"Crystal… Is the person rolling on the ground actually the brat?" Ruby widened her eyes as she looked at the unbelievable scene.At this moment, Dustin was still whipping Marco continuously. The duo seemed funny yet absurd."It… It should be." Crystal looked carefully before nodding.She never expected Dustin to win, not to mention winning by a landslide. She found it hard to believe that Luca's mentee, an ace in Jump Force, was being to a pulp. "What the heck! This is seriously shocking. How is he so capable?" Miles gulped, looking stunned.Those who had never fought Marco before didn't know how capable he was.Even if Miles tried his best, he was still defeated by Marco in a strike. Not only him, but even Vincent, was not even close to beating Marco. Marco didn't even go all out when dealing with the both of them.On the contrary, Marco unleashed all his deadly moves when battling Dustin. The former even used Jump Force's ultimate technique.However, Marco still lost despite
The butler yelped and quickly helped Marco up. At the same time, the former shouted at Dustin, "You lowly Dragonmarshian. How dare you mistreat Mr. Alessandro. I'll make you pay for that!""Pay for it?" The corner of Dustin's lips curled. Then, he slapped the butler a few feet away and sneered. "You good-for-nothing! How dare you threaten me? You don't know what's good for you!""Well done! Those spineless people that worship foreign power deserve a harsh lesson!""That's right! He's way more despicable than that brat. Just beat him to death!"Seeing the butler getting punched, all the hot-blooded youngsters immediately cheered.Although Marco was despicable, their hatred mostly stemmed from his nationality. Meanwhile, the butler, originally from Dragonmarsh, willingly served as a lackey for the brats. Thus, this made him a genuine disgrace to Dragonmarsh, a traitor whom everyone despised.Plus, the butler even humiliated his former countrymen by calling them eastern scoundrels
"Ruby, are you going to go back on your word?" Dalen asked with a half-smile."Who said that I regretted? It's not like I can't afford to lose." Ruby rolled her eyes and quickly stepped forward. After pushing through the crowd and standing before Dustin, she said quickly yet stiffly, "Well… I misunderstood you before. I'm sorry."After saying that, Ruby turned around without giving a chance for Dustin to reply.Dustin was taken aback, confused about what was happening. Although Ruby was apologizing, she seemed unwilling to do so."I already apologized. Are you happy now?" Ruby returned to Dalen's side and pouted.Dalen shook his head with a smile. He didn't pursue it any further.At this moment, Dustin was at the center of attention.Various guilds and experts were scrambling to recruit Dustin. Plus, the conditions they offered were extremely enticing. It was obvious that they were scared of missing out on such a golden opportunity.Some even tried to seduce Dustin, hoping th
"Sir, Mr. Alessandro put up a challenge at the center of the ancient town. "He wanted to challenge Dragonmarsh's martial artists to dampen their nation's spirit. He also wanted to gain a name for himself and bring honor to the Alessandro family."Everything was going well at first. Two Dragonmarsh's aces lost against him. Unexpectedly, a nameless person appeared at the third match. "He took advantage when Mr. Alessandro was at his weakest and defeated him unfairly. He even tortured and humiliated him. Please avenge him and kill that lowly Dragonmarsh martial artist!"The butler knelt on the floor and quickly recounted the events, embellishing the details for added effect."Fuck!" Anthony was furious after hearing that. Then, he slapped the butler's face. "Who let you set up a challenge at Sacred Wrym Summit? Do you know that it'll ruin our plan?""Sir, it's not my fault. Mr. Alessandro said that his family had been dormant for so long. He wanted to use this chance to make a nam
Anthony and the Kimbokuan warriors held on tightly to their swords with alert looks on their faces as they observed the unexpected appearance of the individuals. It appeared as if they were up against a strong opponent. They had no choice as these men and women with blonde hair and blue eyes were very imposing."Mr. Alessandro, how have you been? It's been a long time." A sturdy, middle-aged man with a neat beard and a greasy hairdo walked forward and greeted them with a smile."Bailey? It's you!" Anthony looked carefully and was very surprised, "Aren't you being held prisoner at the Hall of Gods? Why are you…" He looked around and decided it was best not to ask.He remembered that Bailey, the Grizz Lord, was the nemesis of the Hall of Gods. He was on the most wanted list of the Hall of Gods and he was finally caught with the help of many skilled fighters. After that, he was imprisoned in a secret location at the Hall of Gods.No one had expected that Bailey would be released a
A few decades ago, Dragonmarsh was indeed a weak country. Kimboku was ahead of Dragonmarsh in all areas of development. However, they must admit that the two countries had completely switched places. If Dragonmarsh was allowed to develop freely, Kimboku would have to pay dearly in the future.As such, Kimboku had been trying their best to thwart the development of Dragonmarsh. They couldn't afford to miss any chance at weakening Dragonmarsh. This was also the reason why he came to the Sacred Wrym Summit."Mr. Bailey, what's your plan?" After a moment of silence, Anthony finally spoke up. It was very risky to attack the Sacred Wrym Summit if he relied solely on the power of the Alessandro family. It'd be a different story if he had help."I've got two plans. If we do everything according to my plans, Dragonmarsh will certainly suffer a serious setback," Bailey said meaningfully."Mr. Bailey, can you please elaborate on your plans?" Anthony was a little curious."My first plan
"Sir, is Bailey trustworthy?" After the departure of the members of the Hall of Gods, a one-eyed warrior asked in a lowered voice."Trust no one except for those from the Alessandro family." Anthony shook his head. The Grizz Lord, Bailey, whom he knew before was a loud and proud but mindless person. However, he seemed to have changed a lot now."Sir, if Bailey isn't trustworthy, are we still going to work with him?" The one-eyed warrior continued asking."Of course." Anthony narrowed his eyes and continued, "It doesn't matter if it's Kimboku or the Hall of Gods from the West, we have the same enemy which is Dragonmarsh! "What we need to do is to wreak havoc on Dragonmarsh and impede its development. With this pretext, it doesn't matter if we have our own plans. We'll work together as long as we share the same goal!""Understood!" The one-eyed warrior nodded heavily. In other words, the supposed corporation was just them using each other to achieve their own goal."Hurry up and
The one-eyed warrior was furious when he was being ignored. He quickly moved forward with his sword in his hands and delivered a powerful blow to the silhouette. The silhouette didn't turn around nor did it avoid the attack. Instead, it simply lifted its hand and caught the curved longsword aiming at him.Sparks flew when the silhouette's pale and weak-looking hand caught the one-eyed warrior's curved longsword. It was as if the hand was made of steel."W-What?" The one-eyed warrior's eyes widened in shock. He didn't think that the silhouette would be able to block a strike this strong with bare hands. He couldn't even retrieve his sword no matter how hard he tried. Who was this person?The one-eyed warrior's sword was broken into many pieces as the silhouette clenched its fist around the sword tighter. In the next moment, the silhouette turned around abruptly and revealed its pale and sickly face. Its blood-red eyes shone with a demonic glow in the dark.The silhouette growl
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
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