"I'm dying to see just how badly he loses!" Ruby was indignant. She didn't believe that an attention seeker would manage to turn the tide when even a talented prodigy like Vincent was defeated. She was confident that the precious sword on the Renowned Treasure List was as good as hers. "Who are you? Identify yourself!" the butler demanded as Dustin approached. He had expected Quincy to take matters into his own hands, not the sudden appearance of a young man. With an unknown figure stepping forward, even if Marco emerged victorious, it wouldn't enhance his reputation. "My name is Dustin Rhys. I'm here to witness the prowess of a Kimboku warrior for myself," Dustin declared calmly."You're no match for our master. Get Quincy to duel our master," the butler replied haughtily. To Marco and his butler, the nobodies from Dragonmarsh were simply not worth the effort. Fighting them would only be a waste of time.It was only by defeating prominent figures like Quincy that woul
"What the hell? The brat may be despicable, but Dustin shouldn't underestimate him either! What the hell is he thinking?""He might not even win with a weapon. Fighting without a weapon is just foolish!"The crowd exchanged remarks among themselves. No one expected Dustin to utter such arrogant words even after two consecutive defeats. "Is this bastard crazy? Fighting with bare hands against Marco is just like suicide!" Miles was both surprised and puzzled."Hmph! He must be trying to find an excuse when he loses. This is his way of escaping the situation. He knows he can't defeat the brat and will use his lack of a weapon as an excuse for losing. "I've seen through his petty tricks!" Ruby spoke as if she had figured out Dustin's clever plan. "Is that so?" Realization hit Miles. It was a cunning move from Dustin. Despite knowing he would be defeated, he still insisted on basking in the limelight. His shameless tricks seemed to know no bounds."Dragonmarshian, if you don't
Marco stomped forcefully on the ground, causing multiple cracks to form. He then propelled himself forward like a released arrow, charging at Dustin with a vindictive glare.In the first two battles, Marco refrained from making the first attack, allowing his opponents to showcase their skills. However, Dustin's words ignited his fury, leading him to desire a swift and brutal end to the duel as a warning to all martial artists in Dragonmarsh. Midway, Marco suddenly drew his sword and executed a horizontal slash. The next thing they knew, Marco's Demon sword emanated a brilliant crimson glow. An eerie blood-red sword light whistled through the air, slashing toward Dustin at the speed of light.Along its path, the very air seemed to distort, and the ground was left with a deep, scorched gash as if it had been seared by flames."What remarkable speed!" Quincy's eyes narrowed in astonishment. While Marco's maneuver appeared ordinary, in reality, it was exceptionally swift and bru
Dalen smirked at Ruby.Ruby snorted, "Hmph! What's so impressive about that? That brat was just testing the waters. He didn't even unleash his full strength. Even a pig could defend against it!"Dalen merely smiled in response. However, Miles, who was beside them, had a strange look on his face. Even though he knew she was referring to Dustin, her words felt particularly cutting. After all, he had been defeated by a single strike. Didn't that imply he was less capable than a pig? It was a stinging remark."Dragonmarshian, you're stronger than I thought. However, it's a pity that today, you are still going to suffer defeat!" Marco was momentarily stunned before quickly composing himself with seriousness. Despite unleashing 70% of his power in that last strike, Dustin had effortlessly defended against it. This proved that Dustin was a formidable opponent, even more so than Vincent from the earlier rounds. Vincent only had exceptional spear techniques and failed to put any pres
"I didn't expect Marco to be the successor to Jump Force. Dalen, it looks like your friend is in danger!" Crystal's gaze hardened, and she grew particularly solemn. Luca had a widely renowned reputation, even in Dragonmarsh. If Marco had direct knowledge of the skill, he was basically already in part a Sword Sage. It was obvious that he had visited Dragonmarsh and called for a public duel to make a name for himself. "No wonder he's so formidable. It turns out that he's a disciple of the strongest Sword Sage in Kimboku. It was reasonable that I lost." Miles straightened his chest, appearing proud. If he had lost to an unknown person, it would have significantly impacted the Sword Union's reputation. However, it would be a different story if he lost to Luca's direct disciple.Luca's prowess was equivalent to Dragonmarsh's top ultimate grandmaster, and his influence was comparable to the Sword Union's leader, Cyrus Hadley. Since Cyrus's direct disciple was Glenn Hadley, Marco's
When everyone could see what was happening, Marco had already appeared behind Dustin. Plus, the former was slowly sheathing his Demon sword.To Marco, the slash just now was enough to eliminate Dustin. There was no need to strike for the second time.This was how confident he was with his ability and his sword."What happened? Did it end already?" Seeing the furious Marco standing straight there, everyone exchanged confused glances.Everything happened way too fast just now. From Marco leaping into the air and drawing his sword to sheathing his sword, it happened in the blink of an eye.Before the crowd could react, the battle had ended."That's the rumored Jump Force, alright. He's way too quick!""That guy isn't dead, right? I don't see him moving!""I heard the corpse can still continue to move even if the head is cut off, provided that the sword reaches its peak speed.""Looks like he's dead. They should get ready to bury the corpse."The crowd whispered among themselves.
Without any warning, Dustin raised the branch and slapped Marco's face with it.Marco, who was chanting an incantation, was shocked. He widened his eyes and stood there at a loss. Meanwhile, there was a bloody mark on where the branch hit. The surrounding area of the bloody mark was instantly swollen."W-What?" Everyone was stunned by the sudden turn of events.Nobody expected Dustin to be fine from Marco's sword-cut technique, not to mention the former even hit his face."What happened? What exactly happened just now?""No way. Did that dude actually manage to dodge Jump Force?"Everyone exchanged glances and whispered suspiciously. When they saw Marco putting away his sword, they were sure that Dustin was dead. Their thoughts were confirmed when Marco kept chanting the word "Fall".However, Dustin wasn't injured at all despite Marco's chanting for so long. Dustin even managed to hit Marco's face. Everyone was taken aback by such a hilarious scene.Although the way Marco m
With a huge bang, the ground started to crack.A blood-red knife aura stemmed from the ground. Then, it headed straight toward Dustin while following the direction of the crack.Wherever the knife aura passed, a huge amount of debris shot out. Then, it rained toward Dustin like bullets.The intensity of the attack was like a relentless storm, overwhelming and unavoidable.Dustin sneered and stood his ground. With a light stomp, a semi-transparent true energy sphere formed out of mid-air and blocked before him like a shield.Debris from all directions hit the true energy sphere. However, it only created subtle ripples and didn't break the energy sphere.Meanwhile, the blood-red knife aura forcefully slashed toward Dustin's protective sphere.An explosion sounded.The protective sphere trembled, and ripples emanated from the point of impact."What? He managed to block it?" The butler was stunned.Although Dragon Flash was not as fast as the sword-cut technique, it was way more
"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
"You had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next," Dustin said.With a slight squeeze of his fingers, the steel blades clamped between them shattered with a sharp clang.Before the two Hall of Gods members could even react, Dustin waved his hand.The two men were sent flying as if they'd been hit by a truck, hurtling over 30 feet through the air. Blood sprayed from their mouths and noses before they hit the ground. They were critically injured and on the verge of death.Dustin slowly turned his head and looked at the man who had just tried to ambush him.The man glanced at the broken sword in his hand, then at Dustin, who looked utterly unfazed. He hesitated for a split second—then bolted.With a powerful leap, he dove straight for the sea. He knew Dustin's strength was on a completely different level. There was no chance of outrunning him on land, so the only hope was to disappear into the water.It might have worked—if not for what happened next.Just before he hit
"You're not a fisherman? Who the hell are you?"Mulder's guard shot up the moment he got a clear look at the young man's face.Fishermen who spent their days at sea were usually tanned from the sun, but this one had a fair complexion. It felt a little strangeNoticing something was off, the men behind Mulder drew their blades and fixed their sharp gazes on the fisherman.The so-called fisherman standing guard wasn't just anyone—it was Dustin, who had been waiting for them all along.Since his plan was set in motion, he'd been stationed there from morning until midnight. After what felt like an eternity, his targets had finally arrived."Isn't it obvious? I'm here to capture you."Dustin rose from the deck and rolled his shoulders before speaking in an even tone. "If you don't want to die, surrender now. Otherwise, it'll be too late.""Watch out! It could be an ambush." Mulder swiftly pulled out his dagger. His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings for any sign of hidden troops.
As night fell, Warrick sat motionless in his room as he tried to calm his mind through meditation. He had always been able to clear his mind with ease. But tonight, no matter how hard he tried, focus eluded him. A restless unease settled over him and refused to let him relax.Nearly two hours passed before Mulder's scouts finally returned. This time, they brought good news.The smuggling route they had scouted was completely safe, with no signs of an ambush. The West Lucozia army had yet to discover this potential escape route.Once everything was confirmed, Mulder let out a breath of relief. Warrick, too, finally felt the weight lift from his chest."Since the route is safe, we should set out immediately to avoid any unexpected complications." Warrick said. He had no intention of waiting any longer. He was a wanted man, and every moment in West Lucozia increased his chances of capture. There was no telling when the army might surround him. Only by escaping to Thaloria would he
After a hearty meal, the burly Warrick sprawled lazily onto the bed and dozed off. He slept soundly till dusk, lost in a deep dream. When the sky was painted in brilliant hues of the setting sun, only then did he wake up leisurely.The exhaustion from the previous day seemed to have melted away. He felt invigorated, refreshed, and in high spirits.At that moment, Leigh had already set the table in the hall with quiet efficiency. Compared to the first meal, this spread was far more lavish.At the center of the table sat a whole roasted pig. Its golden-brown skin glistened with a rich, crispy sheen. The mouthwatering aroma filled the room, making it impossible not to crave a bite.Warrick had never been one for formalities. The moment he saw the feast, he didn't hesitate. He strode over, took a seat, and started digging in. He ate with zero restraint without sparing a single thought for Mulder, who was still out gathering intel.After a while, half of the roast pig was gone. His fac
"Who is it?" Warrick's grip tightened around the hilt of his steel blade. His eyes, sharp and alert, were like those of a startled predator—full of caution and menace.For the past few days, he had been on edge, like a cornered animal. He barely slept and was constantly on high alert, fearing danger would strike at any moment.The door slowly creaked open. An elderly man with gray hair stepped inside with a tray of fruit and pastries in both hands.Before he could even register what was happening, a flash of cold steel appeared, and Warrick's blade was at the elderly man's throat.The elderly man trembled with fear. The tray slipped from his grasp, and fruit and pastries scattered on the floor."Easy, Sir Prescott. He's one of us." Mulder stepped forward and pressed down on the flat of Warrick's blade with a finger. He smiled and explained, "His name's Leigh Houston. He's mute and has served the Hall of Gods for years. He keeps watch over this tunnel entrance and has never slipp
"Here's the problem—even if we know Warrick's intentions, how do we stop him?" Austin asked.Right now, Warrick had already disappeared without a trace. Austin's team hadn't even come close enough to get a hold of him, so there was no way to track him down.West Lucozia's vast territory and resources made it impossible to seal off every exit route completely. While it might be manageable in the short term, prolonging such an operation would significantly impact West Lucozia's economy. Wasting resources on a single fugitive wasn't a wise move."Warrick is a wanted man across the entire city. There's no way he's leaving through official channels. He'll have to sneak his way out," Dustin analyzed. He continued, "According to the maritime charts, if he's traveling from West Lucozia to Artea, he'll have to go through Thaloria. That's our lead. Get someone on it immediately—find out how many smuggling routes there are from West Lucozia to Thaloria.""Got it. I'll get it done right away
"Damn you, Mulder! You've really screwed me over this time." Axel gnashed his teeth as rage boiled inside him. Mulder's betrayal hadn't just implicated Axel's sister, but it had also dragged Axel himself into the mess.Mulder had climbed the ranks to assistant chief of the City Defenders in just a few years, and Axel had played a major role in backing him.Now that this mess had blown up, Axel was right in the middle of it. No matter how he tried to explain, he was going to take the fall for it."Everyone, follow me! Let's capture that traitor."After learning Mulder's escape route, Axel waved his hand and led his enforcement team out at full speed.He had already messed up by failing to capture Warrick, which was a serious lapse in duty. Now, with his brother-in-law openly rebelling against them, things had only gotten worse.If Axel didn't turn this situation around and bring those traitors to justice, his days as an enforcement team captain were numbered.After a thorough s