The entire hall had gone silent as everyone gaped at Gray Ghoul's head in disbelief. It all happened so fast that they didn't have time to process everything. No one expected Dustin to kill the invincible Gray Ghoul in mere seconds and with just a single strike."I-Is this for real? He killed Gray Ghoul?""He ended Gray Ghoul with one strike. Who is this monster?""What terrifying sword skills he has. Since when did someone like him exist?"After finally realizing what had happened, the crowd burst into whispers. Gazes of shock, dismay, and disbelief were shot toward Dustin. They thought it was the end for Dustin when they saw Gray Ghoul swinging his sword at him. But not only did Dustin survive, he even defeated Gray Ghoul effortlessly. How terrifying! They also realized that the choices Dustin had so proudly laid out earlier had come true. "I-impossible! How is that guy so strong?" Caelus' eyes widened in disbelief. He always viewed Dustin as a weak nobody who was no match
By the time they emerged, those people's skins had begun to rot. Pus oozed from their skin, and blood trickled out of their mouths. They were going to die soon. "Go after them! Don't let them get away!" Two of the masked killers went after Natasha and the others. However, before they could even get past the door, a flash of light sliced their heads off cleanly. "I'm your opponent." Dustin stood in front of the door regally, holding a broken sword. Even the poisonous gas seemed afraid to go near him."Kill him! We need to avenge Gray Ghoul!"With a loud cry, the killers charged toward Dustin. They utilized everything from weapons to poison and curses. "None of you will escape today!" Dustin humphed before joining the fray, starting the bloody battle. Meanwhile, in the gardens, Natasha and everyone else were running in the blizzard. They left trails of footprints on the snowy ground. "None of them seemed to have caught up to us. We should be safe now." Ruth was panting after
"Stop, you fucking mongrels!" Abigail yelled. She could not stand the sight of Ivy and Maria being assaulted by those beasts any longer. "Awe, don't rush us, darling. You'll get your turn after we're done with these two." The men grinned sickeningly. Their predatory gazes were glued to Abigail. "You're taking things too far!" Abigail was furious and unsheathed her dagger. She charged toward the men. The men were taken off guard. They couldn't steer clear of her attacks quickly enough. Her blade left several cuts on them as they jerked backward. "How dare you interrupt our fun! We'll fuck you first!" The men were pissed. They were about to draw their swords, but Marlon stopped them. "Woah, how can you guys treat a lady like that?" He approached Abigail with a small smile. "Honey, you should queue up if you want your turn with us." "Fuck off, or you're dead!" Abigail threatened. "Awe, don't be like that. I mean no harm. Just hand me that dagger. It's too dangerous for you." M
"Let me go!" Abigail flung her father's hand aside angrily. "You might be a coward, but I will never bow down to them like you do!"She could leave now, but what about Natasha and the others? Was she supposed to abandon her friends and run away? She could never do that!"Abigail, as long as you're alive, there's always a chance for you to seek revenge!" Mr. Robinson advised."You can leave if you want to, but don't tell me what to do!" Abigail snapped cooly. She despised her spineless father; he bowed down to others no matter what. He had never once acted like a man. Others had made fun of her all her life because of his timid actions. Therefore, she'd sworn that no matter what, she would never lose her dignity! "Stop being so stubborn, Abigail. Let's go!" Mr. Robinson tugged at Abigail anxiously. "I told you not to tell me what to do! Scram!" Abigail shoved her father, and the man fell to the ground.Marlon grinned at the sight. "You should have listened to your father, darl
Abigail, Natasha, and the others were devastated. They knew that the force Marlon used was enough to kill his opponent. Even the strongest martial artist would have died on the spot from that attack. There was no way Mr. Robinson was fine. "That piece of shit dirtied my clothes." Marlon tried to dust the blood off his pants legs, disgusted."I'll kill you!" Abigail howled. She grabbed her dagger and charged toward Marlon. Marlon sneered and grabbed her wrist, effectively pressing her onto the ground. "No one's going to interrupt us now, honey. Let's do it here." Grinning perversely, he tore off her jacket, exposing her voluptuous figure. "Fuck off!"Abigail slammed her knee into Marlon's groin with all her might, her eyes bloodshot. "Aargh!" Marlon wailed. His face was twisting in pain. "You bitch! How dare you harm me! I'm going to kill you!" He pulled out his sword and swung it toward her. The blade was going to slice through her, but a bloody hand appeared from nowher
"What?" Everyone gaped incredulously at the bloody mist that used to be Marlon.Marlon was a Divine-level martial artist strong enough to take all of them down effortlessly. However, a finger was all Mr. Robinson needed to kill him. How terrifying! Was this really the cowardly old man they all knew? "Run!" Once they got over the shock, the group of large men spun around and began to flee. They had no idea what had happened, but they knew Mr. Robinson was far stronger than expected. Marlon had been killed easily, so there was no way they'd stand a chance against that man. "You shouldn't have done all that if you were afraid of dying." Mr. Robinson waved his hand casually, and the men immediately burst apart. They turned into a bloody mist. "Uh …" Everyone was shocked by the sight, especially Abigail. Her eyes were wide open. She couldn't believe that her cowardly father had suddenly turned so strong. "Wow, he really kept his skills well hidden!" Dustin, who had just arrived, ga
"Hurry! Let's head over to the banquet hall!" Hector ordered immediately."No need. I've taken care of it." Dustin emerged from the darkness. His white clothes were stained red as some murderous air lingered on him. "That's good." Hector sighed in relief before asking, "Dustin, did you catch sight of the Dark Lord?""Not yet?" Dustin shook his head. "As long as the Dark Lord is alive, our family will be in danger. All members of the Harmon family, listen up! Split yourself into groups of five and root him out!" Hector commanded. "There's no need for that. I'm already here." Just then, a sinister voice spoke out. Everyone turned and saw a man standing proudly on the gazebo nearby. He wore a black cape and a mask that covered half of his face. The air surrounding the man was so poisonous that the ring of plants around him had already withered. Even the snow that fell on his body turned black. "The Dark Lord?" The Harmon family instantly had their guards up and their weapons
"What?" Everyone was shocked as they watched Dylan land on the ground. The way he had leaped into the air tricked everyone into thinking that he had a winning chance against the Dark Lord. However, his opponent was able to get rid of him effortlessly, shocking the crowd. "Dylan!" Jacob paled. He rushed over to hold his son up. "I slipped, Dad …" Dylan forced out before his head fell to one side as he passed out. Jacob was tongue-tied. He couldn't believe how stubborn his son was. "How could he act so foolishly when he's so weak? Does the Harmon family have no one else to send?" At the gazebo, the Dark Lord sneered at them scornfully. "Don't be cocky. We'll deal with you!" A voice was heard as nine people emerged from the group of people. There was a mix of men and women, as each of them were powerful fighters well-known in the martial world. Without doing much, they gave off immense pressure on those around them. "To tell you the truth, these are skilled martial artists we hi
At that moment, Percival truly panicked. Earlier, he had only worried about being implicated. But now, faced with such a serious accusation, he was completely caught off guard."Hmph! The evidence is irrefutable, and you still dare deny it? Do you want me to torture the truth out of you?" Austin barked."Your Highness, I'm innocent!" Percival was so terrified he was on the verge of tears. He raised his hand and swore, "If I had anything to do with Jovian's death, may I be damned for eternity.""If swearing oaths proved innocence, we wouldn't need an enforcement team," Austin said coldly. "Out of respect for your years of service to West Lucozia, I'll give you a chance to come clean and receive a lighter sentence. Tell the truth now, or I'll throw you into Grimhold Keep."At the mention of Grimhold Keep, Percival began to shake uncontrollably. Tears and snot ran down his face as he wailed, "Your Highness, I swear I didn't do anything. Who's the bastard making up these accusations?
Ten minutes later, Warrick was escorted out of Room A1 again.Axel's demeanor had completely changed since their first meeting, and he had become unusually warm."Sir Prescott, Lord Austin has concluded the investigation. It turns out this matter has nothing to do with you. We made a mistake earlier, and I apologize for any offense caused." He smiled apologetically and spoke with a humble tone."Hm?" Seeing the fawning expression on Axel's face, Warrick raised an eyebrow and looked surprised. Just moments ago, the two sides had been at each other's throats. What had caused such a sudden change?"Did you really investigate it thoroughly?" Warrick asked tentatively."Of course! According to our findings, Jovian's disappearance was the result of a personal vendetta from his enemies in Oakvale," Axel said with a straight face.He continued, "He was a tyrant and always stirring up trouble everywhere he went. He got what was coming to him. Lord Austin only launched the investigation
"After you, Sir Prescott." With one hand resting on the hilt of his sword, Axel's other hand gestured toward the door."Hmph!" Warrick shot a cold glance at Axel's subtle movement and then turned to leave the meeting room.Even if Austin had his suspicions, Warrick knew he couldn't do anything to him without concrete evidence.Axel escorted Warrick back to Room A1. After closing the door, he went to Room A2 and led Huxley to the meeting room."Your Highness, it is my privilege to stand before you." Huxley entered the meeting room with a respectful salute."Mr. Thatcher, please take a seat." Austin's face remained neutral as he gestured for Huxley to sit, then motioned for Axel to pour him a cup of tea."Do you know why I've summoned you here today?" Austin spoke calmly, and his words carried the same probing tone as earlier."Is it about Jovian's disappearance?" Huxley asked in return."Oh? It seems you're quick on the uptake." Austin raised an eyebrow. "In that case, g
The enforcement team worked with remarkable efficiency. Within an hour, Huxley, Warrick, and Percival had been brought back to the castle.Per Austin's instructions, Axel made sure the three met briefly upon arrival, though they were given no opportunity to speak to one another. Afterward, they were taken to separate rooms and were guarded individually.Due to their status, the enforcement team treated them with respect, offering them tea and wine. However, they weren't allowed to leave their rooms and had to wait for Austin to summon them.Warrick was confined to Room A1, Huxley to Room A2, and Percival to Room A3. Their rooms were right next to each other, separated only by thin walls. If they stepped out, they would see one another, but none of them knew how close they were.This, of course, was all part of Austin's plan. He knew that extracting the truth from these three cunning foxes would require unconventional tactics.…Inside Room A1, Warrick sat calmly, sipping his te
"Hm?"Even Warrick frowned at the news.The royal enforcement team was rarely mobilized. When they did, it was always for something monumental. The question was, did a minor figure like Jovian Ballard really warrant such attention from Austin?"Mr. Thatcher, are you sure the royal enforcement team has been mobilized? And it's because of Jovian?" Warrick asked skeptically."Of course I'm sure," Huxley replied with a grave expression. "I've just received orders from above. The enforcement team captain will be taking over my duties temporarily. From now on, they'll have full control over the city's defense and investigative operations.""That's strange. Why would Lord Austin go to such lengths for someone so insignificant?" Warrick was confused, his brow furrowing.According to his intel, this was the first time Jovian and Austin had even met. Even if they had crossed paths before, it shouldn't have been enough to justify deploying the enforcement team.It seemed Warrick had undere
The next morning, after breakfast at the West Lucozian castle, Austin tried calling Jovian. However, his calls went unanswered. After several attempts, he still couldn't get through."Huh?" Austin was puzzled. They had made plans the previous day to head to Oakvale that day. Why was Jovian suddenly unreachable? Had he stood Austin up?After thinking it over, he found that unlikely. He and Jovian had gotten along well and even called each other brothers. On top of that, they had promised to travel together and watch out for one another.If Jovian had an urgent matter that required him to leave West Lucozia, he would have at least given Austin a heads-up. Jovian wouldn't just disappear without a word."Could something have happened to him?" Austin's unease grew. He quickly summoned his trusted aide. "Go find out where Jovian is. Report back to me as soon as you have any information.""Yes, Your Highness," the aide replied before hurrying off.Austin poured himself a cup of tea
A dull sound echoed through the air.Jovian's body shuddered. Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. He was dead. After fighting to his last breath, he had chosen the only honorable way out.The scene had left even the assassins, who were no strangers to bloodshed, momentarily stunned. Taking one's own life so decisively wasn't something just anyone could do. Even the lowest of creatures had the instinct to cling to life, let alone a human being."This guy… He's ruthless," Ronan muttered, and his face darkened.Warrick had given strict orders to capture Jovian alive, but now he was dead. Now, Ronan had no way to deliver. If he had known it would come to this, he would have personally intervened to kill Jovian first."What now, boss?" one of the assassins asked."Clean up the scene," Ronan ordered. "I'll take the body back myself." With that, he hoisted Jovian's body onto his shoulder, tossed it into the vehicle, and drove off.…W
The sounds of battle echoed under the streetlights. Shouts of pain mixed with the clash of weapons could be heard. Five figures were locked in a deadly struggle, and blood splattered across the ground.The fight raged for nearly half an hour until the noise gradually subsided. The five figures lay motionless in pools of blood.Under the dim glow of the streetlights, three of the black-clad assassins were confirmed dead. One's neck was snapped, another's chest pierced, and the last had bled out from a fatal wound.Jovian and Boston were in no better condition.Boston was soaked in blood. His body was riddled with deep cuts, some so severe they exposed the bone beneath.Jovian wasn't much better. His abdomen and shoulder were slashed. His right arm had been severed, and he was left in a pitiful state.Boston coughed. After taking down the last assassin, he collapsed to the ground. He gasped for air as blood poured from his mouth. His chest and abdomen were torn open, and his orga
"Jovian, listen to me. West Lucozia's trouble runs deep. You won't be able to handle it. You need to get out of there," Boston urged.When Jovian remained silent, Boston couldn't hide his growing concern. After all, they were comrades, and he didn't want to see his friend die on the street."You're right. I'm not afraid if they come at me head-on. What worries me is if they come at me from behind."After hesitating for a moment, Jovian nodded. "Alright, Boston. Take me back to the hotel. I'll pack my things.""Now that's more like it." Boston sighed in relief. "As they say, there's always a chance as long as you're alive. The most important thing is to stay safe.""Thanks, man. I'll buy you a drink next time." Jovian smiled.Without Boston's constant advice, Jovian might have taken a chance. But if things went south, he'd regret it too late.Back at the hotel, Jovian wasted no time. He packed quickly, then hopped into Boston's car to head to the airport. With the burden lifted,