After the second round of betting concluded, there was a mix of joy and frustration at Abigail's betting table.Winners were on cloud nine, feeling like they had struck gold, while losers were kicking themselves for their choices."Damn it! I didn't think that guy would lose so badly. I should've gone with Number 36 from the start!""I only have myself to blame! I lost a whole bottle of Zen Pellets for nothing!""Same here. I lost all my loot in one fell swoop!""Hmph! I told you to bet on Number 36, but no one listened. Now we've got to pay the price!"Amidst the collective groans, a jarring voice broke through the noise. All heads turned toward a man dressed in gray. He strode arrogantly with a longsword strapped to his back. In his hand, he tightly gripped a fistful of celestial stones he had just won from his bets."Hey! Looks like you made quite a haul earlier," someone piped up."Nah, just a dozen or so. But if I had more capital, I'd have gone all in. I could've won ev
At that moment, Abigail's voice rang out.After the second round of betting, many martial artists were drawn over. Initially, there were bystanders just there to watch. But as they got caught up in the excitement, they found it intriguing. Eventually, they decided to jump in and participate.As more and more of them racked up celestial stones, those who hadn't joined in yet were getting envious.After all, chances to snag celestial stones were rare. So, when the opportunity finally presented itself, they couldn't resist.As a result, the betting pool attracted an increasing number of gamblers. Abigail kept accumulating rare treasures, even as the celestial stones in her box decreased. Regardless, she remained content and unfazed as long as people were willing to bet."The contestants are in the battle ring, and the third round is about to begin. Hurry up and get those bets in before it's too late!" Abigail continued to shout.Nearly half of the crowd relied on their gut insti
"Miles, do you think we should trust the man in gray and bet on Number 33?" Ruby whispered. She had intended to follow Miles's lead in placing her bet. But to her surprise, he went with the man in gray's recommendation and chose to bet on contestant number 33.After all, she didn't trust strangers. Despite Miles' assurance, she only bet half of her celestial stones just to be on the safe side.He assured her, "I've looked into Number 33. He's really strong and with a high chance of winning. You can bet on him without any worries." He wasn't the type to blindly follow others. But after listening to the man in gray hype up Number 33, Miles took a closer look.Despite Number 33's unassuming appearance, anyone skilled enough to wield a shadowsteel whip was far from ordinary.A whip, being such an unconventional weapon, was tough to master. Just getting the hang of it wasn't easy, and becoming a true expert required dedication far beyond the norm. Those who had truly mastered it c
When the shadowsteel whip was swung, it crackled with power and delivered precise strikes that were impossible for anyone to dodge.Despite the strength of Number 33's opponent, he was forced to retreat and unable to close the distance.In mere minutes, the opponent endured a relentless barrage of lashes. His body was marked with bloody welts.He gritted his teeth and persevered for another two minutes before being knocked off the battle ring by Number 33's whip.The sight sparked cheers at the betting tables as many people jumped up excitedly."Haha… I won! Number 33 is the winner!""Heh… Awesome! I finally picked the right horse!""Damn it! If I'd known, I would've gone all in. This measly payout is hardly satisfying!"Number 33's win had the whole crowd cheering and celebrating. Most of the gamblers were thrilled by their newfound winnings.But for some, there was a pang of regret for playing it too safe. When they held the celestial stones in hand, that regret only intensi
After the third round of matches wrapped up, the fourth round began.At that moment, Abigail was surrounded by an ever-growing crowd. Even the martial artists watching from afar couldn't resist joining in.Some came for the thrill, while others couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.With many martial artists raking in the celestial stones, word spread like wildfire. Soon, a steady stream of new faces was eager to participate in the betting pool.Abigail's first box of celestial stones had been completely doled out as winnings. This prompted her to bring out her second and third boxes.The nearby martial artists couldn't hide their excitement as they gazed upon the boxes full of celestial stones.Human desires knew no bounds; even those who had already accumulated a decent haul of celestial stones craved more.These treasures that offered a direct path to enhancing their cultivation were simply irresistible."Sir, have you figured out who to bet on yet? Who's your pick this roun
Number 24 folded his arms and sized up Number 95 with scorn and disbelief.He couldn't help but scoff at the sight of the skinny, hobbling kid stepping into the ring. He felt that Number 95 had underestimated the challenge ahead."Although you're tall and muscular, it doesn't mean you can beat me," Number 95 stated flatly."I can't beat you?" Number 24 chuckled.He taunted, "Kid, do you even know what you're saying? With your twig-like frame, I could squash you with one hand!""Really? Why don't you give it a try?" Number 95 remained unfazed as he stared at Number 24 without flinching.Despite his smaller stature, he emitted a strong presence."Fine. It seems like you won't get it until I school you!" Number 24 sneered as he drew his long blade out of its sheath.Meanwhile, Number 95 remained unfazed as he casually leaned on his crutches."What are you waiting for? Draw your weapon!" Number 24 pointed his blade at him aggressively."I don't need a weapon to deal with you," Nu
"You… You used poison?" Number 24 clenched his teeth. His face burned with fury and disbelief.He tried to push himself up, but he felt weak. Even wiggling his fingers felt like a Herculean task."In the battle ring, fair play reigns supreme," Number 95 said calmly. "Even resorting to tactics like poison or hidden weapons is deemed acceptable within the rules."He added, "Moreover, I wasn't out for blood. I just want to incapacitate you momentarily. If my aim had been lethal, you'd be dead already.""Why you—" Number 24 was left speechless. Although he was reluctant to admit defeat, he begrudgingly accepted it.The rules didn't forbid the use of poison, and his opponent's frontal assault couldn't be deemed an ambush.His failure to defend himself boiled down to his own lack of strength."This round winner is contestant number 95!" With Number 24 incapacitated, the referee swiftly announced the match's outcome.Soon, the venue erupted in applause."Haha… We did it again! Anothe
"Get those bets in, quick! Trust me, put your bet on Number 13, Brandon Swift!""Hey guys, it's time to hit the jackpot! Don't miss this golden opportunity!""Hey, does anyone have treasures to spare? I'll pay you back with interest once I win those celestial stones!"The gamblers clamored. They jostled forward and were eager to place their bets. Anything valuable was thrown into the betting table without a second thought.Soon, the atmosphere crackled with excitement.This round was like hitting the jackpot for the gamblers, so doubling down was a no-brainer."Hey, make some room! We're here first, so let us get our bets in!"As the crowd of gamblers grew denser, chaos broke out.Miles and Ruby were momentarily taken aback and surrounded by eager gamblers. The duo had to push through the crowd to get to the betting table.After all, opportunities like this only came once. Plus, with only a few minutes remaining until the start of the fifth round, they couldn't afford to miss
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
After a prolonged battle, Anthony and the others finally realized the gravity of the situation.Arion wasn't just a sword master but also had unpredictable agility. No matter how they attacked, they couldn't even land a single hit. On top of that, his sword was a constant threat.If this deadlock continued, the situation would only worsen. So, when Bailey spoke, they knew it was time for decisive action, and there was no turning back. It was either kill or be killed.At that moment, Anthony, who had been holding back, finally decided to use his ultimate technique. He bit his finger and smeared the blood across his blade. His lips moved quickly as if whispering an incantation."Snow Maiden, arise!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he swung his sword. A white figure shot out and hovered in the air. It was a woman with fair skin and mesmerizing beauty. Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, her dress was as white as snow, and her eyes had a sinister gleam.The moment she appe
"How many tricks does this old geezer have?"The impact of the divine talisman explosion left everyone both shocked and enraged. No one had expected that Arion would still manage to unleash such a powerful supreme divine power even after the Glow Incantation was broken and the lightning strikes failed to cause any harm.The impact of the thousands of divine talismans exploding at once was terrifying. Only the strongest fighters—Willem, Bailey, and Batuul—could withstand it. The rest of the group was severely injured. At that moment, they finally realized the terrifying strength of Dragonmarsh's strongest man."Impressive," Willem said, landing smoothly after being thrown back. His withered skin was now covered in cracks, and blood oozed from it.Most of the shockwave from the explosion had hit him directly. Despite his impressive defense, he still took some damage. However, these injuries were nothing to him. His wounds had already healed within a few seconds, as if nothing had hap
Willem's wings, black as night with a metallic sheen, erupted from his back. Fully extended, they stretched over 30 feet. With a gentle flap, a storm of wind and eerie howls swept through the air. The sheer force was intimidating to behold.His appearance had also undergone a drastic transformation. Willem's once-handsome face was now gaunt, his skin wrinkled, and his cheekbones jutted out. Fangs protruded from his mouth, and two sharp horns sprouted from his head. He had grown taller, but his body was unnaturally thin, with his ribs and sternum visible beneath his skin. From a distance, he looked like a towering, monstrous skeleton. It was an unsettling sight that sent a chill down anyone's spine.This was Willem's ultimate form. After the transformation, his speed, strength, defense, and reflexes were greatly enhanced. His thirst for blood grew even more intense, turning him into a bloodthirsty demon.The gods, who had expressed dissatisfaction moments ago, now stood paralyzed