"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
"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
As the sun dipped below the horizon and night descended, Bailey, known as the Grizz Lord, was 30 miles from the Sacred Wrym Summit in a secluded mountain villa.Seated at the dining table, he feasted on meat and gulped down the wine. His mouth was gleaming with grease.The 16-foot-long table was filled with a variety of meats. At the center was a giant cow's head, with its cooked and reassembled body behind it. There were also suckling pigs, whole lambs, chickens, ducks, fish, and other meats surrounding it. The table was filled with 30 to 40 different types of meat without any vegetables.Bailey grabbed different pieces of meat and stuffed them into his mouth with incredible speed. He devoured them like a ravenous beast. The two maids standing nearby watched in astonishment as hundreds of pounds of meat disappeared before their eyes as he wolfed them down in large pieces.This amount of meat could have fed over 100 people, but he could have polished it off at the rate he was e
After Dusk Titan wrapped up his introduction, the handsome and pale mixed-race man stepped forward. He said proudly, "I'm Bill Wolfe from Esmington, representing the Coven of Blood Eclipse. They call me the Shadow Prince.""The Shadow Prince of the Coven of Blood Eclipse?" Hank was taken aback.The Coven of Blood Eclipse held unparalleled influence in Esmington. It was second only to the Hall of Gods among Streuquan nations. The coven included three main races—vampires, werewolves, and mystic artists, along with a few uniquely gifted beasts.Among these, vampires held the dominant position. They nearly ruled the entire Esmington. Previously, the Hall of Gods had enlisted the Blood Devil Willem, an earl of the vampire race.Bill was the son of the Shadow Master, the leader of the Coven of Blood Eclipse. The Shadow Master was the king of vampires. His influence was on par with the God King of the Hall of Gods.As the son of the Shadow Master, Bill inherited his father's noble li
Hank felt a chill run down his spine when he glanced at Jeremiah, the man who killed without mercy.Even the formidable Dusk Titan and Shadow Prince showed signs of caution around Jeremiah, and it was clear why. If they were regarded as beasts, then Jeremiah, known as The Dust of Angel, was the ultimate beast.With someone of Jeremiah's caliber involved, the martial artists of Dragonmarsh would likely face an unprecedented calamity."Hank, are you satisfied with these three allies?" Bailey asked, grinning."Satisfied? I'd say more than that! With their support, victory in the Combat Tournament is practically guaranteed!" Hank replied confidently.He used to have doubts because he recognized the exceptional talents of Dragonmarsh. But now, his confidence was on the rise.After all, the Hall of Gods, the Coven of Blood Eclipse, and the Holy Sovereign Church had deployed their strongest elites. They had effectively united forces from several nations to suppress Dragonmarsh. With thi
"Dr. Rhys is right. You really really shouldn't drink," Grace said earnestly. "You're already not thinking straight without alcohol. Who knows what'll happen if you do drink?""Faith, I know I'm wrong. Please talk to him and let me have just one drink." Alicia clung to Grace's arm and pleaded. She craved alcohol so much that even a day without it made her feel restless."Come on, Alicia. Just hang in there for a few more days. Dr. Rhys is doing this for your own good," Aurora said with a smile."What? I still have to endure a few more days!" Alicia's face fell, and she slumped over the table, looking defeated. "How am I supposed to survive without a drink? This is torture!""It's okay. If you can't drink, I'll do it for you," Fenley said with a slight smile. He took her glass and downed it in one gulp."Fenley! You—" Alicia pouted and was on the verge of crying. She felt like everyone around her was ganging up on her."Miss, it's just a drink. Let me buy you one," came a deep, re
Aurora's eyes were icy, and her expression was hostile. Bill had gone from flirting to harassment, and it was making her sick. She wouldn't hesitate to teach him a lesson if he kept pushing."You're not going to be polite, huh?" he sneered. With a menacing grin, he added, "What's the matter? You want to have a long, wild night with me in bed? I'm more than happy to arrange that.""Bastard! You're asking for trouble!" she fumed, grabbing the skewers on the table and throwing them at him. The skewers flew toward his arms from both sides with a sharp whoosh. Aurora was halfway to becoming a grandmaster, so she threw them with bullet-like force.Bill merely sneered and casually waved his hand. A powerful gust of wind surged forth and deflected the skewers. They flew into a pillar 15 feet away and embedded just under an inch deep into the wood."Hmm?" Aurora frowned, and her expression turned serious.She had gone all out in her previous attack and aimed to cripple him as a punis
"Arrogant jerk! How dare a pathetic vampire like you come here and act so boldly? Do you think no one in Dragonmarsh can take you down?" Aurora fumed.Just when she was about to take action, Fenley raised his hand to stop her. He understood that vampire aristocrats were formidable opponents. Given Aurora's current strength, she stood no chance against them."I'm guessing this is your first time in Dragonmarsh, right?" Fenley's voice was calm, but his gaze was icy."So, what if it is?" Bill lifted his chin defiantly."You must be clueless. It seems your elders didn't tell you that once you're in Dragonmarsh, you must keep a low profile, or you might end up dead." Fenley slowly stood up, radiating a murderous intent.As long as the Strequans behaved in Dragonmarsh, they were generally left alone. But Bill's reckless and provocative behavior was like signing his own death warrant."End up dead?" Bill laughed mockingly. "Do you and your little group think you can take me on?""Let's
Poseidon hovered in the air with his trident in one hand and radiated a commanding presence. He stood like a god, and his figure was so intimidating that it struck fear into those who beheld him.With a wave of his hand, an invisible energy struck Warrick and expelled the three silver needles from his body. Feeling sensation returned to his limbs, Warrick's face lit up. He quickly rose to his feet and clenched his fist to his chest in salute."Thank you, Lord Poseidon, for saving me. I will never forget this kindness!" he said."No need for formalities, Sir Prescott. Now that you've pledged yourself to the Hall of Gods, it's only natural that I ensure your safety," Poseidon replied with a faint smile as he descended gracefully."Your timely arrival was a blessing," Warrick said as he bowed his head slightly in deference. "Otherwise, we would have perished tonight."The Hall of Gods' royal gods were figures he could only look up to. Everything about Poseidon, from his power to hi
Mulder knew Warrick had been on the battlefield for years, and his physical strength was unmatched. On top of that, he was already halfway to becoming an ultimate grandmaster. Even if Warrick couldn't defeat the prodigious Logan, Mulder figured the difference wouldn't be too big. But he never expected Logan to take down Warrick with a single finger, leaving him severely injured and unable to stand. The difference in their strength was far beyond anything Mulder could have imagined.In other words, Logan had been toying with them from the start and didn't take the fight seriously. If he had, they would've all been dead.Warrick clutched his chest and coughed up blood as he staggered to his feet. His chest was a charred ruin, the flesh torn open and slick with blood. It was an awful, gory mess."I didn't expect you to be this strong. I underestimated you," he growled.He slowly raised his head, and his face twisted with a menacing look. "Guess I was just unlucky to fall into your
"Oh? You guessed it?" Dustin smirked. "Now that you know who I am, it's up to you to decide what to do."If Warrick chose to surrender, Dustin would simply seal his pressure points and leave him to Austin's judgment. But if he resisted, Dustin wouldn't hesitate to cripple him."Haven't you given up your title as the prince? Why did you return? Are you going to compete with Austin for the throne?" Warrick asked.Uncertainty flickered across his face before he continued, "If that's your intention, I can help you. Spare me today, and I guarantee you'll become the next Prince of West Lucozia."Power was a tempting beast. History was filled with stories of brothers turning against each other and fathers murdering their sons for it.In Warrick's mind, Logan's quiet return to West Lucozia meant one thing—he was after the throne."Guarantee?" Dustin scoffed. "What guarantee are you offering?" His voice was dripping with disdain. "You're a cornered rat now. You're barely holding on to you
"Warrick's blade technique is terrifying," Mulder mumbled. "This should be the finishing blow, right?"Watching from a distance, he was awestruck by the dazzling blade aura. Only now did he truly grasp the sheer gulf between Warrick and Dustin.Warrick's strike descended with such overwhelming force that it seemed to split the earth and obliterate everything in its path. Even from 300 feet away, the pressure rolling off it sent a chill down Mulder's spine.Under Mulder's stunned gaze, Warrick brought his full weight down, with blade and body merging into a single force that swallowed Dustin whole.The instant they clashed, an incandescent explosion of light erupted. It was so blinding that Mulder couldn't even open his eyes.A split second later, a deafening blast erupted, and a shockwave shot outward like a tidal surge. The force flattened the waves and overturned several fishing boats docked at the pier.Even Mulder, more than 300 feet away, was caught in the blast and tumbled
"So what if I am? And what if I push even further?" Dustin's smile slowly faded. "If you don't like it, do something about it."There was no reasoning with tyrants like Warrick."Punk, are you really willing to risk your life against me? Have you ever considered what happens if you lose?" Warrick's face turned grim as a wave of killing intent spread from him.He had already taken a step back to avoid unnecessary trouble. If Dustin refused to back down, there was no choice but to fight."Cut the crap. You wanna fight, fight." Dustin didn't bother with more words. With a flick of his wrist, a silver needle shot out and aimed toward Warrick's forehead—silent, unassuming, but deadly."Hmm?" Warrick's brow furrowed as he instinctively raised his arm. Sparks flew as the needle deflected off his arm and buried into the ground."Oh? You've mastered the Adamantine Body Technique?" Dustin narrowed his eyes. At that instant, he saw through Warrick's technique. Not only was he halfway
Mulder's body trembled, and he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His energy drained, and his entire being seemed to collapse.Dustin's finger flick had not only shattered his sword but also injured his internal organs. With the effects of the enhanced serum wearing off, Mulder was now back to his original state and completely spent.His once-powerful frame now shrank like a punctured balloon. He looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant. Mulder could no longer fight. Even standing up was a challenge."He's finished," Dustin said coolly, then looked at Warrick. "Now it's your turn.""Hmm?" Warrick frowned, and his expression turned serious.Dustin's display of strength earlier had made him feel a sense of crisis. If they fought head-on, there was no telling who would come out on top.But Warrick was just one step away from escaping West Lucozia, bound for Artea and a life of freedom and luxury. He had no intention of risking his life in battle unless he absolutely
"This is interesting." Dustin smirked as the dense barrage of swords came slashing down at him. In the blink of an eye, his figure dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished.A storm of sword shadows carrying the force that could split rivers and overturn seas crashed down on the fishing boat where he had just been standing. The entire vessel broke apart in an instant—some sinking into the depths while others drifted across the water."What? He dodged it?" Warrick's eyes flickered with surprise.Mulder's attack just now had been a 360-degree attack. Once caught in its range, there was no chance to dodge—only the option to endure. He couldn't understand how Dustin had managed to avoid it. Did he just teleport?"Hiding like a coward? What kind of warrior are you? Come fight me face-to-face."Frustrated after his attack missed again, Mulder grew desperate. His enhanced serum would only last for 15 minutes. If this dragged on, he'd collapse from exhaustion before Dustin even touche
"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