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Chapter 2221
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2222
"Sure. I'll go along with your plan." Dustin nodded.The rare treasures hidden in the forbidden ground of Sacred Wrym Summit were likely the Dracan essence.A treasure linked to the fate of the nation should never fall into the hands of the Hall of Gods. Who knew what kind of trouble that might cause?Dustin had initially braced himself to tackle this challenge alone. But now, he felt much more confident about taking on the Hall of Gods with Grace by his side.As a representative of Dragonmarsh royalty, she had the influence to rally allies and back them up.Grace said, "Okay, enough about the Hall of Gods. You need to stay focused on bringing your best at the Combat Tournament." She added, "And remember, Sacred Wrym Summit wouldn't organize something meaningless. The top three competitors are in for some serious perks and rewards.""I've already registered. I'm fully committed to giving it my all. You can count on that," Dustin replied with a smile.In fact, he was excited ab
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2223
Grace and Dustin followed a middle-aged woman into the villa.In the bedroom, a woman of striking beauty and regal presence lay unconscious on the bed. She was in her early 20s, with flawless skin and captivating features, even in her unconscious state. Her name was Alicia Marshall, and she held the fifth spot on the Beauty Ranking list.Each of the top ten women on the Beauty Ranking had a unique appeal. Alicia's beauty was like a rare alpine flower, pure and captivating, even without makeup.Aside from the unconscious Alicia, there was also a man and a young woman standing in the room.The man, around 30, dressed sharply in a suit. He was tall and handsome with a piercing gaze.The young woman, about 17 or 18, bore a strong resemblance to Alicia. She was equally beautiful and exuded a youthful energy. She was Alicia's younger sister, Aurora Marshall."Brian, Alicia's condition is worsening by the minute. When will that renowned miracle doctor you call arrive?" Aurora asked. "
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2224
"Are you telling us to leave?" Grace asked.She narrowed her eyes and added, "We're here to save Alicia, yet you're trying to drive us away. What's the matter? Don't you want her to wake up?""Ridiculous!" Brian scowled. "I'm her senior. Of course, I want her to wake up.""Then, why are you stopping us from treating her?" she countered."Because I don't trust you!" he asserted. "Who knows what your intentions are? What if you make her condition worse?""If I'm not confident, I won't do it," Dustin chimed in abruptly."Do you hear that? Regardless, let us diagnose Alicia first," Grace insisted."No! The miracle doctor I've called will be here soon. Your help isn't necessary!" Brian rejected them firmly."Aurora, what do you think?" Grace stopped arguing with Brian and turned toward Aurora instead. As Alicia's younger sister, Aurora had absolute authority in this situation. If she agreed, Grace would take action and disregard Brian's objections."How about… we let Dr. Rhys tre
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2225
"Huh?" Aurora was startled by Dustin's words.Removing the needles would mean death within three hours. Wasn't that practically a death sentence?"Hmph! I don't care about your ethereal-whatever technique. If you can't cure Alicia, you can only blame yourself for the pain you'll be in!" Brian said coldly.Dustin glanced at him and retorted, "If you can't be of any help, then please keep quiet. Your constant blabbering is getting on my nerves.""Why you—" Brian gritted his teeth but ultimately restrained himself from lashing out.If Dustin had managed to cure Alicia, Brian would have had nothing to say. But if he failed, Brian would undoubtedly teach Dustin a lesson."Dr. Rhys, what do we do now?" Aurora changed the subject."Take good care of your sister, and make sure nobody touches her. I'll go back and prepare the antidote now," Dustin said.Then, he winked at Grace before leaving the room."Aurora, remember what Dr. Rhys said," Grace reminded her before following him and e
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2226
"What's your plan?" Grace arched her eyebrow."First, we need to find a way to dispel the witchcraft from Alicia's body. Then, we'll use her as bait to lure out the mastermind," Dustin replied succinctly.Once they pinned down the culprit, they wouldn't have to do anything more. The Celestial Alliance members would handle it. After all, Alloy wouldn't just let those who hurt his daughter off the hook."What do you need me to do?" Grace asked."I need you to gather some medicinal herbs for me as quickly as possible. I plan to use poison to counteract the dark energy and force it out of Alicia's body."Dustin quickly jotted down a prescription and handed it to her.She glanced briefly and nodded. "No problem, I'll gather everything within three hours."With the power of Dragonmarsh royalty, she would have no trouble getting her hands on rare medicinal herbs.After Dustin and Grace left the lakeside villa, they got busy with their respective tasks.Just shortly after the two departed,
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2227
"What? Alicia will die?"Kenan's words sent shivers down Aurora's and Brian's spines. They hadn't anticipated the severity of the situation."That damned bastard! How dare he harm Alicia? I'll get someone to bring him in right now!" Brian immediately pulled out his phone to make a call.Assassinating the Celestial Alliance's guildmaster's daughter was like inviting death."Dr. Quake, what do we do now? Can my sister be saved?" Aurora panicked as she processed the news.She had turned to Dustin out of sheer desperation and hoped for a miracle since she had no other options.However, she regretted her decision after hearing Kenan's assessment. Comparing a nobody to a highly skilled doctor in the martial world, Kenan was the obvious choice."If it were anyone else, your sister would be beyond saving. But fortunately, I'm here today. As long as she's still breathing, I can bring her back from the brink," Kenan said confidently."Then, please, Dr. Quake, save her immediately. We'll
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2228
Aurora's eyes widened in shock. She touched the blood on her face and looked over at Alicia on the bed, who was coughing up blood.Kenan and Brian were equally shocked by the sudden turn of events. No one anticipated that after drinking the Enigma Mist, Alicia's condition would deteriorate."Dr. Quake! What… What's going on?" Brian asked anxiously."Dr. Quake! You assured us that the Enigma Mist would bring my sister back from the brink. Why is she coughing up blood now?" Aurora was frantic."Don't worry. It's just a minor setback. Let me check her again," Kenan reassured them.He quickly approached Alicia to take her pulse and frowned. "This is unexpected. Her pulse is weak, and her blood circulation is poor. "These symptoms suggest poisoning. The Enigma Mist should have detoxified her. But why isn't it working?"The Enigma Mist was supposed to cure any poison and extend life. Just a sip should have stabilized Alicia's condition. But this unforeseen reaction left him perplexed
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2229
"Of course, we trusted you. We believe you," Brian said with an apologetic smile. He went on, "If it weren't for you, Alicia would probably be dead by now.""It's just a small effort on my part. So, it's nothing to fuss over," Kenan said while stroking his beard.He added, "Sanny, feed her a bit more of that Enigma Mist and let Ms. Marshall witness my capability.""Yes, sir!" Sanny replied. He then carefully fed Alicia a couple more sips of the Enigma Mist.After swallowing the tonic, Alicia's legs twitched, and then she went still.Sanny was stunned upon seeing that. Then, he cautiously checked Alicia's breathing. In an instant, he jerked back as if electrocuted, and his face contorted in fear. He stammered, "Dr. Quake! The… the patient has stopped breathing.""What?"The revelation sent shockwaves through the room. Even the self-assured Kenan looked shaken."Stopped breathing? How is that even possible?" Kenan pushed his disciple aside and checked Alicia's pulse. It had
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2530
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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2529
"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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2528
"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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2527
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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2526
"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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2525
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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2524
"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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2523
"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
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2522
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
