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Chapter 2277
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An Understated Dominance Chapter 2278
"Oh? It's them?" Dustin was surprised and raised an eyebrow when he saw Aurora and Crystal step onto the battle ring.He knew they had signed up for the tournament, but he hadn't expected them to face off against each other. One was a skilled disciple of the Sword Union, while the other was the daughter of the Celestial Alliance's guildmaster, Alloy.This elite showdown between two major guilds would be quite a spectacle."Fenley, do you think Aurora has a shot at winning?" Alicia asked suddenly.He shook his head and replied, "It's hard to say."He continued, "Aurora's opponent isn't someone to underestimate. If I'm not mistaken, she's a Sword Union disciple. Her sharp gaze and strong presence suggest her cultivation is quite advanced.""A Sword Union disciple? That sounds like trouble," Alicia said, frowning. Despite their small numbers, members of the Sword Union were carefully hand-picked elites. They shouldn't be underestimated, regardless of age or gender.In the past, t
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2279
"Miles, don't worry. You know how strong Crystal is. Handling that little missy should be a piece of cake!" Ruby said.Seeing the concern on his face, she couldn't help but offer some reassurance. "Relax, Crystal will definitely win this match. Trust me."Crystal wasn't just naturally talented but also extremely diligent. She has prepared thoroughly for the Combat Tournament. While winning the championship wasn't guaranteed, Ruby was confident Crystal would advance to Group A and compete against the top talents."I hope so," he said with a forced smile. He had full confidence in Crystal's abilities. He would bet everything on her if she faced a slightly weaker opponent. But her opponent was Aurora—the daughter of Alloy, guildmaster of the Celestial Alliance. Aurora had been rigorously trained since childhood. So, she matched Crystal in cultivation level, combat skills, and secret techniques.With these two facing off, it was hard to predict who would win. Miles could only hop
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2280
Aurora's strikes were swift, but Crystal's reflexes matched them. As Aurora's crescent blades sliced through the air, Crystal's sword was already in motion."Windbreaker Slash!" Crystal called out as her longsword trembled violently. A flurry of sword shadows appeared and clashed fiercely against Aurora's dual blades like a raging wind.The metallic clangs echoed as Aurora's attack was instantly deflected.Crystal lunged forward from behind the dissipating shadows and aimed her sword at Aurora's chest and abdomen. With the remaining shadows masking her move, the thrust was silent and undetectable. It was deceptively harmless but filled with hidden danger."Aurora, watch out!" Alicia's expression changed.She recognized Crystal's skill in swordsmanship and extensive combat experience. With a single deceptive move, Crystal shifted from defense to offense and took control of the match."Huh?" Aurora's eyes widened in shock. She didn't need Alicia's warning, as her instincts had al
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2281
"Hmm?" Crystal frowned as she watched the strands of hair flutter down from above.Aurora's unexpected Boomerang Slash had caught Crystal off guard. She had narrowly avoided a hit by quickly ducking her head.If she had been just a bit slower, it wouldn't have been just her hair but possibly her head.Despite Aurora's young age, her skills were impressive. This realization prompted Crystal to approach the situation with greater caution."Quick reflexes," Aurora commented as she smoothly retrieved her weapon with a flick of her wrist.The technique she had just executed was a signature move of her own creation. It was challenging for anyone encountering it for the first time. The fact that Crystal had managed to evade it just in time disappointed her."Your technique is decent but lacks refinement," Crystal remarked coldly.If Aurora's earlier move had been more precise, she might not have evaded so easily."Really? Let's see if you can handle this!" Aurora snorted and charged a
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2282
"Galactia!" Aurora advanced with her blade held firmly in both hands as she slashed horizontally. Blinding flashes of blade light erupted and swept toward Crystal like a violent storm. The air whistled with the sheer power of her strikes, and the intensity was terrifying.In contrast to her previous rapid and aggressive assaults, Aurora now revealed her ultimate technique—the Phoenix Dance. A legendary female grandmaster created this superior blade technique a century ago. It melded powerful offense and defense with a touch of feminine elegance. It was beautiful and deadly."Vibro Slash!" Crystal stood firm and composed as the blade light surged toward her. She shook the longsword in her hand violently and thrust it out suddenly. An expert observer would notice that her sword was vibrating intensely in a small, controlled manner. Though it appeared unremarkable, it concealed a profound mastery of swordsmanship.With a series of metallic clashes, Crystal's vibrating sword shatt
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2283
"Oh no! Crystal's in danger!" Miles sprang to his feet. His eyes widened in shock as he watched Aurora's terrifying attack. Fear etched across his face.Her power was far greater than he expected. Her strike was on par with a grandmaster."Crystal, hang in there!" Ruby urged. She clenched her teeth as she watched intently. Though her expression didn't show it, she was just as tense as Miles.The match was no longer just about victory or defeat. It was life or death, and one wrong move could be fatal."I didn't expect Aurora to improve so quickly. She's about to break through to grandmaster level," Fenley said, nodding in approval.Aurora and Alicia were equally talented in martial arts. However, Alicia's dedication fell short. Despite being two years older, Aurora's strength had already surpassed hers."Yes." Alicia smiled proudly. "She is now halfway to becoming a grandmaster, and her Phoenix Dance technique is incredibly refined. Few can match her when she's at her best.""I'm
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2284
"Thank you." Crystal sheathed her sword and nodded at Aurora. She had to admit Aurora was a tough opponent. Even though Aurora was a few years younger, their skills were almost on par. Crystal knew Aurora would become someone to watch out for in the future."Aurora lost? How…" Alicia was stunned and incredulous. She had anticipated Aurora's victory, especially after using the Ennea Chorus technique. But in an instant, everything had changed."Her talent and strength are impressive, but she lacks experience. Although she lost, she learned a lot. I believe she'll advance even faster from now on," Fenley remarked impassively. He appeared unfazed by the outcome. It was as if he had anticipated it.Aurora's cultivation level was on par with Crystal's, but she lacked battle experience and mastery of technique. Her training was too diverse. She had a basic understanding of everything from hand-to-hand combat to various weapons but wasn't proficient in any.In contrast, Crystal had hon
An Understated Dominance Chapter 2285
"Crystal, if you can advance to Group A and make it into the top ten, you'll be famous. Then, the guild will pour all their resources into your training," Miles said excitedly."I might have a chance to advance to Group A, but there's no way I can make it into the top ten." She shook her head. She continued, "Most contestants in Group A are grandmasters. Who knows how many of the top ten are from the Heavenly Immortals list? With my current strength, I'm not even close to competing with those beasts."Crystal knew her limits. Even if she were against an early-stage grandmaster, her chances of winning were slim. She knew competing with those beasts from the Heavenly Immortals was out of the question. After all, those who made it into that list were at least a late-stage grandmaster."Don't be discouraged. Not all the elites from the Heavenly Immortals list will be competing. We can still try our luck." Miles chuckled.There weren't many participants listed in the Heavenly Immort
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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
