"Save your breath. None of you will be leaving with any treasures from here!" The taunting words echoed, followed by laughter. A horde of martial artists streamed in, swiftly sealing off the exit. Among these martial artists, two distinct factions emerged—the elites of the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect. Notably, familiar faces like Yonah and Bran stood out in the crowd.The combined forces of the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect not only boasted increased numbers but also featured a substantial influx of skilled elites. Virtually every official, guardian, and elder from both sects was in attendance.It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that more than 80% of the total strength of both factions had been assembled."Ms. Linsor, we meet again!" Bran sneered, and his eyes filled with greed. Upon entering the palace, the floor sparkled with gold and silver treasures. The tomb, in particular, held precious items, like the tempting pool of soul elixir. The
In the Drakes Dominion Order sect, Tobias Blackwell, a senior in a green robe, snorted disdainfully. As an elder within the sect, he was halfway to becoming a grandmaster. With a formidable background and impressive combat prowess, he could even match with a grandmaster martial artist."Mr. Blackwell is right. None of you even deserve to negotiate with us," Yonah declared coldly.They were resolute in their determination to succeed. Hence, surrendering their precious treasures was out of the question."We're not to be underestimated despite the challenges posed by the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect. The outcome of a showdown is still uncertain," Grace stated coldly.She didn't desire an all-out war, but if the opposing side persisted, she wouldn't hesitate to unleash her full force."Hmph! You're giving yourselves too much credit! What makes your ragtag team think you can match up to us?" Tobias sneered.He believed a team of inexperienced newcomers had no right t
"Even Master Howler is here. It looks like we'll be leaving empty-handed.""Plans don't always unfold the way we want.""I thought we could forge ahead, but now it appears surrendering is our only option."Everyone shook their heads and let out collective sighs.Damien's reputation preceded him as one of the top elite in the southwest, and his status seemed unmatched. Despite Dustin being a young grandmaster, everyone thought he would be powerless in the presence of such top-tier individuals, considering the significant gap that exists between grandmasters.Dustin raised an eyebrow. "The master of the Drakes Dominion Order, right? You're the top elite in the southwest, often referred to as the peak level of martial arts?"While observing Damien's presence, Dustin sensed that he was likely in the late stages of being a grandmaster. Undoubtedly, Damien's strength positioned him as a regional overlord.With his hands casually tucked behind his back, Damien downplayed his skills. "I
Judging by the expressions on the faces of the members of the Drakes Dominion Order, they were dissatisfied with the decision.Damien turned, fixing his gaze on Dustin. "Young man, what do you think?"Contrary to the majority, Damien had granted Dustin the position of deputy master, a gesture of significant respect.Dustin bluntly rejected the offer, stating, "I'm not interested in being a deputy master. I definitely don't want to be involved with the Drakes Dominion Order."Damien's smile froze. His words carried a deeper meaning as he responded, "Hmm? Young man, opportunities come only once. Are you certain you want to decline my invitation?"Dustin nodded confidently. "Yeah."Damien's expression turned cold. "If that's the case, then I have nothing more to say." He felt a bit embarrassed, having extended an olive branch only to be rejected."Tch! Shameless!" Tobias sneered, his expression fierce. "Master Howler extended an invitation to you, and this is how you repay it? I or
Tobias hung on the wall in a precarious life-or-death situation, and Elder Greene of the Drakes Dominion Order spat blood due to severe injuries. Everyone stood frozen in shock, their attention fixed on the distressing scene. The elites from the Drakes Dominion Order and the Frostwing Sect were left dumbfounded. They struggled to come to terms with the unbelievable sight before them.Tobias and Elder Greene had long been acknowledged for their formidable strength. While not officially recognized as grandmaster martial artists, their prowess was on par with those who held such prestigious titles. Years of dedicated refinement and experience had bestowed upon them a distinctive advantage. Even when confronted by ordinary grandmasters, they possessed the capability to put up a formidable fight. Their collaborative efforts had yielded a remarkable track record of overcoming grandmasters together.Tobias and Elder Greene weren't expecting victory, but at the very least, they could
As Alexander took on the role of the challenger, Damien felt at ease. However, Dustin's skill surpassed that of a mere grandmaster, more akin to the mid-level of a grandmaster."Don't worry, Mr. Howler," Alexander reassured confidently. He added, "This kid's got talent, but I'm no pushover. In the southwest, you're the only one who might outclass me. The rest aren't even worth considering."Damien was the top dog in the southwest. Alexander had lost three sparring matches and felt he couldn't measure up to Damien. As for the other contenders, Alexander dismissed them without a second thought. Despite Dustin's impressive talent and strength, Alexander considered him too young to pose a real threat. Unlike Dustin, Alexander had been honing his skills for over a decade, firmly standing at the grandmaster level. He was not someone a young buck like Dustin could easily shake."Sure thing! Since Mr. Forge is ready to jump in, go ahead and have some fun with this kid." Damien nodded.
"Huh?"The sudden change threw everyone off guard. Everything happened in a split second, and they barely had any time to react. Dustin took Alexander down in a blink of an eye. In an instant, Alexander was already seriously wounded. To most of the martial artists, Alexander, the leader of Frostwing Sect, was flung toward a wall in a heartbeat. The entire situation happened too rapidly."H-How is this possible?" Bran was dumbfounded when he saw how badly injured Alexander was. His eyes widened in disbelief. He had never imagined that Alexander would be defeated tragically, let alone lose in a fight. After all, Alexander was one of the five strongest people in the Southwest. He was a grandmaster martial artist with excellent abilities.Aside from Damien, the master of Drakes Dominion Order, no one could rival him in the entire southwest. Bran thought it was a sure victory for Alexander in this battle. However, things seemed to have taken an entirely different turn. Not
If word got out, everyone would be stunned. "Awesome! That was a great fight!" Sophia squealed in delight. Her eyes lit up as she realized not only was Dustin handsome, but he was also incredibly powerful. He had a bright future awaiting him. Sophia had to seize her chance and do whatever she could to make him fall in love with her, even if it meant breaking her engagement with Jackson. "Fuck! He's at it again!" Garrett snarled, wariness evident in his eyes although he wore a surly expression. The chances of him getting his revenge were becoming slimmer once Dustin showcased how strong he really was. At this point, he had given up on the idea of revenge. He just hoped that Dustin wouldn't come after him. "And he said he was going to let me strike him thrice first before he made a move. But he can't even endure a single blow. Well, it seems like the leader of Frostwing Sect isn't exactly that great either," Dustin said nonchalantly. There was a hint of sarcasm in his ton
Poseidon hovered in the air with his trident in one hand and radiated a commanding presence. He stood like a god, and his figure was so intimidating that it struck fear into those who beheld him.With a wave of his hand, an invisible energy struck Warrick and expelled the three silver needles from his body. Feeling sensation returned to his limbs, Warrick's face lit up. He quickly rose to his feet and clenched his fist to his chest in salute."Thank you, Lord Poseidon, for saving me. I will never forget this kindness!" he said."No need for formalities, Sir Prescott. Now that you've pledged yourself to the Hall of Gods, it's only natural that I ensure your safety," Poseidon replied with a faint smile as he descended gracefully."Your timely arrival was a blessing," Warrick said as he bowed his head slightly in deference. "Otherwise, we would have perished tonight."The Hall of Gods' royal gods were figures he could only look up to. Everything about Poseidon, from his power to hi
Mulder knew Warrick had been on the battlefield for years, and his physical strength was unmatched. On top of that, he was already halfway to becoming an ultimate grandmaster. Even if Warrick couldn't defeat the prodigious Logan, Mulder figured the difference wouldn't be too big. But he never expected Logan to take down Warrick with a single finger, leaving him severely injured and unable to stand. The difference in their strength was far beyond anything Mulder could have imagined.In other words, Logan had been toying with them from the start and didn't take the fight seriously. If he had, they would've all been dead.Warrick clutched his chest and coughed up blood as he staggered to his feet. His chest was a charred ruin, the flesh torn open and slick with blood. It was an awful, gory mess."I didn't expect you to be this strong. I underestimated you," he growled.He slowly raised his head, and his face twisted with a menacing look. "Guess I was just unlucky to fall into your
"Oh? You guessed it?" Dustin smirked. "Now that you know who I am, it's up to you to decide what to do."If Warrick chose to surrender, Dustin would simply seal his pressure points and leave him to Austin's judgment. But if he resisted, Dustin wouldn't hesitate to cripple him."Haven't you given up your title as the prince? Why did you return? Are you going to compete with Austin for the throne?" Warrick asked.Uncertainty flickered across his face before he continued, "If that's your intention, I can help you. Spare me today, and I guarantee you'll become the next Prince of West Lucozia."Power was a tempting beast. History was filled with stories of brothers turning against each other and fathers murdering their sons for it.In Warrick's mind, Logan's quiet return to West Lucozia meant one thing—he was after the throne."Guarantee?" Dustin scoffed. "What guarantee are you offering?" His voice was dripping with disdain. "You're a cornered rat now. You're barely holding on to you
"Warrick's blade technique is terrifying," Mulder mumbled. "This should be the finishing blow, right?"Watching from a distance, he was awestruck by the dazzling blade aura. Only now did he truly grasp the sheer gulf between Warrick and Dustin.Warrick's strike descended with such overwhelming force that it seemed to split the earth and obliterate everything in its path. Even from 300 feet away, the pressure rolling off it sent a chill down Mulder's spine.Under Mulder's stunned gaze, Warrick brought his full weight down, with blade and body merging into a single force that swallowed Dustin whole.The instant they clashed, an incandescent explosion of light erupted. It was so blinding that Mulder couldn't even open his eyes.A split second later, a deafening blast erupted, and a shockwave shot outward like a tidal surge. The force flattened the waves and overturned several fishing boats docked at the pier.Even Mulder, more than 300 feet away, was caught in the blast and tumbled
"So what if I am? And what if I push even further?" Dustin's smile slowly faded. "If you don't like it, do something about it."There was no reasoning with tyrants like Warrick."Punk, are you really willing to risk your life against me? Have you ever considered what happens if you lose?" Warrick's face turned grim as a wave of killing intent spread from him.He had already taken a step back to avoid unnecessary trouble. If Dustin refused to back down, there was no choice but to fight."Cut the crap. You wanna fight, fight." Dustin didn't bother with more words. With a flick of his wrist, a silver needle shot out and aimed toward Warrick's forehead—silent, unassuming, but deadly."Hmm?" Warrick's brow furrowed as he instinctively raised his arm. Sparks flew as the needle deflected off his arm and buried into the ground."Oh? You've mastered the Adamantine Body Technique?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. At that instant, he saw through Warrick's technique. Not only was he halfway
Mulder's body trembled, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His energy drained, and his entire being seemed to collapse.Dustin's finger flick had not only shattered his sword but also injured his internal organs. With the effects of the enhanced serum wearing off, Mulder was now back to his original state and completely spent.His once-powerful frame now shrank like a punctured balloon. He looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Mulder could no longer fight. Even standing up was a challenge."He's finished," Dustin said coolly, then looked at Warrick. "Now it's your turn.""Hmm?" Warrick frowned, and his expression turned serious.Dustin's display of strength earlier had made him feel a sense of crisis. If they fought head-on, there was no telling who would come out on top.But Warrick was just one step away from escaping West Lucozia, bound for Artea and a life of freedom and luxury. He had no intention of risking his life in battle unless he absolutely
"This is interesting." Dustin smirked as the dense barrage of swords came slashing down at him. In the blink of an eye, his figure dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.A storm of sword shadows carrying the force that could split rivers and overturn seas crashed down on the fishing boat where he had just been standing. The entire vessel broke apart in an instant—some sinking into the depths while others drifted across the water."What? He dodged it?" Warrick's eyes flickered with surprise.Mulder's attack just now had been a 360-degree attack. Once caught in its range, there was no chance to dodge—only the option to endure. He couldn't understand how Dustin had managed to avoid it. Did he just teleport?"Hiding like a coward? What kind of warrior are you? Come fight me face-to-face."Frustrated after his attack missed again, Mulder grew desperate. His enhanced serum would only last for 15 minutes. If this dragged on, he'd collapse from exhaustion before Dustin even touche
"Oh? Are we going all out now?" Dustin smirked, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.Mulder, who had advanced to become a grandmaster martial artist through drugs, had a weak foundation. Even after taking the enhanced serum, he still posed no threat to Dustin. If Mulder were a hundred times stronger, he might just barely be able to fight Dustin.As the serum's effects pushed his body to the limit, Mulder suddenly let out a furious roar. His muscles swelled rapidly, and his bones cracked as they expanded. His body grew larger at an alarming rate, and his clothes tore apart under the strain.His six-foot frame stretched to nearly seven feet in mere moments as his body swelled to monstrous proportions. His face twisted fiercely, and his skin darkened as black scales surfaced.With another guttural growl, his roar turned beastlike. He grabbed his shredded shirt and ripped it away, exposing his broad chest covered in dark scales. A faint, eerie sheen flickered across their surface."D
Dustin's words made Mulder frown.Mulder knew all too well that Warrick was the kind of man who had no sense of loyalty or honor. If Warrick could kill his own personal guards without hesitation, what would stop him from killing a stranger? Mulder was certain that the moment things went south, Warrick would be the first to flee. Given the choice, he'd never willingly risk his life as Warrick's sacrificial pawn. But now, there was no turning back.With his undercover identity exposed and him helping Warrick escape, Mulder became a sworn enemy of West Lucozia. His name was now on the most-wanted list.Tonight was their best chance to escape. If they missed it, finding another way out would be nearly impossible.There was only one path left for him—kill whoever stood in his way and make it onto that escape boat."Enough talk, punk. Let's see what you're really made of," Mulder said.After weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and finally decided to draw his longsword. His fig