Titus didn't finish off Aldrian after knocking him out. Instead, he stepped back and looked at Oron.Oron nodded and quickly announced the match's result.The spectators erupted into applause. They had watched the fight closely and saw that Aldrian's arrogance had led to his defeat.Instead of focusing on the fight, he flirted with his fans, which left him vulnerable. So, Titus seized the opportunity with relentless aggression.With their skills evenly matched, gaining the upper hand increased the chances of winning. Titus' approach was fierce and relentless. He focused solely on delivering powerful punches without worrying about defense, energy consumption, or flashy moves.Aldrian was forced to retreat and couldn't find any opportunity to counterattack. By the time he realized his dire situation and tried to use his ultimate move despite his injuries, it was already too late to turn the tide.At that point, he lacked the momentum and fighting spirit. Although he managed to exec
"Cut the crap. If you've got guts, come at me." Dustin raised one hand and made a challenging gesture."You've got a death wish, kid!" Bill's anger flared instantly.Just as he was about to attack, he recalled something and stopped. He glanced at Oron warily and forcefully restrained his rage. In a fit of impulsiveness earlier, Bill had been blasted nearly to death by Oron's Stormcraft. Although he was now in the battle ring, Oron hadn't signaled the start of the match. If Bill acted rashly, it would only allow Oron a reason to intervene. He knew better than to mess with Oron again."What's the matter? Afraid to make a move? Is that all you've got?" Dustin scoffed."You—" Bill bared his fangs, and his chest heaved with fury. He was visibly furious and resolved to torture Dustin once the match began."Are you ready?" Oron looked at them with a blank expression."I'm ready," Dustin replied with a nod."Ready," Bill snarled, glaring fiercely at Dustin."Good. The eighth match
"Kid, I'm going to turn you into a puddle of blood." After the Crimson Skullhead devoured Dustin, Bill's triumphant laughter echoed through the venue. It filled the air with a chilling, lingering sound."Alicia, will Dr. Rhys be okay?" Aurora's face was tense with worry.Vampires' abilities were mysterious and fearsome, especially their scarlet mist that could corrode human flesh. It was deadlier than any divine weapon. Without strong cultivation, it was nearly impossible to fend off."Calm down. Let's see how this plays out. I don't think he'll go down that easily." Alicia frowned, and her expression turned grim. Despite her words, her tightly clenched fists betrayed her anxiety.Grace observed the anxious Marshall sisters with a smile and chose not to comment. Considering Dustin's strength, she believed that even someone like Bill or a vampire of earl status couldn't challenge him.On the other side, Dalen looked at the anxious Wesley sisters beside him with a faint smile. He li
"Whoa! What the heck is that? It's so hideous.""They say vampires are handsome men and beautiful women, but it's all just a facade. Once they show their true form, they become total beasts.""If I'm not mistaken, that must be the vampire's third form. It greatly enhances their physical abilities, which makes them faster and stronger. Number Eight is in danger now."The spectators murmured among themselves as they watched Bill transform into a beast-like creature.Most vampires had attractive appearances that could deceive anyone. But when vampires sacrificed their looks and became grotesque, their combat abilities greatly enhanced. At this stage, they were the most terrifying existence."It looks like Mr. Wolfe is genuinely enraged. He has tapped into his noble bloodline and awakened the third form while disregarding his appearance. This is the final form of a vampire." Jeremiah narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly.He knew better than anyone the sheer power of the vampire's thi
The spectators were stunned as they stared at Bill sprawling on the ground with blood pouring from his mouth. They were speechless, and their eyes widened in shock.Everything happened in a blink—from Bill's aggressive charge to the shattering blow to his heart that had left him mortally wounded. It was a whirlwind of chaos that left everyone dumbstruck.The match had ended before anyone had a chance to process it. The outcome was so unexpected that it left the entire venue in stunned silence."Am I seeing this right? Dr. Rhys won?" Aurora's eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the battle ring.Just moments ago, she was worried that Bill would kill Dustin. To her surprise, the tables had turned.Dustin was calm, while Bill was on the brink and coughing up blood. The sudden reversal felt almost surreal."One move… and he destroyed him?" Alicia was equally astonished. She knew Dustin was strong, but she hadn't anticipated this level of strength.After his transformation, Bil
The scene was lively below the stage but different on the battle ring. The arrogant and domineering Bill was sprawled on the ground, spewing blood. His face was deathly pale, and his eyes widened in sheer terror as if he had seen a ghost.He couldn't believe he would be defeated even after awakening his bloodline and transforming into the third form. He wondered what Dustin had done.It seemed like a simple touch had drained his strength and torn through his chest. Throughout the entire fight, he hadn't sensed any energy fluctuations from Dustin."No! This can't be happening. I'm from the noble bloodline. So, how can I lose to a mere human martial artist? It's impossible!" Bill's mind screamed in disbelief. He couldn't accept the crushing reality.He gritted his teeth and summoned his bloodline power again. Scarlet mist oozed from his wounds as it gradually flowed into the gaping hole. As the blood energy revitalized him, the shape of a heart began to reform, with the surroundi
Bill was dead. Dustin's single attack left nothing but scattered remains. No amount of recovery ability or inherent ability mattered against such overwhelming strength.When facing a human martial artist, Dustin wouldn't go for the kill unless there was a deep-seated grudge. He would always leave a way out for his opponent.But vampires were different. They were enemies by nature, and it was a fight to the death in the battle ring. Bill's intentions were hostile as he treated humans as nothing more than pests. Someone like him was better off eliminated sooner rather than later.When he shouted, "I surrender," Oron could have intervened and called off the fight. But he deliberately hesitated, almost as if giving Dustin the green light.After all, neither Jeremiah nor George had shown mercy to the Dragonmarsh martial artists. They even went so far as to torture their opponent's bodies after they were dead.As a result, most Dragonmarsh martial artists were fueled by shared anger
Penelope suddenly spoke up. "Gentlemen, this young man has a deep history with my guild. So, it's still a mystery which guild he'll join." Her withered face held a knowing smile.Earlier, her subordinate had reported that Dustin was very close to Abigail. Since joining the Mystic Arts Order, Abigail had never been this close with any man, especially not on their first meeting.Although Dustin had changed his appearance, Penelope suspected he was Logan Rhys, who was ranked first on the Legendary List. He was also the future Prince of West Lucozia.She thought it was unrealistic for someone of his stature to join any guild in the martial world. Even if he wanted to, the palace would never approve.Penelope's motive for getting involved was simply to enjoy the spectacle. She looked forward to seeing Alloy and Cyrus' frustrated expressions when their attempts to recruit Dustin failed. The thought of their dismay amused her greatly."Madam Penelope, the martial world has always kept it
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