"Anyone who doesn't want to end up six feet under, clear out! Don't blame me if you get caught in the crossfire and push daisies!" With that warning, the Bloodfiery Legion disciples cleared the area, preparing for the impending duel.They were all too familiar with the bone-chilling might of Kendricks. His blade aura alone could claim lives.As shouts erupted, the spectators scattered. Only Dustin and Kendricks stood within 300 feet apart, facing each other.One stood proudly as the eighth-ranked legend, a powerhouse in his own right. The other had recently defeated Marco, a rising star in their domain.Excitement surged as news of the impending duel spread. It even attracted numerous martial artists eager to witness the outcome firsthand."Everyone, what's your take on Dustin's chances against Kendricks's blade?""I'm not so sure! Kendricks is eighth on the Legendary List. He's formidable. If he's daring enough to issue the challenge, he must be confident in his victory!""Yo
Wherever the blade aura passed through, the ground shook as if the air was distorted. A huge pressure began to envelope the entire place.The onlookers could feel the pressure on them. It was as if a huge stone had landed on their shoulders. Those who were weak even had trouble breathing, their legs trembling."What a powerful slash! Was that the power of a person ranked eighth on the Legendary List? That was eye-opening!""That slash was astounding! No one could possibly take that! Dustin's in big trouble!""Poor guy. He shouldn't have offended Kendricks. He's so dead."Everyone was overwhelmed by Kendricks' slash.They could feel the sharpness of the blade aura as well as its tremendous power just by the look of it. Many of them thought that Dustin was as good as dead."Dustin! Show them what you got! You must withstand that pressure!" Dalen gripped his lighter tightly, tensing up. He knew Dustin had high potential, but this was Kendricks, ranked eighth on the Legendary List
The onlookers were astonished by the powerful surge, but they also wondered if Kendricks had successfully taken Dustin down with just one slash.After all, Kendricks was ranked eighth on the Legendary List. He was capable of breaking a mountain with a single slash. It was almost impossible to withstand his slash."Crystal, can you see? How is it? Is Dustin dead?"Ruby tried to take a peek at the battleground while blocking the wind with her hand. Her stomach was in knots.Although she and Dustin were at odds, it didn't mean that she hated him or wanted him dead."I can't see clearly. Let's wait a little longer."Crystal stared into the distance, trying to see what was happening in the dust haze.The crash of the auras was so strong that it caused a massive dust haze within a mile radius. No one could see clearly.A moment later, the dust haze lifted. Everything was back to normal again.The figures on the battleground were visible to the audience again.Kendricks, who stoo
Kendricks left with the disciples of Bloodfiery Legion.Everything was back to normal, at least for now.Once again, Dustin's unexpected performance became the center of attention.He had gained some reputation for defeating Marco Alessandro. Now, his reputation grew stronger after he withstood Kendricks's slash without harm.Dustin had earned a place in Sacred Wrym Summit, where all the strongest warriors were gathered, with only two battles."Thanks for the sword." Dustin turned and raised his hand with the sword.The sword flew out of his hand and returned to Ruby's sheath.Everyone was amazed."Dustin! Congratulations!" Miles walked toward Dustin with a smile. "That was a beautiful strike! To think you could block Kendricks' blade aura with a sword aura! Fancy that!"Miles might sound a bit flattering, but he meant what he said. No ordinary warrior could take Kendricks' attack head-on."Hmph! Good thing my sword is still intact." Ruby raised her chin as she acknowledged D
A stout man ran to them hurriedly. He was Terra Shade, the head of the Evil Quintet of Shadow Citadel.Terra appeared disheveled and was covered in wounds, looking rather pathetic compared to his previous dignified appearance."Terra? What happened to you?" Dalen looked at him from head to toe and frowned. He had a bad feeling about this."Dalen, you must avenge us! My brothers and sisters… the four of them were all murdered!" Terra fell to his knees with a thud and started bawling like a baby.It was a heartbreaking sight."Murdered?" Dalen furrowed his brows and asked, "What happened? Why were they murdered? Have they offended someone powerful?"The Evil Quintet of Shadow Citadel was well known in the martial world. Each of them had their own unique skills.If the five of them worked together, ordinary grandmaster martial artists might not be able to take them down.Apparently, the murderer was not any ordinary warrior since the four of them were killed and Terra was severely
It was dusk, and in a private room of Poise Brothel, Dustin and the others gathered to listen to Terra's report.Although the murderer was still at large, Terra had found out something through his investigation."Dalen, based on our Shadow Citadel's intelligence report, I've found something out," Terra began. He continued, "Someone saw the killer last night. According to the witness, the killer was skinny, and his face was hideous. There's also a black mark on his forehead."I've hired an artist to draw a portrait of the killer based on the witness's description. Here it is."Terra took a portrait out from his pocket and handed it to Dalen carefully.Dalen looked at the portrait and frowned.The person in the portrait was indeed hideous, skinny, and bony. There was a palm-sized black mark on his left forehead, which looked like snake skin.His creepy appearance was hard to ignore, let alone forget."You sure this is the murderer?" Dalen asked, puzzled.He knew almost all the
Even if these untalented people insisted on practicing swordsmanship, there would be huge obstacles along the way.Yet, they had found an exception.Despite his deformity, this man's sword technique had surpassed many martial arts geniuses.How unbelievable!This man was out of the ordinary.There might be thousands of martial arts geniuses in the world, but there was only one untalented martial artist who overshadowed the geniuses!No one could imagine what the man had gone through in order to achieve his current state."Looks like we have a tough fight ahead."Dalen took a sip of tea. Then, he glanced at Terra and asked, "Anything else besides the killer's portrait?""Yes, according to our investigation, the killer killed seven people last night!" Terra's words surprised everyone."Seven? Who were they?" Dalen raised his brows."Aside from Aldric Lang of Bloodfiery Legion and four of Evil Quintet, Spearhawk Vincent of Celestial Alliance was murdered too," reported Terra.
"What?" When they heard Dustin's analysis, they found it hard to believe.The idea that someone wanted to kill all of Dragonmarsh's martial artists, regardless if the person could succeed, was scary enough. Only a maniac would think of something like that.Crazy people like them were the most fearsome."Terra, did all of those people that were killed sign up for the Combat Tournament?" Dalen couldn't help asking.Terra nodded. "That's right. Although they come from all sorts of sects, they had a common goal. All of them wanted to show their prowess at the Combat Tournament."Aldric, Vincent, Simpson, and even Shadow Citadel's Evil Quintet, had signed up for the tournament. They planned to show off their skills at Sacred Wrym Summit.However, their young life had ended before the tournament began."If that's the case, Dustin's speculation should be right."Dalen stood up and circled the table while beating his folding fan on his palm. Then, he said thoughtfully, "Any martial a
"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
"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