"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
Sensing Dustin's confusion, Glenn explained, "Aunt Alba had a conflict with the family years ago. So, she chose to leave and cut ties."After she passed away, my mom and I went to West Lucozia to pay our respects and told your dad who we were. But it seems he didn't mention it to you.""I haven't been back in ten years," Dustin said with a complicated expression.The revelation about his mom's past explained why she hadn't returned to her home.He decided that once everything was sorted out, he would visit and pay his respects to her as well.Trying to change the subject, Glenn said suddenly, "Your sword is impressive. Can I have it?"Dustin, taken aback, asked, "What?""It looks like a no," Glenn said casually. "Well then, let's find a chance to have a fight. If you lose, the sword is mine. If you win, my sword is yours."Dustin was left speechless. The sudden shift from family talk to suggesting a fight was confusing."Don't worry. I won't take advantage of your state now.
Abigail quietly prayed, "I hope Uncle Seth wins."…At the top of the mountain, Alaric stood with the Inferno Fury Spear, his hair messy and his eyes glowing red. Terrifying waves of energy continuously surged from within him. The force was so intense that even the Inferno Fury Spear started to bend slightly, its tip vibrating wildly. On the other side, Seth, holding the Dragon Sparrow Sword, was surrounded by a bright golden light, blending perfectly with the sword.Both of them went all out, starting the final fight. They understood that whoever lost now would definitely face ultimate defeat.The spear and sword collided incessantly, unleashing concentric waves of colorful light. It concealed destructive power potent enough to kill powerful grandmaster martial artists. After struggling intensely for about three minutes, Alaric's Inferno Fury Spear slowly gained ground, pushing back Seth's Dragon Sparrow Sword. It was clear that Alaric had the upper hand in personal cultiv
"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
Compared to the second green sword, Glenn's third sword was even more powerful. As it descended, accompanied by the fury of a fire dragon, it carried the destructive force of a world-shattering storm.Fenley, whose energy flow was disrupted earlier, watched the fiery red long sword streak toward like a falling meteor. His heart raced and was gripped by a sudden sense of impending doom.With a roar, he risked the backlash effect and unleashed a powerful surge of internal energy. The ethereal divine spirit behind him instantly transformed into a figure with three heads and six arms. This was the complete form of the Four Elements of God's Technique.At that instant, he threw everything he had into the fight. He controlled the spirit to slam its giant arms into the flaming sword. With a loud explosion, the sword tore through the spirit's palms and continued its unyielding path toward Fenley. But its speed had slowed slightly.Without hesitation, he controlled the spirit to strike ag