"How … How could this happen?" Seeing the black mist in Dustin's hands, everyone was stunned.The eclipse spiritstone was fine just moments ago. Yet, its spiritual energy had been devoured in just a second!Everyone was stunned that a dark energy that was thinner than a hair could be so powerful."I didn't expect this thing to be so terrifying. How eye-opening!" Jackson gulped, feeling a bit scared.Thankfully, Dustin had warned them in time. Otherwise, there would be trouble if he absorbed the spiritual energy along with the dark energy in the eclipse spiritstone.Once the dark energy exploded, Jackson would probably have the same fate as Ryan."It's just as I thought. This thing is quite ferocious."As Dustin exerted more and more force, the dark energy surrounded by the energy barrier became ferocious. It surged and thrashed wildly, relentlessly slamming into the energy barrier to try and break free.They could faintly hear roars that resembled a beast's growls.It was ob
After an hour, Jackson walked into the hotel room carrying a whole sack of eclipse spiritstones and poured all of it on the table."Ms. Linsor, these are all the eclipse spiritstones that I managed to collect. This is around 70% of all the eclipse spiritstones out there. "Those who have the remaining ones are either uncontactable or they refused to sell." Jackson gave her a simple explanation of what happened.Initially, he didn't want to spend any of Grace's money. Hence, he tried to explain the gravity of the issue to those who had the eclipse spiritstones. Unfortunately, no one believed him. It was useless even when he tried to use the Embersteel Order's reputation to convince them. Most of the people he approached thought that he was a liar. They thought that he was jealous of them for having the eclipse spiritstones in their possession. As such, he was trying to steal the eclipse spiritstone from them by lying.In desperation, he could only follow Grace's idea of purc
At night, Deadlands was very cold, with a bitingly cold wind that stung the face. In the morning, it would become extremely hot, like a fire pit. If a person cracked an egg on a rock, it'd be cooked in a minute. The average person wouldn't be able to endure the extreme weather in Deadlands. They'd only be barely surviving, even with enough resources. The real test was on one's determination and the ability to endure stress.Dustin, Grace, and the rest of the team moved steadily forward, following Ryan's map. They walked from night till morning and vice versa. Due to their group size, the team wasn't going very fast. The good thing was that Grace had prepared everything well in advance, and the team consisted of only the elites in their own trade. They were able to resolve any trouble that they ran into quickly.As night descended, Grace instructed the team to set up camp when she found a suitable spot.They had been traveling for quite a long time, and everyone was physica
Dustin was awakened by footsteps outside the tent at the break of dawn. He quickly turned around to get up and was watchful.Soon, he heard Osley speaking. "Ms. Linsor, something bad happened!" Instead of barging into the tent, Osley stood outside to report the incident to Grace."W-What?" Grace slowly opened her eyes when she heard the commotion. She slipped out of the sleeping bag and slipped into her jacket. She then asked, "What happened, Mr. Will?""When I was doing my routine check, I saw a lot of desert rats around our camp. I followed their trail and realized that the rats had destroyed our supplies!" Osley replied anxiously."What?" Grace's expression instantly became serious when she heard that. She quickly walked out of her tent and questioned in a serious tone, "Didn't I arrange for someone to stand guard through the night? How did the desert rats get to our supplies?""I have no idea as well. It was already too late when I discovered the problem." Osley appeared d
This was, without a doubt, very bad news.""Ms. Linsor! What happened? Where did the desert rats come from?" Garret asked as he walked toward her."Captain Wilder, shouldn't I be the one asking that question?" Grace said indifferently, "You've been to Deadlands many times and are very familiar with this place. You even chose this place for us to set up camp. "Don't you know that there would be desert rats around this area?""Ms. Linsor, I had no idea this would happen." Garett quickly explained, "Normally, desert rats will only appear at the border of the oasis, and even then, they are only active in a specific area. "The place that we chose to set up camp is not in that area. The invasion shouldn't have happened.""Ms. Linsor, accidents are inevitable. Once we're in Deadlands, you should have prepared yourself for all scenarios. Our captain has done his best. No one knew that there'd be desert rats here. "If you want to blame anyone, you should blame your subordinates fo
"Ms. Linsor, this is what we found around the camp. It has a strange smell, and it must have attracted the desert rats." Osley held a pile of black stuff in his hands and walked over to Grace and others. The pile of black stuff was the size of green peas. It appeared to be some sort of bait and had an awful stench."What's this?" Grace was a little curious. She moved forward and gave the foul-smelling substance a sniff."It looks like a mixture of food and chemical substances. I experimented with it just now. The stench of this mixture can quickly attract desert rats," Osley explained."Hence, the desert rat invasion of our food supplies wasn't an accident. Is someone plotting against us?" Grace's suspicions were quickly confirmed. It was obvious that this bait for the desert rats was not produced naturally."That's very possible." Osley nodded and replied, "This black substance was sprinkled around the camp of our food supplies. It was an obvious attempt to lure the desert rat
The group traveled through a desolate expanse of endless sand, a monotonous scene void of life. However, a surprising change awaited them as the barren landscape transformed into a vibrant oasis filled with flowers, plants, and trees.It was a stark contrast to the lifeless terrain they had just crossed. Up ahead, an expansive and endless forest emerged, an unusual sight in the expectedly barren Deadlands. The sudden appearance of this flourishing oasis left them in awe.The oasis ahead looked like two different worlds. On one side, yellow sand stretched out, barren and desolate. On the other side, lush greenery extended as far as the eye could see."Wow! Who'd have thought we'd find this in the middle of Deadlands?" "Is this really an oasis? It looks more like a forest!""With all these green trees, sweet-smelling grass, and blooming flowers, it's like stumbling upon a hidden paradise!"Amid their amazement at this unexpected sight, the group couldn't contain their astonish
Upon entering the lush oasis, it felt like stepping into paradise, eliciting smiles on nearly everyone's faces as they ventured further. Grace led the way, with Dustin closely following, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.Despite the seemingly serene environment, hidden dangers lurked beneath the surface and within the trees, taking the form of poisonous creatures. Though currently unseen in the daylight, as night fell, it would be their opportune moment to emerge and hunt."Hey, look over there! What's that?"The excitement in the voice of a Black Scorpion Squad member rang out, drawing everyone's attention as he pointed ahead. As they turned to look, they discovered three fruit trees nestled amidst dense vegetation. The tree branches were laden with vibrant red fruits that glistened like rubies in the sunlight."Are these revitalberries?" someone asked."Revitalberries? The ones that boost cultivation and extend life?""Wow! Look at all these revitalberries! We
Austin smiled brightly as he ushered Jovian into the meeting room with surprising enthusiasm.Jovian looked confused and somewhat unprepared. Before entering, he had already imagined many possible scenarios for their meeting. He had mentally prepared for a range of reactions from Austin—whether he would be ignored, faced with cold indifference, or dealt with arrogance. He was ready for any of those. After all, the rumors about Austin painted him as a "hellraiser" who did whatever he pleased.But, to his surprise, Austin didn't give him any trouble at all. Instead, he was giving him a warm reception, which left him utterly confused.Something felt off. He couldn't make sense of Austin's sudden warmth, and he had no idea what game he was playing."Bring the tea!" After inviting Jovian to sit, Austin gestured for the attendant to serve the tea. The drink was a rare specialty from West Lucozia, a premium elixir tea not sold to the public but reserved for high-ranking officials. Its
After stepping into the castle, Boston felt a knot in his stomach. He had been here before, but only for official matters.He was always escorted by guards or attendants, but this time, Austin himself had led him inside. Boston felt both honored and somewhat overwhelmed. Since when had he earned such treatment?Austin had brushed off higher-ranking officials, so why was he showing him so much attention? Was it because his shiny bald head made him stand out? He had no answers, only a growing curiosity as he followed Austin into the meeting room. "Sit." After Austin sat at the head of the table, he raised his hand and gestured for Boston to do the same."No… no need. I'll just stand." Boston smiled awkwardly."Just sit down. Why are you so nervous? I won't bite," Austin said in a dismissive tone. "Y-Yes, Your Highness." Boston didn't dare refuse again and obediently took a seat. He was six feet three inches tall, yet he looked like a startled rabbit. He sat up straight and didn't
When the castle's gate swung open, every eye turned toward the entrance. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Austin strode out with his two guards. His posture exuded confidence and authority."Your Highness!"The gathered officials instantly rushed forward to greet him. Grins spread across their faces as if they couldn't wait to please him. Whether it was Huxley, Percival, or Warrick, all wore the same ingratiating expression.After all, Austin was the infamous hellraiser. Though he had reined himself over the past two years, his past reputation still loomed over them.At least Rufus could be reasoned with. But Austin? He was a wild card—utterly unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb. Every last one of them had suffered his wrath before.Percival approached with a flattering smile. "Your Highness, you finally come out. I have something important to discuss with you. If you'd be so kind as to listen—"Before he could finish his sentence, he was dismissed by Austin, who found h
"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