Dread often stemmed from the unfamiliar.The Kimboku warriors were skilled and brave in facing ordinary enemies. However, their courage faltered when confronted with the formidable Blood Devil Willem.Willem was a figure of mystery, endowed with immortality and the remarkable ability to transform into a bat. The mention of his name alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of many."Blood Devil?" Willem shook his head.He continued, "I'm not particularly fond of that moniker. I come from the distinguished royal lineage of the Esmington Empire, holding the honorable title of Earl."You can call me Willem or Earl Willem." A sly grin spread across his face, revealing two sharp fangs."Willem, no one cares about your noble status. You're Blood Devil, plain and simple," Bailey stated bluntly.He then gestured toward Anthony. "Let me introduce you to Mr. Alessandro, one of the ten Sword Sages of Kimboku.""Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Alessandro." Willem extended his hand, presen
"Mr. Alessandro, meet Vanzan, Noir, and Shyvan. They are notable figures from Eskus, each possessing impressive skills." Bailey introduced."Vanzan? Noir? Shyvan?" Anthony raised an eyebrow, growing more surprised by the moment. In Eskus, the Silent Specters, a mysterious and powerful assassin organization, operated discreetly. They would kill anyone for the right price. One of their notable targets was a former ruler of Glorian.The organization comprised three elite assassins—Vanzan, Noir, and Shyvan—named after Eskus's deities. Their mission success rate was an astonishing 100%. The assassination of the Glorian ruler was attributed to their skills.Their unparalleled ability to kill such a highly guarded Glorian ruler and evade capture spoke volumes about their prowess.Anthony was surprised by the arrival of Blood Devil Willem and Eskus' three elite assassins. Each of them was capable of unleashing a tempest of bloodshed and chaos."Welcome, gentlemen. Come on in," Anthony
Batuul's arrival lifted Anthony's spirits. Anthony realized that Bailey, sent by the Hall of Gods, had a well-thought-out plan for gathering strong individuals from various nations in such a short time.Willem, clad in a red robe, suddenly spoke with a smile. "Mr. Batuul, I've heard that you have perfected your body with Adamantine Body Art, which is quite impressive. I wonder if you could show us?" Before Batuul could respond, a bald disciple behind him sternly interjected. "My master is the Fist Sage of Alabastria, not a circus clown. Show some respect!""I'm particularly intrigued because Mr. Batuul is the Fist Sage. I'd like to see the authenticity of the Adamantine Body Art he teaches." Willem grinned, revealing his two fangs.Batuul responded calmly, "Feel free to test it yourself, Mr. Willem.""Alright then." Willem turned into a crimson blur, and he swiftly lunged forward. His left hand's black nails shot out instantly, extending 40 inches like sharp blades. With a fi
The Hall of Gods, with approval from Artea, arranged a meeting of influential leaders from various nations. This collaboration, if fruitful, would pave the way for future gatherings of a similar nature."I can just ignore the representative from Glorian as long as they don't get under my skin," Willem remarked, lifting his wine glass and savoring it quietly.After brief introductions and getting acquainted, the attendees engaged in casual conversations. As time passed, the clock struck 8:30 pm, half an hour past the agreed-upon time. Still, there was no sign of the Glorian delegation.While the other powerful nations refrained from openly criticizing, discontent was visible on their faces. They arrived promptly for this significant gathering, anxious not to miss any crucial information.However, the Glorians had the nerve to show up late—not just a few minutes late, but a considerable delay of half an hour, as if it didn't matter.Artea, as the world's leading nation with abunda
Jasper's words left everyone feeling uneasy. Their faces soured at his shameless behavior, an audacity they had never witnessed. Not only was he late, but he also exuded an arrogant, self-important demeanor, making it difficult to stomach."Abundant talent and resources? That's a laughable claim. What notable figures does Glorian even boast?" Willem scoffed, eyeing Jasper with disdain.Jasper's face darkened at the remarks. "And who are you to question the strength of my nation?"He went on, "Our nation's history is long, stretching back five thousand years. We were once a mighty superpower with a vibrant culture that still shines today. "Over the years, we've given birth to many heroes. Even the Dragonmarsh was once under our rule, a testament to our strength."Willem cut him off bluntly, "Your tall tales might impress your people, but they won't work on us."Everyone knows the truth about Glorian. Your so-called cultural heritage is nothing but borrowed. Even your prized spi
Willem declared confidently, "My hands are my weapons." As he stepped forward, his fingers parted slightly, revealing sharp black nails that sprung out like blades.Jasper, wielding a long spear, retorted, "Hmph! Looks like you haven't trimmed those nails in ages. Today, I'll give you a hand!" He wasted no time and thrust directly.The speed was blinding, leaving only a flash of golden light visible. Willem didn't retreat but charged forward, colliding head-on with the golden spear in a crimson blur."You're courting death!" Jasper sneered as his spear erupted into a flurry of shadows.In the courtyard, the dazzling light made onlookers squint. Each movement was swift, slicing through the air effortlessly. The golden spear shadows, tightly packed, resembled a volley of cannonballs, tearing through Willem's crimson afterimage and shredding it. The process unfolded with merciless simplicity, encountering no resistance."Hmph! Pathetic!" Jasper scoffed. His smug expression oozed
"Go to hell!" Jasper shivered as he locked eyes with Willem, whose piercing red gaze sent a chill down his spine. Gripping his spear tightly, Jasper swiftly spun it around.With a deft movement, the spearhead dodged Willem's clawed reach and shot up his arm. Like a striking serpent, it aimed for Willem's chest with remarkable speed and precision.Then, the sickening noise of flesh tearing echoed through the air.With no hindrance, Jasper's forceful thrust drove the spear straight through Willem's heart. It pierced him from front to back, leaving a grim pool of blood staining the ground."General, you're incredible!" Hundreds of silver-armored guards cheered in unison, visibly thrilled. They knew insulting Glorian would end in death."Haha... I thought you were tough, but you're weaker than I thought. One spear thrust and you're done! Truly disappointing!" He withdrew the spear, leaving a bloody hole in Willem's chest.To his surprise, Willem didn't collapse. Instead, he fixed his
Jasper was startled and instinctively raised his arm to stop Willem's advance. Despite his efforts, the vast power gap between them rendered Jasper helpless against Willem's relentless pressure. He could only watch in horror as Willem's fangs inched closer to his neck.Jasper panicked and urged, "What are you fools waiting for? Get in here and help!""Quick! Help the General!" In an instant, the Glorian silver-armored guards, numbering in the hundreds, swiftly responded as if awakened from a deep slumber. Some drew their bows, releasing a volley of arrows, while others advanced with spears raised, ready to strike.The arrows were unleashed from bows. Each carried an explosive force as it rained down on Willem without mercy. In an instant, his back turned into a pin cushion, resembling the spines of a hedgehog. Blood stained his clothes, reflecting an eerie sheen in the moonlight."Isn't a duel supposed to be fair? And you're calling for reinforcements? Are Glorians so devoi
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