"S—so that was a charm after all?"Everyone at the scene was frozen in place as they stared at the red snake that Xavier vomited. One by one, their faces showed looks of disbelief. No one could’ve ever imagined that the esteemed heir of the Horst family, who had a bright and promising future ahead of him, had stooped this low just to court someone."Xavier, I never thought you’d be like this!" Claudia yelled angrily in shock.Who knew that she’d be the one who would be deceived by trusting him too much in the end? She almost became an accomplice in his schemes too!"I—" Xavier was at a loss for words as his face turned pale. The truth was already laid bare for all to see, so even if he still insisted on denying it, his attempts would be absolutely futile. "Hmph, It’s a good thing Dustin has a good eye to see through your evil schemes. Otherwise, Sheila would’ve fallen right into your trap!" Ruth spat, her expression full of contempt.She hated despicable and shameless men li
Even though she said that, she secretly knew that her father would take Xavier’s side out of his great fondness for him.When one was born into a wealthy family, joy wasn’t as much of a significant consideration as the family's interests."Alright. We all know how much Uncle Caden adores you, so he definitely wouldn’t let you suffer," Ruth replied, and she no longer pressed her for answers. "Let’s go back home and take a nice nap, Ruth," Dustin yawned. After retrieving all of his golden needles, he spun around and was about to leave when a voice piped up again. "Running away already?" Xavier taunted, his expression now full of furious rage and his gaze scorching.He immediately pounced on Dustin while he wasn’t paying attention and stabbed him with a knife!"Just die already!" Xavier roared as he pushed the tip of the blade into Dustin’s back. "Behind you!" Ruth and Sheila shrieked in horror. Everyone else at the scene was also stunned by Xavier’s sudden attack. No one expe
"Why don’t you get a better brain in your next life." Dustin spat as he looked at Xavier’s corpse. And with one swift motion, he threw his dead body to the side with one hand, as if it were trash.Xavier's body landed with a "thump" near Claudia and the other's feet.Xavier's face was riddled with fear and disbelief. Even up to his death, he didn’t understand why Dustin dared to make a move on him.Everyone gasped, petrified, as they stared at the corpse beneath their feet. Every single one of them was frozen in place and was at a loss for how to respond to the scenario in front of them.To think that an heir from an affluent family, who was also the pride of an entire city, had his life taken from him just like that?How was this remotely possible?After a brief silence, everyone at the scene erupted into a frenzy of chatter."Are you out of your mind, Dustin?! D—d—did you actually just kill Xavier?" Claudia shouted with a face full of shock, looking at Dustin as if he were a m
After sending Ruth home, Dustin returned to the Peaceful Medical Center.However, he couldn’t help but frown the moment he opened the doors to the building. The place looked as if it had been ransacked. It was a mess.Boxes of medicine were scattered all over the place, and Dahlia, who had been rushing here and there the whole time, had on a face that was drenched in sweat."Diarhica. Where did he put the Diarhica?" Dahlia mumbled to herself with a prescription in hand. After looking around for a while, she finally saw a box of Diarhica that had been stored in a medicine cabinet high above the ground. Since it was out of her reach, she could only retrieve it by stepping on a stool."What are you doing?" Dustin asked coldly.Dahlia was startled by his question and lost her balance on the stool. Seeing as she was about to fall to the ground, Dustin instinctively grabbed hold of her before that could happen.It felt as if he was carrying something precious in his arms, as a nice s
At Fallridge Haven. "Father! Please help Dustin; otherwise, he'll die!" Sheila begged on her knees."Hmph! You have the audacity to request assistance for him?! He is responsible for Xavier's death! That is the gravest of offenses! The Horst army has already assembled all of Swinton's finest warriors! No one can save him now!" Caden spoke with a frigid tone."Father! Dustin has rescued me on numerous occasions. Please help him, for my sake!" Sheila pleaded, tears streaming down her face.Ever since she returned to Fallridge Haven, she hadn't stopped begging his father for his help. That was because only her father could go against the Horst army."It is exactly because he's saved you that I refrained from taking his life!" Caden retorted coldly."Father! I will do whatever you say, as long as you save Dustin!" Sheila begged on all fours.Soon, her knees started to bruise."You fool! You have no idea what you're doing!"Caden slammed the table as he stood up. "Do you want me t
"That fellow really dared to come? He really doesn't treasure his life!""Your bravery is commendable. But showing up here is a foolish move!"The crowd erupted into an uproar, with a variety of expressions on their faces."Dustin Rhys is it?!" A guard from the Horst family took a step forward, his voice booming with authority."That's me," Dustin replied, unfazed."So, you're the one who killed my son, Xavier?" Gabriel's fierce gaze remained fixed on Dustin, his expression stern and unyielding."Yes." Dustin nodded once again."Kneel down!" Gabriel roared."Kneel? You're not worthy of such respect." Dustin retorted.Dustin added, "Horst, I'll give you a chance. Hand over the people who trespassed at Peaceful Medical Center and apologize to Gregory. Then, I'll spare your life."The crowd went wild at his statement."Holy shit! Is he out of his mind? He's still acting so brazen even when his life is at stake?""Having killed Xavier, he dares to demand an apology from Sir Gab
Ten minutes later.The entire Horst Dojo was filled with pained groans.Dustin stood amidst the crowd, emanating a presence akin to that of a god or demon. His presence was awe-inspiring, commanding, and intimidating.A few people in the audience were stunned. They stared with widened eyes as if they saw a ghost.Everyone was taken aback by Dustin's strength. Single-handedly, he had managed to sweep through the entire Horst dojo!It should be noted that these warriors were the elite of the dojo, capable of facing ten opponents alone.Yet, in the span of a few minutes, all of them were taken down. This was too absurd!"Fuck! He's that strong? He's on an entirely different level!""My goodness, where did this demon come from?!"Nigel and the others were stunned speechless, especially a few girls who covered their mouths in shock.Dustin alone faced off against a hundred soldiers, slaughtering people from all directions.It was truly unbelievable!"The Horst dojo is nothing."
"Smack!"When the last slap fell, Gabriel was completely disfigured, with a crooked nose, a twisted mouth, and half of his teeth falling out, looking extremely miserable. He collapsed on the ground, completely powerless. He never expected Dustin to be so strong, to the point where he couldn't even fight back throughout the whole fight. He could only passively take the beating without any resistance. With this kind of strength, Dustin might even well be in the top three of the Hundred Immortals."D—did I see it right? Sir Gabriel was actually defeated? And so miserably?" "Who is this guy? What kind of monster is he?" After a long silence in the martial arts gym, there was finally some sound. However, no one responded because the facts were already laid out in front of them. Gabriel had indeed lost and was completely crushed throughout the entire fight. The so-called top ten of the Hundred Immortals and his so-called "Eclipse Strike", his "ultimate" move, had become a joke
Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs. From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods' plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining. According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power. Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher c
The chaos of the night quickly settled.By morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, Sacred Wrym Summit had regained its usual tranquility. Yet, the bloodstains across the ground and the wreckage of buildings stood as grim reminders of the previous night's violence.The military forces summoned by Grace had already taken the Hall of Gods' prisoners into custody.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling gossip throughout the martial world as all the major guilds watched with keen interest. After all, very few in history had ever dared to challenge Sacred Wrym Summit, and a bold invasion aimed at destroying it was nothing short of unprecedented.The outcome was clear to all who bore witness. After many years, the world had come to recognize the true terror of Arion. He was no mere mortal—he was almost a godlike figure.…Inside the Hall of Gods' headquarters in Streuqua, the core members were gathered, seated in two rows on either side of the grand hall.On the thr
After dealing with the Hall of Gods' elite fighters, Arion disappeared in a blur. When he reappeared, he was hovering above the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit.The scene at the entrance to the forbidden ground was one of utter carnage. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, and rivers of blood flowed freely. All members of the Hall of Gods, including Hank, lay motionless on the ground.Dustin and Willard, both covered in blood and exuding killing intent, had fought fiercely. After a long, grueling fight, they succeeded in defending the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit. They had thwarted the Hall of Gods' plan to destroy the Dracan force.At that instant, Dustin seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up. Through the mist and darkness, he pinpointed Arion's figure hovering above. Arion smiled faintly and nodded at Dustin before disappearing again.Crossing several mountains in mere seconds, Arion arrived above the Sacred Wrym Summit's grand hall. Below, the discipl
When the dust finally settled, Arion was the only one left standing.Bailey, Willem, Anthony, Batuul, the three elite assassins from Eskus, and several gods from the Hall of Gods were either dead or gravely injured.Willem's body had been blasted into countless pieces. Each fragment wriggled on the ground as it struggled to piece together. Batuul fared even worse. He was utterly obliterated, leaving no trace behind, not even ashes. On the contrary, Bailey and the three Eskus assassins had both their arms severed and were gravely wounded. Though Anthony's limbs were still intact, his crushed internal organs left him coughing up blood. The backlash from the demonic blade had also taken a devastating toll on his body. He now appeared decades older, his face gaunt and hollow, his hair gray. His frail frame made him look like a man standing at death's door."H-How is this possible? No… this can't be happening!" Bailey's expression was a mixture of shock and disbelief as he stared a
Arion's sudden appearance caught everyone off guard. They stared, wide-eyed and slack-jawed. What was going on? Wasn't Arion already dead? How could he be standing there in front of them? Could it be a ghost?They exchanged baffled looks, and their faces were filled with disbelief. They couldn't make sense of it. How could Arion possibly be alive? It was beyond their comprehension."You… you're not dead?" No one was more shocked than Willem. After all his effort, he had finally found the chance to bite into Arion's neck and drain every drop of his blood.He was certain Arion had died—there was no way he could have survived. But if Arion was dead, who was this person standing before them?"Everyone, calm down!" Bailey spoke up. "Arion's body is still over there. This person must be an imposter."At his words, everyone turned to look at the corpse lying nearby.Bailey was right. The body was still there, and there was no way Arion could still be alive. So, the person in front o
As the Snow Maiden attacked, Batuul's illusory Elephantine stirred into action. With a mighty roar, it charged forward and slammed into Arion. Its tusks, sharp as spears, aimed directly at his chest.Caught in the swirling snow, Arion couldn't avoid the attack and quickly invoked the Glow Incantation to shield himself. The tusks collided with the barrier in a deafening crash. The impact sent Arion flying, and the golden light surrounding him shattered like glass. Clearly, the illusory Elephantine's strength had far exceeded the Glow Incantation's limits.As Arion was tossed into the air, the three-headed, six-armed Chimera Wrath seized its moment. With six different weapons in hand, it launched a relentless assault.Arion swung his sword to block but was driven further back with each blow. With no solid footing in midair, his agility was useless against the onslaught.After several exchanges, one of the Chimera's weapons struck Arion squarely in the chest, sending him crashing to
After a prolonged battle, Anthony and the others finally realized the gravity of the situation.Arion wasn't just a sword master but also had unpredictable agility. No matter how they attacked, they couldn't even land a single hit. On top of that, his sword was a constant threat.If this deadlock continued, the situation would only worsen. So, when Bailey spoke, they knew it was time for decisive action, and there was no turning back. It was either kill or be killed.At that moment, Anthony, who had been holding back, finally decided to use his ultimate technique. He bit his finger and smeared the blood across his blade. His lips moved quickly as if whispering an incantation."Snow Maiden, arise!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he swung his sword. A white figure shot out and hovered in the air. It was a woman with fair skin and mesmerizing beauty. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, her dress was as white as snow, and her eyes had a sinister gleam.The moment she appe
"How many tricks does this old geezer have?"The impact of the divine talisman explosion left everyone both shocked and enraged. No one had expected that Arion would still manage to unleash such a powerful supreme divine power even after the Glow Incantation was broken and the lightning strikes failed to cause any harm.The impact of the thousands of divine talismans exploding at once was terrifying. Only the strongest fighters—Willem, Bailey, and Batuul—could withstand it. The rest of the group was severely injured. At that moment, they finally realized the terrifying strength of Dragonmarsh's strongest man."Impressive," Willem said, landing smoothly after being thrown back. His withered skin was now covered in cracks, and blood oozed from it.Most of the shockwave from the explosion had hit him directly. Despite his impressive defense, he still took some damage. However, these injuries were nothing to him. His wounds had already healed within a few seconds, as if nothing had hap
Willem's wings, black as night with a metallic sheen, erupted from his back. Fully extended, they stretched over 30 feet. With a gentle flap, a storm of wind and eerie howls swept through the air. The sheer force was intimidating to behold.His appearance had also undergone a drastic transformation. Willem's once-handsome face was now gaunt, his skin wrinkled, and his cheekbones jutted out. Fangs protruded from his mouth, and two sharp horns sprouted from his head. He had grown taller, but his body was unnaturally thin, with his ribs and sternum visible beneath his skin. From a distance, he looked like a towering, monstrous skeleton. It was an unsettling sight that sent a chill down anyone's spine.This was Willem's ultimate form. After the transformation, his speed, strength, defense, and reflexes were greatly enhanced. His thirst for blood grew even more intense, turning him into a bloodthirsty demon.The gods, who had expressed dissatisfaction moments ago, now stood paralyzed