"Azkaban?" Dustin was alert when he heard the name. Azkaban was known throughout Balerno. Rumors had it that the inmates here were either extremely wicked or caused great harm to the country. And there were all sorts of criminals–assassins, despised martial artists, bloodthirsty maniacs, and more. The prison had one rule: once you entered the place, there was no way out. Unlike other prisons where inmates who performed well would be given chances to reduce their sentences, the inmates here only had two choices. They could either stay here for the rest of their lives or die. Therefore, no one has ever left or escaped the place. This was also the place where Duane Welch had been sent to. "Do you understand the seriousness of the situation now?" The older man asked, concerned. "This place is a different world. Everything on the outside no longer has anything to do with you now.""Is there no way to get out?" Dustin questioned. "Get out? How?" The older man shook his head wi
"It's me." Dustin stepped forward. The well-dressed, portly man gave him a look over and asked, "Do you understand the rules in here yet?""What rules?" Dustin asked. "Everyone needs to get a beating when they first arrive. Naturally, I'm the one who determines how heavy the beating will be. Got it?" The well-dressed, portly man made a point to tap his baton. "So, you want money?" Dustin raised an eyebrow. "Smart boy!" The other man nodded, pleased. "My men and I have to take care of trash like you every day. So we deserve that much, don't we?" He rubbed his fingers greedily. "Sorry. I don't have any money." Dustin shook his head."You don't have any money?" The well-dressed, portly man frowned and snapped, "Then write a letter to your family to ask for money! Your punishment will be lighter the more you pay.""I come from a poor family. We don't have any money." Dustin shrugged. "Fuck, you're just a hobo! What a waste of my time!" the well-dressed, portly man spat.
Everyone was shocked by what just happened.The prison officers in Azkaban were far from ordinary. They were all powerful and highly skilled. Otherwise, they couldn't stand up to the evil criminals inside.No one would have expected that Dustin could have beaten these elite fighters up so quickly. It was truly frightening. Of course, more than shock, they felt fear.There were all sorts of experts in Azkaban, even Grandmaster martial artists. Beating up the prison officer would catch the mastermind's attention.When that happened, the consequences would be unspeakable!After returning to his senses, the well-dressed, portly man began yelling, "Punk, you really have big balls! How dare you touch me?!" It wasn't like nobody had challenged his authority before, but they had all ended up tortured to the brink of death."So what?" Dustin said with a calm expression."For beating me, your punishment is now doubled! If you don't stop right now, not even God can save you!" the man y
There was a crisp clap.The portly man's face became disfigured from the force. His big body instantly flew dozens of feet away, crashing heavily into the jail cell. He immediately lost consciousness.His nose and mouth were off-center, his face was contorted, and he had even lost a few teeth. He looked like an absolute mess.The others' expressions changed when they saw the well-dressed, portly man lying on the floor like a log. "Oh no!" Although he wasn't powerful, he was the warden's actual brother-in-law.Hitting him was equivalent to insulting the warden. At this point, death would be a better option."Young man, you're really in trouble this time!" Cornelius looked worried."You—you—you psycho! Get it in your head—we're the Shadow Gang, not the Loony Gang!" the bald, muscular man said in dismay."We're done for. Now that you've hit the prison officer, we're all going down with you!" Everyone was stricken with panic.They thought that they'd gotten an ordinary new member
In one of the studies in the Harmon estate, Natasha wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion. "Dad, are you really going to make Kate marry Tyler?"Not too long ago, she suddenly heard the news that there would be a union between the Harmon family and the Grant family again.And this time, the bride and groom of this marriage were Kate and Tyler."Although the Dark Lord is dead, the Grant family is still a huge thorn in our side. This time, they brought up marriage again and even selected Kate. I really couldn't reject." Hector shook his head."What did Uncle Trent say? Is he going to let his daughter jump into the fire pit?" Nathasha pressed further."That's exactly the problem." Hector let out a sigh. "Your Uncle Trent and cousin readily agreed to the marriage. They also have the support of the family elders. I was not able to intervene.""What? They agreed?" Natasha was a bit taken aback. "Don't they know that the Grants have ulterior motives? They're after something else!""I'
"George's adjutant? What is he doing here?" Caius was taken by surprise."I don't know," the prison guard said, lowering his head."Alright, let him in," Caius said, gesturing."Yes," the prison guard answered before leaving quickly. After a moment, he brought a man in a gray shirt in. "Hello, Mr. Roswell," the man in the gray shirt greeted politely as soon as he entered.He knew the man before him wasn't just an ordinary warden; he was extremely powerful and had a wide network. Even his viceroy listened to him."What's the matter?" Caius crossed his legs."On order of Lord Xenos, I'd like to ask you to release a person." The man in the gray shirt bowed his head."Release a person? Who?" Caius asked."A young man named Dustin Rhys," the man replied without beating around the bush."Dustin Rhys?" Caius narrowed his eyes. "Sorry, but I can't give him to you. No one walks out of Azkaban. This is a rule!""Mr. Roswell, I hope you can make an exception. After the deal is done,
"Well …" The man in the gray shirt and the prison officer were stunned by the sight of Caius plastered to the wall.Never in a million dreams would they imagine that the almighty warden—a Grandmaster martial artist—would be sent flying with just a slap.Not to mention, he was even stuck on the wall. He couldn't even get on.This was simply too shocking!They turned their heads. The first thing that they saw was a beautiful woman. She had silver hair and wore a red tracksuit. On her back, her three-foot viridescent sword was trembling slightly.She looked bold and majestic, like a Goddess of War! Especially those cold and arrogant eyes that seemed to look down on everyone. They didn't dare look right into her gaze."How dare you hit me? Do you not know who I am?!" When Caius returned to his senses, he was furious from the humiliation he had suffered. He had never been hit like that before, much less by a woman."Release Dustin," Scarlet spat coldly."You think I'll release h
The bald, muscular man had spoken out after a long moment of contemplation. Cornelius retorted impatiently, "Don't be foolish! There are formidable barriers and numerous expert fighters out there. We won't stand a chance of escaping!" When he was still powerful, he knew there wasn't any possibility of them succeeding. Now that he was weakened, he knew it was just a far-fetched dream."Mr. Adler, we'll die anyway. Why not try our best to escape?" The bald, muscular man gritted his teeth and said, "I've thought about it. If we manage to take the correctional officer hostage, there might be hope for us to survive.""That's right! We might stand a chance of escaping if we have a hostage." Everyone else nodded in agreement.Of course, it was impossible if it were just a regular prison officer. But the correctional officer was the warden's brother-in-law. He would be their most powerful bargaining chip since he was important. "No one has ever managed to escape from Azkaban, and the
"Oh? Are we going all out now?" Dustin smirked, with a hint of amusement in his eyes.Mulder, who had advanced to become a grandmaster martial artist through drugs, had a weak foundation. Even after taking the enhanced serum, he still posed no threat to Dustin. If Mulder were a hundred times stronger, he might just barely be able to fight Dustin.As the serum's effects pushed his body to the limit, Mulder suddenly let out a furious roar. His muscles swelled rapidly, and his bones cracked as they expanded. His body grew larger at an alarming rate, and his clothes tore apart under the strain.His six-foot frame stretched to nearly seven feet in mere moments as his body swelled to monstrous proportions. His face twisted fiercely, and his skin darkened as black scales surfaced.With another guttural growl, his roar turned beastlike. He grabbed his shredded shirt and ripped it away, exposing his broad chest covered in dark scales. A faint, eerie sheen flickered across their surface."D
Dustin's words made Mulder frown.Mulder knew all too well that Warrick was the kind of man who had no sense of loyalty or honor. If Warrick could kill his own personal guards without hesitation, what would stop him from killing a stranger? Mulder was certain that the moment things went south, Warrick would be the first to flee. Given the choice, he'd never willingly risk his life as Warrick's sacrificial pawn. But now, there was no turning back.With his undercover identity exposed and him helping Warrick escape, Mulder became a sworn enemy of West Lucozia. His name was now on the most-wanted list.Tonight was their best chance to escape. If they missed it, finding another way out would be nearly impossible.There was only one path left for him—kill whoever stood in his way and make it onto that escape boat."Enough talk, punk. Let's see what you're really made of," Mulder said.After weighing his options, he gritted his teeth and finally decided to draw his longsword. His fig
"You had your chance. Don't blame me for what happens next," Dustin said.With a slight squeeze of his fingers, the steel blades clamped between them shattered with a sharp clang.Before the two Hall of Gods members could even react, Dustin waved his hand.The two men were sent flying as if they'd been hit by a truck, hurtling over 30 feet through the air. Blood sprayed from their mouths and noses before they hit the ground. They were critically injured and on the verge of death.Dustin slowly turned his head and looked at the man who had just tried to ambush him.The man glanced at the broken sword in his hand, then at Dustin, who looked utterly unfazed. He hesitated for a split second—then bolted.With a powerful leap, he dove straight for the sea. He knew Dustin's strength was on a completely different level. There was no chance of outrunning him on land, so the only hope was to disappear into the water.It might have worked—if not for what happened next.Just before he hit
"You're not a fisherman? Who the hell are you?"Mulder's guard shot up the moment he got a clear look at the young man's face.Fishermen who spent their days at sea were usually tanned from the sun, but this one had a fair complexion. It felt a little strangeNoticing something was off, the men behind Mulder drew their blades and fixed their sharp gazes on the fisherman.The so-called fisherman standing guard wasn't just anyone—it was Dustin, who had been waiting for them all along.Since his plan was set in motion, he'd been stationed there from morning until midnight. After what felt like an eternity, his targets had finally arrived."Isn't it obvious? I'm here to capture you."Dustin rose from the deck and rolled his shoulders before speaking in an even tone. "If you don't want to die, surrender now. Otherwise, it'll be too late.""Watch out! It could be an ambush." Mulder swiftly pulled out his dagger. His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings for any sign of hidden troops.
As night fell, Warrick sat motionless in his room as he tried to calm his mind through meditation. He had always been able to clear his mind with ease. But tonight, no matter how hard he tried, focus eluded him. A restless unease settled over him and refused to let him relax.Nearly two hours passed before Mulder's scouts finally returned. This time, they brought good news.The smuggling route they had scouted was completely safe, with no signs of an ambush. The West Lucozia army had yet to discover this potential escape route.Once everything was confirmed, Mulder let out a breath of relief. Warrick, too, finally felt the weight lift from his chest."Since the route is safe, we should set out immediately to avoid any unexpected complications." Warrick said. He had no intention of waiting any longer. He was a wanted man, and every moment in West Lucozia increased his chances of capture. There was no telling when the army might surround him. Only by escaping to Thaloria would he
After a hearty meal, the burly Warrick sprawled lazily onto the bed and dozed off. He slept soundly till dusk, lost in a deep dream. When the sky was painted in brilliant hues of the setting sun, only then did he wake up leisurely.The exhaustion from the previous day seemed to have melted away. He felt invigorated, refreshed, and in high spirits.At that moment, Leigh had already set the table in the hall with quiet efficiency. Compared to the first meal, this spread was far more lavish.At the center of the table sat a whole roasted pig. Its golden-brown skin glistened with a rich, crispy sheen. The mouthwatering aroma filled the room, making it impossible not to crave a bite.Warrick had never been one for formalities. The moment he saw the feast, he didn't hesitate. He strode over, took a seat, and started digging in. He ate with zero restraint without sparing a single thought for Mulder, who was still out gathering intel.After a while, half of the roast pig was gone. His fac
"Who is it?" Warrick's grip tightened around the hilt of his steel blade. His eyes, sharp and alert, were like those of a startled predator—full of caution and menace.For the past few days, he had been on edge, like a cornered animal. He barely slept and was constantly on high alert, fearing danger would strike at any moment.The door slowly creaked open. An elderly man with gray hair stepped inside with a tray of fruit and pastries in both hands.Before he could even register what was happening, a flash of cold steel appeared, and Warrick's blade was at the elderly man's throat.The elderly man trembled with fear. The tray slipped from his grasp, and fruit and pastries scattered on the floor."Easy, Sir Prescott. He's one of us." Mulder stepped forward and pressed down on the flat of Warrick's blade with a finger. He smiled and explained, "His name's Leigh Houston. He's mute and has served the Hall of Gods for years. He keeps watch over this tunnel entrance and has never slipp
"Here's the problem—even if we know Warrick's intentions, how do we stop him?" Austin asked.Right now, Warrick had already disappeared without a trace. Austin's team hadn't even come close enough to get a hold of him, so there was no way to track him down.West Lucozia's vast territory and resources made it impossible to seal off every exit route completely. While it might be manageable in the short term, prolonging such an operation would significantly impact West Lucozia's economy. Wasting resources on a single fugitive wasn't a wise move."Warrick is a wanted man across the entire city. There's no way he's leaving through official channels. He'll have to sneak his way out," Dustin analyzed. He continued, "According to the maritime charts, if he's traveling from West Lucozia to Artea, he'll have to go through Thaloria. That's our lead. Get someone on it immediately—find out how many smuggling routes there are from West Lucozia to Thaloria.""Got it. I'll get it done right away
"Damn you, Mulder! You've really screwed me over this time." Axel gnashed his teeth as rage boiled inside him. Mulder's betrayal hadn't just implicated Axel's sister, but it had also dragged Axel himself into the mess.Mulder had climbed the ranks to assistant chief of the City Defenders in just a few years, and Axel had played a major role in backing him.Now that this mess had blown up, Axel was right in the middle of it. No matter how he tried to explain, he was going to take the fall for it."Everyone, follow me! Let's capture that traitor."After learning Mulder's escape route, Axel waved his hand and led his enforcement team out at full speed.He had already messed up by failing to capture Warrick, which was a serious lapse in duty. Now, with his brother-in-law openly rebelling against them, things had only gotten worse.If Axel didn't turn this situation around and bring those traitors to justice, his days as an enforcement team captain were numbered.After a thorough s