At times, appearing beautiful might draw unwanted notice. Despite being a man, Dalen possessed a face more enchanting than some women. At that moment, he was confronted by a gang of burly men making unwanted advances.Amid the commotion, Dustin opted to pay no mind to the situation and casually enjoyed his drink."Hey, beauty. Why stick with this weakling? Join us for a few drinks, and we'll ensure you have a blast!" The bearded-burly man traced his finger along Dalen's jawline with a lecherous grin."I suggest you back off, or you'll regret it," Dalen cautioned, his expression turning cold.Although he often dealt with advances from both men and women due to his good looks, direct harassment like this was a rare occurrence."Beauty, are you upset?" The bearded-burly man rubbed his chin and teased, "I've got to admit, the way you get all riled up is downright alluring. It's a real spectacle, a feast for the eyes!"In response, everyone erupted in laughter.Dustin couldn't help
Seeing Miles sprang into action, two burly men jumped out from behind the bearded-burly man. They brandished their machetes, which carried a distinct scent of blood and an intangible air, a result of years of bloodshed.They called this practice "nurturing the weapon" in the martial world. Sadly, the machetes wielded by these burly men were still in their early stages, lacking the commanding presence.Miles took the lead with his sword, facing off against the two burly men. Their machete swings were forceful but lacked finesse, appearing somewhat clumsy.In contrast, Miles displayed a refined skill set, clearly benefiting from mentorship and substantial practical experience. His speed, strength, and technique proficiency showcased a comprehensive and advanced development.In the three-way clash, it was evident that Miles outclassed the two burly men. With just ten moves, Miles defeated them, leaving them sprawled on the ground. Miles also punished them by stabbing each of the
"Ah!" Miles clenched his teeth and growled, veins popping on his face.He tried hard to push the machete away from his shoulder by pressing both hands against his sword. Despite his efforts, the machete stayed in place, and the pressure on it kept growing. This unyielding force was so powerful that it caused his knees to create cracks in the floor directly beneath them.The bearded-burly man sneered. "Hmph! Do you think you're skilled enough to challenge the Butcher Guild? You're overestimating yourself!" "Chief is great!""Chief is strong!"The other burly men couldn't help but cheer at the situation. The Butcher Guild was a respectable faction in the North, not to be messed with by someone insignificant."You, punk! Trying to act like a hero in front of me is the dumbest thing you've ever done. Today, I'll teach you a lesson by breaking your wrist!" The bearded-burly man grinned wickedly. He swung his machete toward Miles' wrist.Just as Miles was about to lose his wrist,
Every time Crystal swung her sword, it left a bleeding gash on the bearded-burly man. Within moments, he had been stabbed over a dozen times, left without any means of defense.Despite his strength, she outclassed him entirely in skill. The spectators were amazed and impressed as her advanced swordsmanship shone brightly."Ah!" the bearded-burly man cried in agony. With his tendons severed, he collapsed onto the ground. He was now crippled, covered in blood and numerous wounds, though they were not fatal."Chief!" The Butcher Guild disciples were shocked and enraged to witness their typically imposing and unstoppable chief suffering in such a manner."Damn it! How dare you hurt our chief? You're pushing your luck!""Everyone! Let's teach this bitch a lesson!"The Butcher Guild disciples roared, brandishing their machetes and charging at Crystal with anger.She snorted coldly and mercilessly thrust her sword into the attacking crowd. "Ember Strike!"In less than a moment, the
"W-What!" Dalen's words surprised the few people standing there. It took them a moment to process the unexpected revelation.Miles, who had been expressing his feelings, stood still with an awkward smile. His eyes widened, hands hovering in confusion.How could that happen? Could it be that his daring rescue mission, intended for a damsel, was actually for a man?"A man? You're... kidding, right?" The girl in red scrutinized Dalen with disbelief on her face. How could someone with such an attractive face be a man?Crystal hesitated, mouth slightly agape, unsure of how to react.So, the troublemakers from the Butcher Guild, who had caused a ruckus earlier, weren't harassing a woman but a man? This unexpected turn of events was truly one of a kind."I'm not kidding. I'm a real gentleman," Dalen affirmed with a nod. Mistaking his identity wasn't new for him when he ventured outside.The girl in red hesitated before stating, "But your appearance...""I've got a male body with a f
After a few drinks, everyone loosened up and started chatting.Dalen asked, "Ms. Wesley, I've heard you're the Sword Union disciples. Are you here for the Combat Tournament at the Sacred Wrym Summit?"Crystal nodded. "Yes, that's right." She was reserved and not much of a talker. Ruby, the lively one, chimed in with a smile. "Dalen, truth be told, we're here because our guildmaster told us to."The Ancient Sage is hosting the Combat Tournament at the Sacred Wrym Summit this time. It's creating quite a buzz."Not only Sword Union, but other guilds like the Celestial Alliance and the Mystics Arts Order are sending their top disciples to participate.""Ruby, did the Sword Union only send the three of you?" Dalen asked curiously."Not really," Ruby shook her head. "We're here just for fun. The real Sword Union contestants are someone else."Ruby and Miles were only at the later stages of being divine-level martial artists. Crystal, while strong, was only halfway to becoming a gran
Dustin glanced at Dalen. No matter how gorgeous Dalen was, Dustin couldn't imagine himself liking another guy.Dalen coughed uncomfortably as he sipped his drink, his face contorted in discomfort. He grinned wryly and remarked, "Ms. Wesley, I can't tell if you're praising me or teasing me with that remark.""It's a compliment! Your gorgeous face could win over any man," Crystal said with a straight face."Oh, well..." Dalen was momentarily speechless. Did she have to say that to his face? Something didn't feel right."If you don't believe me, just ask Miles," Crystal said.At that moment, Miles was staring right at Dalen. When Crystal mentioned his name, he slightly tensed, swiftly shifting his gaze away with a nervous and guilty expression."W-What? Me?" Miles awkwardly responded. "Quit joking around, Crystal. What does this have to do with me?""You seem a bit off, Miles." Ruby raised an eyebrow. She looked around mischievously and smirked. "You're not bewitched by Dalen, ar
"Isn't that the case?" Ruby asked, tilting her head in confusion."Sacred Wrym Summit has been around for years without getting involved in martial world matters. "Now, they're suddenly organizing the Combat Tournament. There must be a hidden reason," Miles explained.Organizing talent recruitment to bring honor to the nation might have been fitting for the Martial Arts Union. But with the Sacred Wyrm Summit as the host, it seemed implausible."So, tell me, what's the hidden reason?" she asked."How would I know? I'm just a bystander." He shrugged, well aware of his role."Dalen, since you raised this question, you must have some insider information, right?" Crystal asked.Dalen replied, "I don't have any insider information, but I did manage to gather some news."He added cryptically, "Word is, there's a rare treasure appearing in the forbidden area behind Sacred Wrym Summit. "This treasure doesn't just impact the destiny of the martial world in the next century. It is also
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god
Soluna Hall had one rule—they wouldn't accept unfamiliar customers. They only served those they knew well or people introduced by someone they trusted. Every transaction required an appointment. Exceptions were made for urgent matters, but those came with an additional fee.When Dustin reached the entrance, two security guards stopped him. After stating his name and being verified by the guards, they let him through.Inside, a female attendant with a pleasant smile greeted him and led him across the main hall straight into the back garden. They passed a small fish pond and stopped in front of a secluded private room."This is Ms. Linsor's private reception area. Mr. Rhys, please come in," the female attendant said with a smile."She's not here?" Dustin asked curiously."She had something come up, but she'll be here soon. Please make yourself comfortable," the attendant said, still smiling."Alright then." He nodded and walked into the room.The room was spacious, with a vintag
"You're wrong, Tristan," Matthias said with a meaningful look.He continued, "Sure, I've got the Moseys to back me, but I'm still far from securing the throne. Nathaniel's got strong backing too, and this won't be an easy win. But if you were to support me, I'd say my chances shoot up to 80%."In his eyes, Tristan's support was worth more than the Ballard family.If he could win Tristan over, his odds would jump from 60% to nearly 80%. The only question now was whether Tristan would be willing to shelve his own ambitions and place his bet on Matthias."You know me, Matthias. I've never been one for ambition or glory. This kind of power struggle just isn't for me. I hope you can understand that," Tristan said.After thinking about it thoroughly, he finally turned his brother down. He knew his chances of winning were slim, yet he couldn't let go.Tristan was the eldest legitimate son, the rightful and undisputed heir to the throne. Aside from his poor health, he had no real shortco
Tristan, Matthias, and Nathaniel weren't fools. They understood the unspoken message loud and clear.Their purpose for this trip was to take advantage of the opportunity to offer their condolences and win the Ballard family's support. Should it work, all the better. If not, they'd at least make a good impression. The key was that as long as the Ballard family didn't pick a side or turn against them, there was still room to make things work. No need to rush into anything.Tristan spoke first. "You're being too kind, Duke of Lachshire. We've always admired Mr. Jovian's loyalty and courage. We're simply here to pay our respects—nothing more."Matthias added, "That's right. Your family has a lot to deal with right now. Plus, you're not as young as you used to be, so don't wear yourself out over this. We won't take up more of your time today."He gave a respectful nod, then turned to leave."Duke—"Nathaniel opened his mouth to speak, but Tristan interrupted. "That's enough, Nathani
"Oh? I didn't expect both of you to be here," Nathaniel said.He was just about to pay his respects when he spotted Tristan and Matthias inside the mourning hall. He gave a respectful nod and said, "Hello, Tristan, Matthias."Truthfully, he wasn't surprised. He had already guessed they would show up.The four ancient houses and the eight great families were all key players he needed on his side. And with the Ballard family still undecided, he wasn't about to miss the chance to make an impression."I heard you left Oakvale on official business. Funny how quickly you came back," Tristan said, his tone laced with meaning."It wasn't anything important. When I heard about Mr. Jovian's passing, I returned immediately. I wanted to pay my respects in person," Nathaniel answered smoothly, without missing a beat.He brushed off Tristan's subtle jab and used the moment to show the Ballard family he was genuinely there to pay his respects."Don't just stand there, Nathaniel. Go pay your re
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr