"You'll soon know whether I can do it or not." Dustin smiled lightly and didn't continue to argue. To him, Jimmy and Krel were just arrogant clowns."Fine, then! I'll watch you make a fool of yourself!" Jimmy glared at Dustin. If looks could kill, Dustin would be dead by now. Jimmy had never been so embarrassed before. He must teach Dustin a lesson.If Dustin couldn't even lift a ten-thousand-pound cauldron, he would take this opportunity to humiliate Dustin and vent his frustration."Jimmy, calm down. Don't lose your temper over some insignificant punk." Krel stepped forward and patted Jimmy's shoulder.He said calmly, "You have amazing speed and skills. It's normal for you to slightly lack in strength. Don't worry about it. Watch my performance next.""Krel, you must shock that punk! Show him the might of Boulderthorn's elite disciple!" Jimmy said aggressively."Rest assured. I'll make him feel utter despair." Krel smiled proudly, glancing at Dustin with deep disdain and cont
If the ten-thousand-pound cauldron hit an ordinary martial artist, he would probably die on the spot.However, Krel remained calm, facing the falling cauldron without dodging or showing any fear. It was as if it were of no concern to him. It wasn't until it was about to hit his head that he slowly stretched out a hand, easily lifting the ten-thousand-pound cauldron.After the cauldron fell slightly, he held it midair with one hand.Judging from his calm demeanor, it seemed as if he was holding cotton instead of a ten-thousand-pound cauldron."Look, he's lifting the cauldron with one hand! Krel, you're awesome!" Jimmy clapped wildly and almost jumped with excitement."Holy shit! This guy held the cauldron up with one hand? He's too strong!""There are many people who can lift a ten-thousand-pound cauldron, but he's undoubtedly the best I've ever seen!""It's Divine Strength! He's amazing!"All the martial artists couldn't help but marvel at Krel's stunning performance. They co
Dustin smiled, looking unfazed in the face of Krel and Jimmy's provocation. He readily agreed to the challenge, "Want a bet? Sure. I'll play along.""Great! You've got guts. I can't wait to see you defeated!" Jimmy cackled aloud.Dustin could have backed down. It might be humiliating, but at least he wouldn't have to risk his life. Jimmy couldn't believe that Dustin had agreed to the challenge—he essentially had a death wish."Dustin, don't!" Melissa's face fell when Dustin risked his life for the challenge. She advised, "A 50-thousand-pound cauldron is no joke. You'll be crushed if you can't support it. Please think it over!"Dustin might look intimidating, but he was nothing more than an amateur who didn't hail from any established guild or sect. His capability would certainly fall short of Krel's. Taking on the challenge against Krel was just an act of self-destruction.All she wanted was to befriend Dustin. Never had she thought that she'd get him into such trouble."Melissa,
Unlike Jimmy's reaction when he lifted the cauldron, Krel appeared comparatively at ease. His expression didn't change much. As he lifted the cauldron, his arm muscles tensed up, and his veins bulged like worms.In a few seconds, he had raised the cauldron to the height of his chest, about three feet off the ground. This had placed him far ahead of the previous contestants.Everyone's eyes were glued to Krel, their hearts in their throats. Some wished for his success, while some couldn't wait to see him fail. Most of them were merely shocked at his strength."Krel, you're amazing! Keep going and lift it over your head!" Jimmy cheered him on.Krel was so close to success."Up!" Suddenly, Krel screamed and increased his strength. The heavy 50-thousand-pound cauldron started rising again after a short pause. At this point, Krel's expression finally crumbled. He gritted his teeth. The veins on his neck bulged as he breathed laboriously.After a few seconds, he lifted the cauldron o
"Damn! That guy's dead meat!"The spectators looked horrified as the cauldron hurtled toward Dustin. Never had they expected Krel to be so decisively merciless. The impact of the cauldron was enough to crush a man."Dustin, look out!" Melissa cried out in alarm. Jimmy stood there, waiting for Dustin's fate to be sealed. There was no escape from the impact of the cauldron. He couldn't wait to witness Dustin's demise."Hah!" Dustin smiled fearlessly at the cauldron. He stood in the same spot without flinching. As the cauldron approached, he suddenly extended his hand and caught one of its feet.Leveraging the force, he guided the cauldron to gravitate around him. Finally, with much ease, he directed the cauldron to land steadily on the ground.A dull thud was heard when the cauldron landed. As the earth shook, the dust and rocks jumped into the air from the impact. The spectators were caught by surprise.Everyone expected Dustin to die when Krel threw the cauldron in his directio
When Krel saw Dustin catch the cauldron, he thought he had lost his chance for revenge. But to his surprise, Dustin wanted to make another bet and even gave up his advantage.The man clearly had a death wish!"Alright, so it's settled. Who goes first, you or me?" Dustin joked with a laugh."We go first, of course!" Before Krel could speak, Jimmy chimed in, "You brought up the bet. Letting us go first isn't too much to ask, right?"Since cheating wasn't allowed, Krel only had to lift and throw the 50-thousand-pound cauldron again, which would surely defeat Dustin."Okay, you guys go first," Dustin agreed without a fight. It didn't matter to him who went first."Let's sign a deadly duel agreement first. Anyone who backs out is a coward!" Jimmy sneered."No problem." Dustin nodded.Soon, the deadly duel agreement was brought over.Krel signed it first, then tossed the pen to Dustin with an evil smile. "Your turn, punk."As Dustin picked up the pen to sign, Melissa tried to stop
"It wasn't a big deal until that guy wanted to win and push it to this point. He asked for it!"The spectators were buzzing as they watched Krel lift the cauldron.Some were amazed by Krel's strength, while others felt pity for Dustin. Of course, there were also those who were just there for the drama."Your turn, kid! Catch!"Krel, holding the cauldron, spun around and then hurled it toward Dustin's head. The 50-thousand-pound cauldron zoomed through the air, heading straight for Dustin.Dustin stood there, hands behind his back, as if he didn't see it coming. Just as the cauldron was about to hit, he suddenly struck it with his palm.A loud bang erupted, and Dustin's palm left a deep imprint on the bronze cauldron. The force sent it flying and spinning in the air like a top, shedding loads of rust and dust."What?"Everyone's jaw dropped at the sight of the spinning cauldron in the air. They couldn't believe their eyes, especially Krel and Jimmy, who were completely shocked.
The bronze cauldron sent Krel flying after the collision and heavily crashed onto the ground with a rumble, causing debris to fly and dust to rise. For a moment, the whole venue was dead silent. No one had expected such an outcome in the fight between the two.Dustin not only withstood the impact of the cauldron head-on but also managed to counter-attack and severely injure Krel. It was simply unbelievable!"Damn, this guy is amazing! He actually kicked around a cauldron weighing 50 thousand pounds like a ball!""Holy shit! He is truly extraordinary to slap away the cauldron with one hand!""We have to admit that we'd completely underestimated him. This guy is definitely not ordinary!"After a brief silence, the venue erupted into an uproar. Everyone was astonished by Dustin's immense power. The cauldron, which wouldn't even budge when they tried to lift it, was being tossed around by him as if it were a toy. It was a truly terrifying sight to behold."No… Impossible… This ca
"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