Dustin carefully examined the box and ensured there were no unusual markings before turning to Grace. He asked blankly, "Did you actually guess, or can you see what is inside?""Of course, I guessed it. I don't have X-ray vision, so how could I see it?" She rolled her eyes."Amazing. I'm impressed." He gave her a thumbs-up. Just from a guess, she was able to piece everything together. He couldn't help but feel a bit outmatched by her sharp wit."So, is it really the enhanced serum in there?" Grace raised an eyebrow. She was surprised that her casual guess was accurate."See for yourself." Dustin didn't bother explaining further. He opened the box to show her the two red and blue vials inside."Oh? This is an S-class serum from the Hall of Gods. They certainly hold you in high regard." Grace leaned in for a closer look, and she was genuinely surprised.The Hall of Gods' enhanced serums were ranked in five tiers—D, C, B, A, and the highest, S. Each level brought a tenfold increase
"You've done so much for me. How could I ever forget your kindness?" Grace smiled and asked, "By the way, with the Hall of Gods going all out to recruit you, they must have some tasks lined up for you, right? They don't invest like that without expecting a return.""You're right." Dustin nodded. He said candidly, "They want me on their side partly because of my potential but also because they need my help with their plan to invade Sacred Wyrm Summit.""As expected, they're as ambitious as ever." She narrowed her eyes and asked, "Did they tell you any specific details of the plan?""No." He shook his head. "Mr. Styles said that aside from the God King, no one knows the details, not even him. Everyone just follows orders.""That definitely fits their style." Grace nodded. She wasn't surprised since the Hall of Gods was always extremely cautious regarding major operations. Even those at the god level, who had served for many years, weren't privy to the entire plan. Their level of
Every contestant who reached the top eight was a rare genius handpicked from thousands. Their popularity was sky-high, and just showing up was enough to create a buzz. Glenn, Fenley, and Abigail, the favorites to win, were mainly in the spotlight.In addition to the matches, someone had secretly set up a betting pool. For many gamblers, the outcome of the tournament finals would decide whether they would win big or lose everything.The stands were nearly packed by the time Dustin and Grace arrived at the venue. When the audience spotted him, many rose to their feet and applauded to show respect.While his reputation and skill might not rival those at the top of the Legendary List, his performance had been impressive. He had defeated two foreign contestants and brought honor to Dragonmarsh martial artists. That was enough to earn him widespread admiration."Faith! Dr. Rhys! Over here!" Alicia called out from the reserved section for Celestial Alliance disciples. She stood and wa
"Just make sure you're ready. Let's show everyone what the Celestial Alliance is capable of today." Alicia was brimming with excitement."Exactly! If you can defeat Glenn, you'll be the unrivaled champion!" Aurora chimed in, equally enthusiastic.Fenley's improved skills significantly boosted the Celestial Alliance's morale. They all understood that today's outcome would impact the guild's future. Their prestige would soar to new heights if he won the championship title. But if he lost to the Sword Union or the Mystic Arts Order, it would deliver a significant blow to their reputation."Unrivaled champion?" Fenley murmured to himself as his eyes gleamed with determination. He had longed for that title for years, and now the opportunity was right before him.If he could defeat Glenn today, he would be the unrivaled champion among the younger generation. The thought ignited a fire within him as he subconsciously glanced at Glenn's direction.Glenn sensed something and turned his g
On the battle ring, Fenley and Dalen stared at each other from a distance. Both were geniuses who stood out among thousands, but Fenley had the edge in reputation and prestige. However, Dalen had more fans, and the reason was simple—he was handsome. As soon as he entered the ring, cheers erupted from the crowd. Most voices belonged to young women who had formed an energetic cheer squad. They encouraged and chanted his name like fans meeting their favorite celebrity.But it wasn't just the women that were drawn to him. Dalen's looks held a certain charm for another group as well. Some bold men, ignoring the awkward glances around them, openly declared their affection. Their behavior was bordering on wild obsession."Dalen! I love you more than a dog loves a good belly rub.""Dalen! I'd do anything for you.""Dalen! Do you know the difference between you and the stars? The stars are up there, but you're in my heart."The fanatical outbursts came from men holding banners and shou
It wasn't just the spectators that were stunned. Even Fenley, standing in the battle ring, was equally caught off guard by Dalen's sudden use of the Spectral Clone Technique.Since when did the Shadow Citadel have such an advanced technique? Even more surprising was Dalen’s skill mastery, which rivaled Jude's. Fenley's sharp eyes struggled to distinguish the real Dalen from the clones. It was clear that Dalen's proficiency in the Spectral Clone Technique had reached a near-perfection level, which couldn't be achieved overnight.No wonder Dalen had managed to defeat Jude. It turned out he was equally proficient in the same technique. As they said, "Understanding your opponent is key to victory." He leveraged his understanding of the technique to identify and exploit the weaknesses.Fenley had to acknowledge that Dalen was adept at masking his true talents. Yet, even with the surprise, he wasn't intimidated. The Spectral Clone Technique might be tricky, but it was nothing he could
Under the crushing force of the three-headed, six-armed ethereal divine spirit, the last of Dalen's clone immediately shattered into fragments.The crowd erupted in chaos, especially those women who had supported him. They screamed in anguish, and some even fainted. Watching such a handsome man reduced to dust felt like a tragic waste.Amid the stand uproar, Fenley remained unfazed in the battle ring. When the ethereal divine spirit struck Dalen, what had exploded wasn't a body but a ball of air.In other words, the figure who had just shattered was merely a clone. Where was the real Dalen hiding if those nine figures were all clones?Just as Fenley frowned in confusion, a sudden sense of danger prickled at his scalp. He instinctively looked up and saw Dalen diving toward him headfirst with a folding fan in hand.Dalen descended silently, like a meteor hurtling toward the ground. The tip of the fan was a half-sheathed sword, and its edge glinted menacingly."You're courting death
With his mind made up, Fenley no longer hesitated and began to build up his momentum. Soon, powerful internal energy surged from various vital points in his body.In an instant, his hair stood on end, his robe billowed, and a brilliant light emanated from him. Behind him, the ethereal divine spirit sharpened into a more defined figure, and its features were striking and imposing.Dalen's expression turned serious upon seeing that. He knew Fenley was preparing to execute his killer move."Split!" Without hesitation, he formed a series of hand seals with both hands. His body trembled and split into three identical figures. The process repeated as it multiplied into 27 clones in the blink of an eye.But creating those clones came at a cost. Dalen's breath grew noticeably heavier; he was at his limit. He would push his body beyond its breaking point if he continued to multiply."Just a flashy move." Fenley scoffed at the clones surrounding him. "Let me show you what real divine powe
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