As Azalea stared at the overwhelming golden wave, her eyes narrowed, and her heart raced. She had expected a few more exchanges, but Kendricks's opening move was terrifying.Without hesitating, she flicked her wrist and pulled out a red paper parasol that seemed to appear from nowhere. The parasol gleamed with deep red hues, and its surface etched with mysterious runes. As light danced over its surface, the runes began to pulse and whirl as if infused with life."The Abyssal Parasol?" The spectators immediately recognized the origin of the red paper parasol.The Abyssal Parasol was a powerful defensive divine artifact known for its dark and formidable properties. It was once the prized possession of the Abyssal Legion, but it was believed to have been lost after their downfall. Surprisingly, it ended up in the hands of the Mystic Arts Order."Go!" Azalea opened the parasol and thrust it forward against the golden wave. It shot into the air and shone brightly. A layer of crimson l
The lack of strict rules at Sacred Wrym Summit allowed Abigail to set up betting pools.Caleb couldn't resist the urge to play a few rounds out of curiosity. He initially had some luck and racked up a decent win. But the tide turned, and he lost everything he had won.With the excitement and adrenaline pumping, he had nothing else to wager, so he bet with the Divine Talisman. From that moment on, it spiraled out of control.It wasn't until he lost dozens of talismans that he finally realized he was over his head and decided to give up. Hence, the talismans in Azalea's possession were a result of his reckless gambling."Where did you get a Divine Talisman?" Kendricks frowned as his expression darkened.The Divine Talisman was a hallmark of Sacred Wyrm Summit, and the lightning talisman she had used earlier was particularly rare. Kendricks found it absurd that a disciple from the Mystic Arts Order would possess the talismans."Heh… it's a secret." Azalea grinned.Before the match,
"Hmph! You got lucky this time." Kendricks glared at Azalea, then sheathed his Demonblade and left the battle ring.Even though he won, there was no thrill in it. He didn't feel proud about winning against a vulnerable woman when she had managed to injure him.Since his rise to fame, he had never felt so embarrassed. The Divine Talismans had played a part, but he couldn't deny being outmatched and humiliated. The missed chance to retaliate only deepened his frustration. Kendricks vowed he wouldn't show the Mystic Arts Order disciples mercy if he faced them again."Contestant number five is the winner in this match," Oron announced.The spectators reacted with warm applause.Azalea's stunning performance and Kendricks's formidable strength were worthy of praise. Most previous matches had been brutal, where a single misstep could cost a contestant their life.It was rare to see someone as wise as her, who knew when she was outmatched and chose to surrender immediately. Her quick
"The masters on the Legendary List are undoubtedly formidable. But it's not our style to give up without a fight at the Shadow Citadel. Given my responsibilities, I must take this chance. I hope you can understand, Jude." Dalen remained composed with a faint smile on his face."Since you're so full of yourself, bring it on. I'm eager to see what you've got." Jude stood with his hands clasped behind his back. His posture looked arrogant, almost as if he were taunting Dalen to attack. He wouldn't be so dismissive if he were facing a strong opponent. But when it came to an unknown rookie, Jude didn't see any reason to be concerned since it would only cost him a little of his time."Please forgive me," Dalen said casually. He clasped his hands before lunging forward with a palm strike toward Jude.Though the strike looked deceptively slow, it was actually astonishingly fast. The chill in the air arrived before his hand did. As the palm wind swept by, the surface of the battle ring f
Jude was struck senseless by Dalen's attack. He felt his life essence solidify within him, and his body stiffened. He was immobilized, and his internal energy couldn't flow properly.The Shadow Citadel's ultimate technique, Glacial Strike, could instantly immobilize its target. Despite Jude's strength, he was still unable to escape its effects."What the hell! Jude actually got hit.""That has to be a fluke, right? After throwing wild punches for so long, it was bound to happen eventually."The spectators were taken aback as they watched Jude get sent flying by a single blow. To them, the outcome of the match seemed clear-cut. Jude had spent the entire time toying with Dalen without launching an attack, so the hit should be a coincidence.At a glance, it seemed like Jude had carelessly thrown himself into Dalen's palm. But there was no denying that this strike changed the one-sided domination's outcome.As Jude's body went limp, Dalen seized the moment to strike. He leaped into
"Die!" the nine Judes roared in unison as they attacked Dalen. The clones flashed across the battle ring. They wove in and out, blurring the line between reality and illusion. It was impossible to tell which was the real one.With his mastery of the Spectral Sprint technique, Jude was already hard to follow. And he became nearly impossible to track when he used the Spectral Clone technique. Dalen quickly channeled his internal energy to form a white barrier around himself. Just as the shield materialized, a relentless storm of punches rained down from every direction. Each blow sent ripples through the barrier.As the punches rained like a torrential downpour, Dalen's barrier shook like a boat caught in a fierce storm and threatened to break at any moment."Do you think you can stop me? I'll rip you to shreds." Jude vented his pent-up rage as he threw more punches.As a renowned master on the Legendary List, it was embarrassing to be injured by an unknown rookie. If he didn't r
The venue fell into stunned silence as all eyes were drawn to the injured and unconscious Jude. Nobody had anticipated this outcome.Just seconds ago, Jude had been dominating the match. He relentlessly attacked Dalen and was on the verge of shattering his barrier to secure victory. But suddenly, he collapsed to the ground.The sequence of events unfolded so quickly that the spectators barely had time to process what had happened."What just happened? Jude lost?""That was odd! What the heck happened a moment ago?""This match is full of surprises."After a brief moment of silence, the spectators erupted into an uproar. Jude's defeat was utterly unexpected. At first, he toyed with Dalen and underestimated him. However, his overconfidence allowed Dalen to seize the opportunity and deliver powerful blows.Furious, Jude unleashed a fierce assault that left Dalen struggling to defend himself. But against all odds, Jude lost, and Dalen emerged as the surprising victor.The sequenc
"Dr. Rhys, good luck." As Dustin stepped into the battle ring, Alicia and Aurora cheered behind him. Their enthusiasm quickly drew more spectators to join in. Soon, the venue erupted in thunderous applause, with cheers echoing from every direction.In his earlier match against Bill, Dustin demonstrated his immense strength and brought honor to his nation. After winning that match, his popularity had soared. But in this match, he was once again facing a foreign opponent.Regardless of the spectators' personal opinions, they would back him unconditionally. When faced with an outsider, Dragonmarsh's people often displayed remarkable unity. Even though internal conflicts were frequent, they united as one the moment an external threat appeared.After Dustin entered the ring, Jeremiah, contestant number nine, stepped forward. In contrast to the deceased Bill and George, Jeremiah didn't act arrogantly. Aside from the time he showcased his strength by defeating Truce, he had kept a low pr
"Ledger?"Langdon's pupils contracted as he stared at the familiar red ledgers at his feet. His expression finally faltered. He had never expected the enforcement team to uncover the ledgers he had hidden in a secret compartment. Every transaction written on those pages was damning—evidence of years of collusion with officials and wealthy merchants, of bribes and embezzlement. He had kept them as leverage to ensure those officials wouldn't abandon him when things went south. But what was meant to shield him had now sealed his fate.His assets could be confiscated, and he could refuse to acknowledge his own children. But how could he possibly talk his way out of a ledger filled with his handwritten records?Langdon's frown deepened as sweat poured down his face. Before he realized it, his back was already drenched."Mr. Langdon, why are you sweating so much? Is it too hot in here? Should I have someone fan you?" Axel taunted with a sneer.The evidence they had gathered was more
"Oh? Really? Then, show them the evidence. Let everyone see for themselves." Austin said with a faint smile.Langdon swallowed hard, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.Had his entire past really been dug up in just half a day?"First, I investigated Mr. Langdon's assets and income sources," Axel said, pulling out a stack of documents and placing them on the table. He explained firmly, "His spending far exceeds his salary. He owns 18 luxury homes, dozens of high-end cars, and a private collection of gold, antiques, and famous paintings. "Altogether, his assets are worth tens of billions. Given his salary, it would take him several thousand years of saving every penny to afford that. So I have to ask—where did all this money come from?"The moment those words left his mouth, all eyes turned to Langdon.Everyone knew he was corrupt, but no one expected it to be on this scale. If his fixed assets alone were worth billions, his liquid assets must be even more staggering.
"And as for the rest of you, I'll be investigating each of you one by one." Austin's gaze moved past Langdon and landed on the royal advisors. He sneered and added, "You'd better keep your records clean. If I find anything on any of you, I'll handle it by the book, and there won't be any mercy."At these words, panic swept through the room. Everyone exchanged nervous glances, and their hearts pounded like war drums.As soon as they realized Austin was angry, they quickly fell silent. Langdon had always been making all the noise, but now they found themselves caught in the fire.Anyone who'd held a position like theirs usually had some skeletons in the closet. In the past, Rufus had been willing to turn a blind eye and let things slide. But now, Austin clearly wasn't following the usual rules. If he decided to investigate thoroughly, most of them would likely find their careers and reputations destroyed."Mr. Rhys, what do we do now? Lord Austin seems dead serious about this."
"Langdon, I can't tell if you're playing dumb or if you really are that stupid." Though Austin was smiling, his eyes were cold. He continued, "You asked for physical evidence, and I provided it. You asked for witnesses, and I gave you those too. Now, with both evidence and testimony laid bare, and even the criminal confessing, what else do you want?""Hmph! The government is rife with corruption. I'm simply seeking justice and preventing you from wrongfully killing the innocent." Langdon still held his righteous stance.Some of the royal advisors who had initially supported him now stayed silent. They could sense Austin's rising anger and didn't dare provoke him further. At that instant, they had lost their confidence. As Austin had pointed out, the solid evidence was right before them, and it was impossible to deny.Langdon was a member of the Rhys family and Austin's elder. He could afford to speak without a filter, but the others couldn't. If they truly angered Austin, the
"Sir Thatcher? Mr. Wentworth?" When Langdon saw their faces, his eyes went wide in disbelief. "You… How did you two end up like this?" He was genuinely stunned.Huxley and Percival were two of the most powerful figures in West Lucozia. They commanded respect wherever they went, and even Langdon himself had to show them deference.He never expected that they had fallen from their positions of prestige to become disheveled prisoners overnight."Austin! You've gone too far!" Recovering from his initial shock, Langdon's fury erupted. He didn't even bother with titles anymore. "Do you even realize what you're doing? These two men are pillars of West Lucozia and the prince's most trusted advisors. They're your elders and mentors. Yet, you tortured them like this. Are you even human?""He's right," someone chimed in. "They dedicated their lives to this country. What crime did they commit to deserve such cruelty by Your Highness?"The gathered officials erupted in outrage and condemned
"Your Highness, you mustn't speak such nonsense." Langdon put on a righteous front.He continued, "I've always prided myself on my integrity and never done anything dishonorable. I've never betrayed the prince's trust or let the people down, and I have nothing to hide.""Such lofty words," Austin scoffed. "If you have nothing to hide, why not let the enforcement team investigate?"Langdon's face tightened, and a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. After all, what official didn't have some skeletons in the closet? A full investigation would likely turn up something, no matter how small. Even if the offenses weren't serious, the damage to his reputation would be permanent.With so many officials watching, Langdon couldn't afford to back down. If he did, he would lose his standing in the political world—and his claim to integrity along with it."Go ahead and investigate." He raised his chin and said confidently, "I've lived an honest life and never engaged in anything illegal. No m
Austin sat in his chair and silently watched the royal advisors put on their pretentious act. He slowly sipped his tea as if he couldn't be bothered by their so-called accusations.His nonchalant demeanor made Langdon and the others frown. Their once-outrageous voices began to falter.They had stormed in full of righteous fury earlier, only to be met with complete apathy. What was the point of arguing when he wasn't even listening?"Are you done?" Austin finally spoke once the room had quieted down. "If not, go ahead and keep talking. Say as much as you need to until you're satisfied.""Your Highness, we're here to discuss serious matters. Your dismissive attitude is truly disappointing," Langdon said sharply."Serious matters?" Austin let out a short laugh.He went on, "You barge in here without even understanding the full picture and spewing accusations like they're facts. As far as I'm concerned, you're no different from clowns putting on a show.""You… How dare you!" Langdon
"Are you even qualified to sit while speaking to me?"Austin's words struck like the blow of a hammer. They were sharp and unrelenting, and they left no room for retort.Langdon sat frozen and was momentarily speechless. He hadn't expected a brat like Austin to have such a sharp tongue.If he admitted he had come for personal matters, he would keep his pride intact, but he would lose control of the conversation. Everything he had prepared—and all the accusations he meant to throw—would be meaningless.But if he insisted it was official business, he would have to show proper respect and offer a formal greeting. No matter how he answered, he would be conceding ground."I'll ask one more time. Are you here on official or personal matters?" Austin asked coldly."O-Official matters." Cornered, Langdon barely managed to get the words out."Well? Is this how an official conducts himself?" Austin pressed.Langdon had no choice but to rise and offer a deep bow. "Your Highness, it's an h
After a night of chaos, some of the Red Legion's members were killed, others were captured, and the entire force had been wiped out.But the fallout didn't stop there. The Prescott estate was also raided. All embezzled wealth was confiscated, and those found guilty were thrown into prison.Anyone connected to the Prescotts was placed under house arrest and subjected to rigorous investigation.And the man behind it—Warrick—had become the kingdom's most wanted fugitive.Until he was captured, Celestria remained under lockdown. Major roads were sealed off, and patrol teams scoured every corner to ensure Warrick had no way out.Austin's crackdown sparked outrage among senior officials who didn't know the full story. They voiced their dissatisfaction, with some even gathering outside the castle gates in protest. They stomped their feet in outrage, just short of openly cursing him.To them, Warrick had made great contributions to the nation. Even if he had committed crimes, he didn't d