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
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