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
At that moment, Alaric felt a mix of shock, confusion, and sheer panic. He couldn't figure out how Seth mastered astral projection, but one thing was clear—it was a bad omen!This technique bypassed physical defenses, energy barriers, and all forms of protection and struck directly at the soul. It was a force that defied resistance and left no room for defense. Apart from Arion, no one else in the world could withstand such a formidable assault.As Seth's spirit projected, blood started oozing from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. His skin even cracked, showing how much this technique took a toll on him.For a person to employ such an extreme measure before attaining the realm of terrestrial immortality would inevitably result in irreversible damage. This explained why Seth had only resorted to this desperate move at the eleventh hour."Alaric! Your unilateral decisions, causing harm to the innocent—today, I'll be the one to guide you to the afterlife!" Seth's projected astra
Despite narrowly avoiding death, Alaric couldn't shake off the pain lingering in his soul. The fear and despair felt impossible to shake off as they kept tormenting him."Mr. Drakon, are you okay?" Cesar hurried to Alaric's side, standing protectively."I'm alive? I made it?" Alaric gawked in disbelief. He could not believe that he had escaped certain death when he witnessed Seth's astral projection.He believed that he was the chosen one, after all."Mr. Drakon, I sensed trouble and acted fast. So, I shot an arrow and got Seth injured. Thankfully, it saved you just in time," Cesar boasted.Hearing this, Alaric glanced at Seth, who looked weak. Seth was bleeding from seven orifices and struggling to stand. At that moment, Alaric felt a mix of surprise and relief. He let out a triumphant laugh. "Hahaha! Well done. From now on, you're an elder in the Dragon Guard!""Thank you, Chief Guildmaster!" Cesar said with a bright smile, nodding."Seth, bet you didn't see that one coming?
"Quick! Run for your life!"Seth's overwhelming power and growing intensity terrified Alaric. Alaric had lost all courage to resist and fled without a second thought.Seth's astral projection was the result of a risky technique, pushing him to the edge of injury. But what he faced now was a true breakthrough. In an instant, he went from being the ultimate grandmaster to entering the realm of terrestrial immortals. At this level, each move had the power to shatter the world. Even at his best, with vital force shielding him, Alaric wouldn't dare to face Seth directly. So, the smartest move was to escape.Alaric was convinced that Seth's breakthrough was just a temporary surge. He anticipated that Seth would face a setback afterward, making him vulnerable and an easy target at that point."How dare you attempt a breakthrough in my presence? You're just asking for trouble!"Recalling his past successful sneak attack, Cesar quickly drew his bow and focused all his energy to create
A vibrant purple sword aura zoomed through the air, racing toward Oakvale at an incredible speed. Starting at three feet, it grew an inch for every foot, rapidly expanding to over thirty feet in just a few moments.As the sword aura moved, the sky and the ground changed colors, and thunder rumbled. It sliced through the clouds, leaving a smooth, mirror-like cut in its wake.Growing and speeding up, the purple sword aura appeared to possess the power to reshape the very essence of reality. It instilled a bone-chilling awe in those who witnessed it.As Seth unleashed this mighty stroke, Alaric, the second-ranked on the Astonishing World List, had wisely retreated ten miles away. The once-confident powerhouse was now sweating and panicking."Madman! You're a madman! Risking soul and sanity to boost your cultivation? I won't indulge your madness!"Alaric cursed vehemently as he fled toward the Dragon Guard, seeking refuge in the protection of vital force and ancient formations. He f
"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