Glenn now wielded nine legendary swords, but they still paled in comparison to the Dragon Sparrow, a true treasure. If he could get his hands on it, he would consider half his life's goals accomplished."I didn't want to bring out the Dragon Sparrow. But at this point, I can't win without it."Dustin raised his hand and gripped the Dragon Sparrow firmly. It was the legacy Seth had left him.Dustin had sworn never to use it unless absolutely necessary, but the pressure Glenn was putting on him was overwhelming. So, he had no choice but to call upon the sword."If you care so much about winning this match, how about we make a deal?" Glenn said eagerly. "I can put you on the champion's throne, but in return, you'll have to give me the Dragon Sparrow. What do you say?"Compared to the fame of winning the tournament, the sword was priceless. Giving up the championship meant nothing to him. He wouldn't hesitate to betray the Sword Union if it meant getting the sword."Are you insulting
A thunderous boom shook the ground like an earthquake.When the purple sword aura clashed with the nine-colored divine swords, a terrifying energy wave suddenly erupted like a volcanic eruption. Wherever the waves of energy swept through, the air thundered with an ear-splitting roar, and the space around them seemed to warp.The once-solid battle ring cracked like brittle glass and shattered into rubble. Above it, the massive blue protective shield expanded to its limit and trembled violently under the strain. Cracks spread like spider webs across its surface. It weaved together into a web-like pattern that spread across the entire shield."Hold it together!" Oron shouted. He and several other Sacred Wyrm Summit masters frantically channeled their internal energy into the formation.But no matter how hard they tried, the cracks continued to spread. A moment later, the barrier shattered with a deafening crash.Oron and several other masters from Sacred Wyrm Summit were blasted ba
"A draw?"Kaden's announcement sent the crowd into an uproar. This outcome was unexpected by many.In martial arts, there was no room for a draw. Once the match started, someone had to come out on top, especially in this highly anticipated championship match. Otherwise, what was the point of fighting if no winner was declared?And more importantly, what would happen to the bets without a winner? Would the bookmaker take all the wagers?"Yes! A draw is fine," Abigail exclaimed, practically jumping with joy.She had only planned to take some handling fees to enjoy herself. Yet, she hadn't expected this outcome at all. It seemed like fate was making her rich."I wonder if the two contestants are satisfied with this arrangement." Kaden turned his gaze to Dustin and Glenn.Both men had pushed themselves to their limits. Their energy reserves were drained, and they had no strength to continue. The battle ring was destroyed, and the defense formation was shattered. There was no place
"The younger generation truly is taking the lead," Alloy said, narrowing his eyes. His expression showed a mix of surprise and delight.Even though he knew Dustin was Seth's disciple, he never believed Dustin could defeat Glenn. The outcome was completely unexpected.He lost his bet, but he wasn't upset. At the very least, the Sword Union didn't claim the title. The Celestial Alliance still had a chance to make their move.The next challenge was figuring out how to recruit Dustin into his guild. Training resources and empty promises wouldn't be enough, especially with the Sword Union and the Mystic Arts Order also having their sights set on him.Alloy knew he needed a more creative approach. Then, he thought about Dustin's close ties with his daughters. He figured a little matchmaking might just tip the scales in his favor."You've been holding back all this time, and now you're finally making waves," Penelope said, grinning. She was pleased with Dustin's performance.Since Abiga
"I'm sorry, Ancient Sage. I misspoke earlier." Dustin apologized with an awkward expression."It's okay. I'm not bothered by it." Arion laughed heartily. He then waved at Kaden. "Bring out his reward.""Of course," Kaden replied, then retrieved a jade box and placed it on the table beside Dustin."Go ahead and open it." Arion smiled and motioned for Dustin to look inside.Dustin nodded and carefully opened the box with both hands. Inside, he found three translucent orbs—one gold, one red, and one green.Each orb glowed faintly, and inside, a small snake of the same color slithered. Their movements were graceful and almost alive."Dracan essence!" Dustin's eyes widened in surprise.He had encountered Dracan essence before and immediately recognized the orbs. But what surprised him was that Sacred Wyrm Summit had not one, but three of them. It made him wonder what kind of treasure-filled land this was."Well, how do you like the reward?" Arion asked with a smile."Ancient Sage,
"Me?" Dustin froze momentarily, then quickly waved his hands to indicate his refusal. "Ancient Sage, you've got to be kidding. I'm not qualified to guard the Dracan force. You'd better find someone else."He knew taking on such a monumental responsibility was out of the question. Guarding the Dracan Force wasn't like watching over someone's garden. A single mistake could endanger not only Sacred Wyrm Summit but all of Dragonmarsh. The pressure was simply overwhelming."Don't be so quick to refuse," Arion said with a smile. He continued, "Guarding the Dracan force has its perks. For one, it's a spiritual entity. If you can connect with it, your cultivation will soar, and your lifespan will extend dramatically. With its power behind you, you'll be unbeatable. No one in the world could stand in your way."Arion wasn't exaggerating. Being recognized by the Dracan force as its guardian granted access to its vast energy and created a resonance with the natural order. It was what people
"Ms. Aurora, don't make fun of me. The Celestial Alliance is full of experts—there's no way someone like me could take on a disciple," Dustin declined with a smile. "Of course, we're friends. If you ever want to talk about martial arts, just reach out.""Alright then, if I ever need advice, you'd better not turn me down," Aurora said with a playful wink.She was just asking to see how he would respond. After all, she wasn't serious about wanting to become his disciple. It was more of a way to get closer to him, and now that she had an excuse to ask for his guidance, she was satisfied.Once everyone was seated, the conversation flowed easily. They drank and talked about anything and everything.The two Marshall sisters exchanged flirtatious glances across the table, a gesture that even the most oblivious observer couldn't miss.However, Dustin kept a polite smile on his face. He either ignored their advances or skillfully deflected them.He knew exactly what they were after. With
"Someone is coming. You should hide now." Dustin's sharp senses picked up the faint shuffle of footsteps outside the door. The movement was quiet and deliberate. It was definitely someone skilled."Got it." Grace nodded and quickly gathered the Dracan essences before slipping out the window. She was gone in seconds and vanished without a trace.Barely three seconds after she left, there was a knock at the door."Who is it?" Dustin asked."It's me, Hank."A familiar voice called from the other side.Dustin got up and opened the door. He greeted him with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Styles. Come on in."For Hank to show up at this hour meant the Hall of Gods was about to take action."Dustin, congratulations on winning the championship. I wanted to offer my congratulations in person." Hank entered the room and showered Dustin with praise. "I watched your match today, and it was incredible. Defeating Glenn was a pleasant surprise. I knew I wasn't wrong about you.""If it weren't for yo
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