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Chapter 2260
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2261
"Dr. Rhys, don't worry. Even if Number 12 loses, no one's going to blame you," Alicia said with a reassuring smile."Yeah, we're just here for the fun of it. Winning or losing doesn't really matter," Aurora chimed in."That's a relief." Dustin nodded.Gambling could remain harmless if one didn't become too engrossed in it. However, once addicted, it was easy to lose one's rationality. Therefore, it was wise to clarify matters beforehand to prevent unnecessary complications."Fenley, do you want to join us?" Alicia suddenly turned to Fenley beside her."No thanks. You guys go ahead. I'm not into it." Fenley smiled and shook his head. He was passionate about martial arts. Aside from training and fighting, nothing else piqued his interest."What about you, Dr. Rhys?" Alicia asked Dustin."I'll just watch the match," he declined politely. He knew that Abigail's role as the dealer could manipulate the outcome. Plus, those who placed their bets would eventually lose everything."Come
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2262
Atlas' attack came with fierce momentum as he swung his axes with enough force to shatter stone. Miles focused intently and chose to advance rather than retreat. He deftly ducked under Atlas' swinging axes, his hair barely missing their deadly arc.As Atlas' axes missed their mark, Miles' sword was already in motion.A sharp clang echoed through the air. While taking advantage of his momentum, Miles' sword sliced fiercely across Atlas' chest and abdomen as he skimmed past him.The blow shredded Atlas' attire and exposed the padded armor beneath, marked with a faint white streak."Hmm?" Miles frowned. His sword strike had been cunningly angled, executed swiftly and accurately. He had anticipated it would incapacitate Atlas immediately. But to his surprise, Atlas' padded armor absorbed the critical blow."Kid, I hate to admit you've got skills," Atlas remarked. He looked down at his torn clothes with a serious expression.He added, "If I hadn't been prepared, you might have had
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2263
"That's odd. Number 12 is clearly stronger than Number 34. So, why hasn't he won yet?" Aurora wondered as she watched the intense match in the battle ring."Because he's holding back," Alicia replied.She narrowed her eyes and continued, "Look closely at Number 34. His fighting style is ruthless and aggressive, as if he has nothing to lose. "Even though Number 12 is stronger, he's struggling. As the saying goes, 'Fortune favors the brave.'"Everything changed when a match in the battle ring escalated into a fight for survival. In standard bouts, martial artists often held back. Winning was great, but losing wasn't the end of the world. With that mindset, most wouldn't risk their lives.However, the stakes were clear in a fight for survival—victory or death. Hence, martial artists would give their all to win the match. Number 34, Atlas, fully embraced this mindset, while Number 12, Miles, hesitated and didn't unleash his full strength."At this rate, aren't we going to lose our
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2264
Atlas conceded defeat decisively. However, even after he jumped out of the battle ring, the enraged Miles pursued him with his sword. He looked like he was out for blood."Hey! What are you doing? I already surrendered! What else do you want?" Atlas cried out in fear as he dodged each vicious strike.He hadn't expected Miles to go berserk. Miles was fighting with a relentless fury as if he were willing to go down with him. If he had known, he wouldn't have provoked Miles earlier.Atlas' pleas fell on deaf ears as Miles' sword continued its relentless assault. Each blow aimed at Atlas' throat.Upon seeing Atlas in danger, the referee finally stepped in. With a swift movement, he effortlessly caught Miles' sword between two fingers."Contestant Number 34 has conceded. The match is over. No fighting outside the battle ring," the referee said calmly. His commanding voice snapped Miles out of his rage.Miles' anger gradually faded as he regained his composure. "Sorry, I got carried aw
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2265
"What's going on? Isn't that man supposed to be an ascetic priest? What is he doing at a Combat Tournament?""They say ascetic priests aren't interested in power or wealth. Yet, here he is, stepping into the battle ring. It's really strange.""Wait! I know him. He's the renegade among the ascetic priests, Thaddeus Savier.""What? Father Savier? Are you talking about the same guy who slaughtered an entire family in a fit of rage eight years ago?"The mention of Thaddeus' name caused a stir in the crowd. There were only a few ascetic priests in the world, and he stood out distinctly among them.No one knew what had happened. But rumors circulated that he had allegedly slain 17 members of the guildmaster's family from the Sable Order in one night eight years ago. Since then, Thaddeus had forsaken his vows entirely. He indulged in all sorts of vices—drinking, women, and money.His temper was notoriously explosive. Plus, he was quick to resort to violence at the slightest provocatio
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2266
"Number 19?" Alicia looked at Dustin with a puzzled expression. "Dr. Rhys, why do you think he can win?"Aurora commented, "Number 5 is the ascetic priest. Even though they're evenly matched, he seems almost unbeatable. Number 19 may be the successor of Shadow Citadel, but he seems inexperienced. In every aspect, he's clearly no match for Number 5."Despite Dalen's handsome appearance, he paled in comparison to Thaddeus in strength. They couldn't understand why Dustin's opinion differed so much from theirs."I know Number 19. Despite his gentle appearance, he's quite skilled. He shouldn't have much trouble defeating that ascetic priest," Dustin replied casually."Really?" Alicia raised an eyebrow in surprise. She hadn't anticipated Dustin knowing Dalen, let alone being so confident in his assessment."In that case, let's bet on him," she decided without hesitation.Regardless of whether Dustin was truthful or accurate in his assessment, Alicia felt compelled to respect his opinio
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2267
After the referee signaled the start of the round, the crowd was cheering and rallying enthusiastically. Most were rooting for Thaddeus due to his formidable strength and put off by Dalen's appearance."Kid, you should just give up now," Thaddeus said while sipping his drink. "Otherwise, you're going to end up with broken limbs once the fight starts."He didn't take Dalen, a guy in his 20s, seriously at all. Thaddeus' goal was to defeat the top contenders in Group A. To him, the elites in Group B were just stepping stones."Father Savier, isn't it inappropriate for a priest to enter a battle ring against younger opponents?" Dalen smiled and lightly waved his folding fan."What's wrong with that?" Thaddeus countered. "Priests are human too, with the same emotions and desires as anyone else. Those you see claiming to be above it all are just hypocrites. "Sure, they act pious, but who knows what they're up to in private? At least I'm honest about my desires. Like they say, 'live lif
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2268
"Wow! He's so charming. He really embodies the saying, 'Like a gem among men, unmatched in the world.'""Not only is he handsome, but he's also a great fighter. I'm in love.""Go, Honey! You're the best."Every move Dalen made stirred waves of excitement among the crowd. Young women were completely captivated. Their eyes gleamed with admiration as they watched him in action.If Dalen were just a pretty face, it wouldn't matter much. But his effortless deflection of Thaddeus' attacks twice demonstrated his formidable skill.His striking good looks and exceptional talent naturally drew the attention of the women in the stands."Screw that! He just lucked out dodging a few moves. What's the big deal? He's just trying to show off.""He looks like a sissy but doesn't seem to have any real skills. Once Father Savier got serious, he'd crush him in seconds!""Go, Father Savier! Take down this boy toy."The male spectators grumbled discontentedly, unlike the female fans. They questione
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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
