Suddenly, Predator let out a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the entire battleground. But what was truly unsettling was that it sounded more like a beast's growl than a human.Then, a shocking scene unfolded before everyone's eyes.Predator's body began to bulk up. His muscles bulged and tore through his ragged clothes and shoes.With another deafening roar, he propped his limbs on the ground and arched his back high. Thick, coarse black fur sprouted from his skin and soon covered his entire body.At first glance, Predator resembled a giant black bear but there was more to his transformation.As the black fur continued to grow, his facial features underwent a drastic change. The area below his eyes rapidly protruded while his teeth sharpened into pointed fangs. His hands and feet morphed into claw-like appendages that completed his terrifying transformation.When Predator roared for the third time, he had fully transformed into a ferocious beast.This beast defied classif
Dustin was well-versed and knowledgeable about creatures like werewolves and vampires in Streuqua. But facing something like Predator, who turned into a beast and became ten times stronger, was completely new to him.It showed that the mysterious assassin organization held significant power and influence. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to nurture so many elites.Thrown back by the impact, Predator tapped into his primal instincts. His form expanded even more, akin to an elephant's, while a dark haze enveloped him and radiated a sinister air.With its four limbs forcefully pushing off the ground, it lunged forward like a cannonball toward Dustin at terrifying speed."Hurricane Slash!"Dustin gripped his sword with one hand and swiftly delivered five consecutive slashes. The resulting sword auras intertwined, forming a massive net that bore down on Predator.A thunderous crash filled the air as Predator charged headlong into the net without hesitation. Five sword auras s
Three Frost Needles streaked through the night sky, each carrying a biting cold as they targeted Dustin's upper, middle, and lower vital pressure points."Hmm?" Dustin frowned and immediately raised his sword to block.The three needles struck the sword and instantly exploded into clouds of frost. Upon contact with the frost, the sword was immediately encased in ice.Simultaneously, a biting cold followed the frozen blade, spreading rapidly along his arm. In the blink of an eye, his hand holding the sword was frozen solid."Frost Needle?" Dustin's face darkened as his mystical pure energy surged within him.The icy mist around him quickly dissipated, and cracks formed on his frozen arm. With a shiver, the ice on his arm swiftly broke apart, reverting it to its normal state.Fortunately, he managed to avoid a direct hit from the Frost Needle. If it had struck him, it would have significantly damaged his body's functions. Despite his considerable strength, such an injury would ha
"So, you know the Behemoth Punch? Well, so do I!" Dustin snorted coldly. He didn't draw his sword but raised his fist instead. He gathered his mystical pure energy and punched the gilded tiger in the air.With a deafening roar, a large ivory tiger emerged from Dustin's body and ferociously charged at the gilded tiger. Both tigers were of similar size and equally intimidating.As they collided, a resounding boom shook the earth and flooded the surroundings with energy.The white and golden light erupted simultaneously and covered half the sky each. Powerful hurricanes radiated outward from the point of impact and demolished everything in their path.When the dust settled, everyone looked on in astonishment. Dustin and Acheron stood unscathed despite the clash and couldn't gain the upper hand over the other."No way! Dustin can actually go toe-to-toe with Acheron?" Miles's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face.Acheron was one of the eight elders of the Celestial Al
In an instant, a golden broadsword materialized out of thin air.Everyone was stunned by Acheron's unusual technique.Without a word, Dustin effortlessly retrieved the sword lodged in the ground with a swift motion of his hand."Kid! You're going to regret your choices!" Acheron growled and raised the sword above his head. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward like a cannonball and swung the sword fiercely toward Dustin's chest.Suddenly, Acheron's sword expanded to an impressive 30 feet in length, resembling a colossal blade of judgment.With incredible force, it hurtled toward Dustin.Dustin didn't dodge and stood his ground as he raised his sword to block the attack. The clash of blades sent sparks flying and unleashed a powerful explosion of energy.Despite the force of the impact causing the ground beneath him to collapse and crumble into a pit, Dustin remained unfazed and stood firm throughout the ordeal."How long do you think you can keep this up?"Acheron
Acheron was caught off guard by the beastly Predator's sudden attack. Before he could react, he was already thrown to the ground.After transforming, Predator wielded immense strength. He pressed Acheron down with claws resembling darksteel.Despite his efforts, Acheron couldn't break free. He had to resort to using his golden broadsword to defend against the beast's claws.The beastly Predator continued to roar and snarl viciously. Its bloodied jaws dripped a thick green liquid with a foul odor.As the liquid dripped onto Acheron's face, it sizzled and caused his skin to corrode. "Argh!" He gritted his teeth and cried out in agony.Yet, Acheron couldn't believe how fast the beastly Predator had recovered after being impaled in the chest earlier. It astounded him that the beast's wound had fully healed within minutes.Still, he couldn't understand why the beast targeted him."Get off me, you damn beast!" he shouted as his hands pushed against the blade with all his might. He tri
"Dead… dead? How is that possible?""I never expected Elder Wood from the Celestial Alliance, a prominent figure in the martial world, to die at the hands of a beast. It's truly unbelievable!""Well, he's too arrogant and overbearing. Guess karma finally caught up with him."The death of Acheron caused a stir throughout the crowd. Nobody expected such a mighty and arrogant figure to meet such an abrupt end. Predator took him down, pinned him, and bit off his head.What struck everyone as particularly unsettling was that Acheron didn't even have a chance to fight back."Elder… Elder Wood…?" Quincy, who had just arrived, stood frozen in place as he looked at the headless corpse before him.Acheron had always been a figure of power and authority, towering above Quincy and many others. Within the Celestial Alliance, his status was unrivaled.All the disciples from the Celestial Alliance who showed up for the tournament at Sacred Wrym Summit were under Acheron's supervision.Yet,
Marcia demonstrated her intelligence with a strategic move. Choosing to cut open the abdomen to reach the head could have startled the unconscious Predator, potentially putting herself in danger. That was why opting to kill him outright was a sensible choice.However, she overlooked a critical detail—the vast difference in their strengths. Taking down a grandmaster-level opponent, especially one with significant physical power, was no simple feat, even if they were unconscious.With a swift motion, Marcia drove her sword toward the Predator's chest. Before the sword tip could penetrate more than half an inch, Predator's reflexes kicked in. His muscles tensed instantly, exerting a powerful force that effectively trapped her sword in place."Hmm?" Marcia frowned and applied more pressure to push forward with her sword. But to her surprise, it wouldn't budge any further. Even more astonishing was that she couldn't withdraw her sword.She didn't know that Predator's muscles c
"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