword was stuck to the ground while he looked very pale. The skin between his thumb and index finger was slashed open, and fresh blood dripped onto the rock. His arms were trembling involuntarily."Frost Bane, you've lost," Seth said casually."Your sword skills are amazing, but unfortunately, you're still not too weak.""Who said I lost?" With a determined look,
When the swords collided, Frost's crimson sword exploded into a bloody mist. As for Frost, he lay several feet away with a pale face and blood trickling out from the corner of his mouth.The Dragon Sparrow Sword was sent flying far away in a different direction as well. It then got stuck in a huge rock."Great! Now's our chance!" Cesar's eyes lit up when he saw that the Dragon Sparrow Sword was out of control temporarily. He quickly launched his attack without any delay. He put an arrow to his bow and channeled his internal energy into the arrow. The arrow turned black, emitting a black light and extreme chills surrounding it.As it quickly gathered momentum, the black arrow was transformed into a sharp black light as it was aimed at Seth's chest. It was a fast and deadly shot. There was no warning, and it was fired at the right time. It could be said that it was the perfect sneak attack."Let's see how you can dodge this!" Cesar snickered cruelly. Seth might be the Sword
"Alaric?" Seth's eyes widened as the fiery red spear pierced the sky. In an instant, he recognized the silhouette of the unexpected visitor. The attack had a startling speed, catching Seth off guard. Unable to summon his Dragon Sparrow Sword in time, he had to resort to using his finger as an improvised blade against the incoming fiery red spear.A thunderous collision reverberated through the air. His fingertip met the spearhead, and it released a powerful wave of energy that rippled outward. The entire scene seemed to freeze at that moment, adding a dramatic intensity. Seth held his arm up. Then, a golden sword rippled as it emanated from his fingertip in defiance of the fiery red spear. A luminous spectacle unfolded as the golden sword rippled. The fiery red spear clashed, forming circles of energy that emitted a radiant glow. At the spear's shaft stood a white-haired older man with crimson eyes, poised on the weapon as though it were an extension of him. His gaze bore do
Alaric smoothly jumped backward to create distance between himself and Seth.The Inferno Fury Spear veered abruptly as a forceful kick struck its shaft, colliding with the airborne Dragon Sparrow Sword.A thunderous explosion followed, unleashing a radiant burst of light. Both weapons recoiled into the hands of their respective wielders, signifying a temporary stalemate."Alaric, you missed an opportunity," Seth said, now wielding the Dragon Sparrow Sword. "If you had pressed your attack, I might not have emerged unscathed. Your reluctance reveals a fear of injury and accidents—it's your weakness."As people aged, the fear of death often heightened. In Seth's view, Alaric, secluded for years, had lost the essence of a true warrior despite his profound cultivation.With his spear pointed diagonally, Alaric retorted, "Killing you is easy without unnecessary risks." "Is that so? Then, show me the might of a Chief Guildmaster of Dragon Guard!" Swiftly initiating an attack, Seth ai
"Go to hell!"Nestor's arrogance ignited fury in Dustin's eyes, his blood boiling. In response, Dustin threw caution to the wind, using a forbidden technique.Explosions echoed as bloody holes erupted across Dustin's body instantly, drenching him in his blood. The secret Rhys technique enhanced a person's strength but came with severe consequences, especially when used under physical exhaustion.It would worsen a person's condition, and a slight miscalculation could lead to self-destruction. It was clear that Dustin was going all out."Have you lost your mind? Do you want to drag us both into the abyss of death?" Nestor, who had been arrogant just moments ago, now looked scared.The secret Rhys technique was a desperate last move, sacrificing themselves to defeat an enemy. It was a risky move that only someone really determined to die would try.Nestor now regretted getting on Dustin's nerves earlier. If he had delayed a bit longer, Dustin would have worn himself out to the poi
At that moment, the crowd noticed Nestor was wearing a goldshade armor. Even though the armor had shattered, it saved Nestor's life by blocking Dustin's deadly strike.Nestor, coughing up blood, struggled to get up. The toughness gained from practicing the Ironfist Technique and the damaged goldshade armor clearly made a difference. Without them, Dustin's sword strike could have been deadly.Though he narrowly avoided death, he was badly hurt, and the chances of winning looked slim."Nestor, meet your end!" Dustin, not giving up, thrust his sword again. But as he moved, his legs gave out, and he had to use his sword as a crutch to stay balanced.The last sword attack really took it out of Dustin, and now he could hardly move. The aftermath of using the secret Rhys technique hit him hard. He could barely even lift a finger, let alone go after his opponent.Seeing this, Nestor went from being surprised to bursting into laughter. "Logan, I overestimated you. Looks like you're total
Suddenly, a flash of a sword appeared, swiftly piercing Nestor's neck without any warning. It all happened so fast that no one had a chance to register what had happened.Nestor stood there, frozen as if he had turned to stone. His eyes widened with shock and disbelief as he stared at Glenn, who was standing not far away. It was hard for him to believe that Glenn, their supposed ally, would betray him like this.There was no apparent grudge or issue between them, at least not that Nestor knew of. Was it because of something he said that angered Glenn, leading to this deadly outcome?A thud echoed as Nestor's head fell heavily to the ground. Even in death, his wide eyes reflected the surprise of his unexpected end. Just when he thought he had narrowly escaped from Dustin's grasp and that victory was near, Glenn's swing of his sword changed everything. Fate was truly unpredictable."What just happened? Mr. Wilkins ... Is he dead?"Seeing Nestor's sudden death left everyone bewil
Anders narrowly dodged an attack that could've ended his life."W-What?" The crowd was shocked again.If Glenn slaying Nestor was seen as a sneaky move, this last attack was pure dominance! It surprised everyone when Anders, one of Oakvale's four princes and known as the God of War, couldn't even block Glenn's attack. This stark difference in their strength revealed that Glenn, the seemingly unassuming disciple of the Sword Union, was actually the most powerful among Oakvale's four princes."My sword doesn't care about a nobody. Just scram!" Glenn said calmly. His words echoed through the mountain.Some commanders hesitated, stuck between moving forward or stepping back. Dealing with Abigail was tough, and now Glenn's sudden betrayal made things even trickier. The chance of winning seemed to vanish. Yet, they couldn't just retreat; military orders bound them, and leaving now would lead to trouble."Not leaving? Then prepare for death." Glenn lifted his sword again, cutting
"Langdon, I can't tell if you're playing dumb or if you really are that stupid." Though Austin was smiling, his eyes were cold. He continued, "You asked for physical evidence, and I provided it. You asked for witnesses, and I gave you those too. Now, with both evidence and testimony laid bare, and even the criminal confessing, what else do you want?""Hmph! The government is rife with corruption. I'm simply seeking justice and preventing you from wrongfully killing the innocent." Langdon still held his righteous stance.Some of the royal advisors who had initially supported him now stayed silent. They could sense Austin's rising anger and didn't dare provoke him further. At that instant, they had lost their confidence. As Austin had pointed out, the solid evidence was right before them, and it was impossible to deny.Langdon was a member of the Rhys family and Austin's elder. He could afford to speak without a filter, but the others couldn't. If they truly angered Austin, the
"Sir Thatcher? Mr. Wentworth?" When Langdon saw their faces, his eyes went wide in disbelief. "You… How did you two end up like this?" He was genuinely stunned.Huxley and Percival were two of the most powerful figures in West Lucozia. They commanded respect wherever they went, and even Langdon himself had to show them deference.He never expected that they had fallen from their positions of prestige to become disheveled prisoners overnight."Austin! You've gone too far!" Recovering from his initial shock, Langdon's fury erupted. He didn't even bother with titles anymore. "Do you even realize what you're doing? These two men are pillars of West Lucozia and the prince's most trusted advisors. They're your elders and mentors. Yet, you tortured them like this. Are you even human?""He's right," someone chimed in. "They dedicated their lives to this country. What crime did they commit to deserve such cruelty by Your Highness?"The gathered officials erupted in outrage and condemned
"Your Highness, you mustn't speak such nonsense." Langdon put on a righteous front.He continued, "I've always prided myself on my integrity and never done anything dishonorable. I've never betrayed the prince's trust or let the people down, and I have nothing to hide.""Such lofty words," Austin scoffed. "If you have nothing to hide, why not let the enforcement team investigate?"Langdon's face tightened, and a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. After all, what official didn't have some skeletons in the closet? A full investigation would likely turn up something, no matter how small. Even if the offenses weren't serious, the damage to his reputation would be permanent.With so many officials watching, Langdon couldn't afford to back down. If he did, he would lose his standing in the political world—and his claim to integrity along with it."Go ahead and investigate." He raised his chin and said confidently, "I've lived an honest life and never engaged in anything illegal. No m
Austin sat in his chair and silently watched the royal advisors put on their pretentious act. He slowly sipped his tea as if he couldn't be bothered by their so-called accusations.His nonchalant demeanor made Langdon and the others frown. Their once-outrageous voices began to falter.They had stormed in full of righteous fury earlier, only to be met with complete apathy. What was the point of arguing when he wasn't even listening?"Are you done?" Austin finally spoke once the room had quieted down. "If not, go ahead and keep talking. Say as much as you need to until you're satisfied.""Your Highness, we're here to discuss serious matters. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing," Langdon said sharply."Serious matters?" Austin let out a short laugh.He went on, "You barge in here without even understanding the full picture and spewing accusations like they're facts. As far as I'm concerned, you're no different from clowns putting on a show.""You… How dare you!" Langdon
"Are you even qualified to sit while speaking to me?"Austin's words struck like the blow of a hammer. They were sharp and unrelenting, and they left no room for retort.Langdon sat frozen and was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected a brat like Austin to have such a sharp tongue.If he admitted he had come for personal matters, he would keep his pride intact, but he would lose control of the conversation. Everything he had prepared—and all the accusations he meant to throw—would be meaningless.But if he insisted it was official business, he would have to show proper respect and offer a formal greeting. No matter how he answered, he would be conceding ground."I'll ask one more time. Are you here on official or personal matters?" Austin asked coldly."O-Official matters." Cornered, Langdon barely managed to get the words out."Well? Is this how an official conducts himself?" Austin pressed.Langdon had no choice but to rise and offer a deep bow. "Your Highness, it's an h
After a night of chaos, some of the Red Legion's members were killed, others were captured, and the entire force had been wiped out.But the fallout didn't stop there. The Prescott estate was also raided. All embezzled wealth was confiscated, and those found guilty were thrown into prison.Anyone connected to the Prescotts was placed under house arrest and subjected to rigorous investigation.And the man behind it—Warrick—had become the kingdom's most wanted fugitive.Until he was captured, Celestria remained under lockdown. Major roads were sealed off, and patrol teams scoured every corner to ensure Warrick had no way out.Austin's crackdown sparked outrage among senior officials who didn't know the full story. They voiced their dissatisfaction, with some even gathering outside the castle gates in protest. They stomped their feet in outrage, just short of openly cursing him.To them, Warrick had made great contributions to the nation. Even if he had committed crimes, he didn't d
Austin's words were calm and almost casual. Yet, they struck like thunder and echoed in the hearts of the three assistant generals of the Red Legion.If they answered Austin's questions, there might still be a slim chance of survival. But if they refused, death was the only outcome.After all, who would willingly choose death when they had worked so hard to achieve their wealth and status? Yet, pride and dignity held them back. They didn't want to be branded as traitors.Now, they were caught in a dilemma. Which was more important—their honor or their lives? It was an impossible choice."You have ten seconds left. If you don't speak, you'll lose your chance." Austin's voice was utterly devoid of emotion.His words seemed to pierce their souls, and the three Red Legion assistant generals broke into a cold sweat.As the countdown neared its end, Auron finally couldn't hold back. "Your Highness! I'll talk—I'll tell you everything."Dropping to his knees, he scrambled forward and wa
Axel swallowed hard, shock written all over his face. He had always known the Draken Guardians were formidable, but he had never expected them to be this lethal.He had pushed himself to his limit just to hold his own against Connor and Dave, only to end up seriously wounded. Yet, when the Draken Guardians arrived, they wiped them out—along with several dozen Red Legion soldiers—without losing a single man.If Axel hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the Red Legion, a force renowned for its elite soldiers, could be so easily crushed. Or perhaps it wasn't that the Red Legion was weak, but that the Draken Guardians were far stronger than anyone had imagined.Even their most ordinary members were strong enough to become a mighty general. As for those at the level of captain, their strength was far beyond Axel's. The lethality of a team made up of such skilled experts had reached the point of being an overwhelming force."Mr. Cruz, please arrange some
"Damn it! This punk's tougher than I thought. We're in real trouble if this keeps up," Connor said, swinging his twin blades relentlessly. Every strike was aimed at Axel's vital points.But Axel was quick. He weaved in and out of reach and avoided direct confrontation. It was obvious he was just stalling for time."Sir Prescott should be far enough by now. There's no point dragging this out. Let's fall back."Sensing the futility of their efforts, Dave considered retreating. He didn't fear death, but he wasn't about to waste his life for nothing.Since Warrick had escaped, their interception mission was also completed."You guys hold him off. The rest of you, fall back with me."Connor was decisive. Realizing they weren't making any progress, he quickly ordered a retreat and left a few decoys behind to buy time.They had barely run a hundred yards when a wave of soldiers suddenly appeared at the alley's entrance. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, filled the narrow space and comple