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
"My life is so miserable!" Caleb grumbled and sighed as he walked onto the battle ring.Oron frowned at his lack of enthusiasm. How could this punk have no fighting spirit? After all, he was one of Sacred Wrym Summit's most talented disciples. Shouldn't he show a bit more enthusiasm?"Whoa! Sage Foyer's star disciple is entering the ring. This is going to be exciting.""I've heard that he's the most gifted disciple Sacred Wyrm Summit has seen in a century. He's not even 20, yet he's already mastered the Glow Incantation and Stormcraft. Plus, he's skilled in Divine Talisman techniques. He's even outshining his mentor.""Caleb's talented, but he's still young. He's almost ten years younger than Sam, so his chances of winning are slim.""That's right. Sam's ranked ninth on the Legendary List. His cultivation and techniques are on another level. Caleb is nowhere near his level."As Caleb made his entrance, the spectators started murmuring. Those who ranked on the Legendary List w
As the hidden weapons shot toward him, Caleb seemed to anticipate their arrival. He raised his middle and index fingers and murmured an incantation. Suddenly, a golden light enveloped him. The weapons hit the light with sharp clangs but were deflected without leaving a mark."He's using the Glow Incantation technique?" Sam raised his eyebrows in surprise.The Glow Incantation was Sacred Wrym Summit's signature technique, and mastering it required decades of intense training. At only 20, Caleb had already mastered it, which showcased his remarkable talent.However, Sam knew Caleb's skill wasn't enough to challenge him. He understood that the effectiveness of the Glow Incantation depended on Caleb's cultivation, and his youth meant his foundation was still developing.He believed he could break through Caleb's defenses if he continued to attack. So, he quickly waved his sleeves to send a torrent of hidden weapons toward Caleb. Though they appeared ordinary, each weapon packed the p
Caleb stared at the three swords heading toward him and decided not to take them head-on. Instead, he moved at lightning speed, which left a trail of afterimages as he evaded the attack.At that instant, Sam flicked his fingers. The three swords that had missed the target immediately turned around and sped toward Caleb's back.Caleb raised his fingers, and the golden light enveloped his body.The three swords hit the light but didn't bounce off. Instead, they began spinning rapidly as their sharp tips drilled into the light, creating a shower of sparks. The once-impenetrable golden light now rippled slightly."Huh?" Caleb frowned.He was surprised by the effectiveness of the treasures from the thousand-talon coffer. They were durable and sharp and seemed to have their own will, which made them difficult to deal with."Go!" At that moment, Sam tapped the thousand-talon coffer again. A red shadow shot out—it was a fiery red arrow. The arrow was made of an unknown metal, filled wi
"Oh my god! Sam has so many hidden weapons. This could wipe out an entire guild.""Is this the Dawson Clan's sacred weapon? It's terrifying.""Damn! Sam is going all out right from the start. He's not holding back at all."The spectators stared in shock as countless hidden weapons hovered above the battle ring. They thought the thousand-talon coffer was just a name, but they never expected it to contain over a thousand different weapons. The sight was overwhelming, and it was enough to make their skin crawl. Even more alarming was that none of the weapons inside the thousand-talon coffer were ordinary. Each one could be considered a deadly weapon. If a typical martial artist got their hands on just one, it would be enough to make them famous. But Sam had unleashed thousands of these deadly weapons all at once. Who could withstand that?"Oh no! Caleb is in danger." Aurora's expression tensed as she watched from the stand. She hadn't expected the thousand-talon coffer to cont
"You're just a foolish moth drawn to the flame." Sam sneered.Even if Caleb pushed the Glow Incantation to its limit, he couldn't withstand the thousand-talon coffer's power. The weapons within the coffer were not only immensely destructive but also carried various special attributes—wind, fire, thunder, lightning, ice, and different toxins.Some of these explicitly targeted protection armor energy, which made it highly effective against the Glow Incantation.Sam knew that Caleb wouldn't be able to break through the assault with just his Glow Incantation. The only way to win was to exhaust Caleb.As Caleb barrelled halfway, a storm of hidden weapons began to pour down. Before long, the onslaught completely engulfed him.The battle ring was illuminated with bursts of light accompanied by continuous explosions, and energy waves surged like tidal waves."Stormcraft!"Amidst the swirling dust and smoke, a blinding bolt of blue lightning erupted. The lightning spread rapidly and fo
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