"Run, Ms. Harmon!" Gritting his teeth, Nelson grabbed his sword and cleared a path for Natasha to escape. Natasha immediately ran out of the meeting room. When she turned around, Nelson and his men were already lying in pools of blood. "Grab her! Don't let her escape!" Felix yelled, knowing that Natasha was Dustin's weakness. He planned to use Natasha as a hostage if Dustin was still alive. "After her!"As Charging Tiger Guild's disciples charged after her, Nelson sprung up. He was bleeding but pushed past the men and dashed to close the doors. "Run, Ms. Harmon!" he yelled as he locked the doors. "You motherfucker! You're doomed!" Felix was pissed. He grabbed one of his subordinates' swords and slashed Nelson multiple times. Despite his injuries, Nelson didn't budge from the door, and his grip never loosened. "Just die!" Felix was furious and brought the sword down on Nelson nonstop. Even Felix's subordinates frowned at the gruesome sight. After dozens of strikes,
"Nelson!"Dustin paled as the situation sank in. He quickly took out his needles and tried to stop the bleeding. But it was impossible, as Nelson had too many wounds. Realizing the severity of the situation, Dustin began channeling his true energy into Nelson, desperate to keep him alive. Finally, Nelson's eyes cracked open tiredly. "Y—you're back …" Nelson croaked. "I—is Ms. Harmon alright?""She's safe." Dustin forced a smile. "That's good …" The corner of Nelson's mouth lifted. "I kept my promise, Sir. I d—did what you told me to a—and protected Ms. Harmon …""That's right. You did." Dustin nodded frantically. Although he kept channeling his true energy into Nelson, he could still feel Nelson's life slowly slipping away. "Sir … I—I don't think I can hang on anymore. I'd l—like to ask for a favor …" Nelson's breathing became labored. "Don't be silly! I'm a miracle doctor! I will save you!" Gritting his teeth, Dustin inserted a few needles into Nelson's body. Ye
Before going on his mission, Nelson had texted his wife. However, Cecilia became worried when he didn't pick up the phone, so she rushed over with their daughter. The sight of blood at the door only made her even more uneasy. "Nelson? Where are you?" Cecilia cried out worriedly.All Kirin Gang members remained silent, their heads lowered. The entire manor was quiet. "Nelson?"When Cecilia finally arrived at the meeting room, she was stunned. Was that bloody corpse on the floor, her husband?She stumbled forward in disbelief. Reality sank in when she saw the man's face, and she threw herself over the body and began to weep. "Wake up, Nelson! Wake up! Please open your eyes! Oh, why did this happen?" Tears streamed down Cecilia's face. Haley was crying as well. She ran over to Nelson and kept pushing his body. "Daddy, wake up! Weren't we going to celebrate my birthday? You promised me you would bring me to the theme park! "Wake up! Y—you broke your promise. Bad daddy! I
Felix was lying on the sofa with a cigarette in his mouth in a lavish mansion in Eastville. He had one of his legs propped up on a coffee table with a bloody hand firmly attached to it. Two of his men crouched beside the table as they carefully tried to pry the hand off. Because of how firm Nelson's grip was, his nails had already dug into Felix's skin. "Damn it, be careful!" Felix hissed with a frown, kicking one of the men to the floor. "Give us a second. We're almost done." His subordinate smiled apologetically. Finally, they managed to get Nelson's hand off. "What the fuck is wrong with that asshole? He just wouldn't let go! Why did he have to go so far for that bastard?" Felix cursed. He had been waiting for his chance since the Kirin Gang was established. Although he had finally become a guildmaster and lived a much better life than before, he refused to obey someone else's command. He had always been greedy, so he kept his eyes glued to the leader's position. A
"We might want money. But we want your death more. Sir Rhys will forgive us if we take you down." The rugged leader shook his head. "Run, Sir! We'll take care of them!" Felix's loyal subordinates went forward and blocked the Charging Tiger Guild disciples. "Good job, men! Stand strong!" Felix patted one of their shoulders. He grabbed his wife, turned around, and ran. "Kill them!"The rugged man lifted his sword and charged toward Felix's men. Although Felix's subordinates tried their best, they were no match for the guild disciples and were quickly defeated. "After him!" The rugged man chased after Felix. "Ouch!" Just then, Felix's wife tripped and fell. "Honey, I sprained my ankle! Carry me on your back!" she cried out. "You're such a nuisance!" Felix was about to help her when he spotted the men approaching them. He retracted his hand and spun around to run. "Honey? Honey!" The woman exclaimed, but Felix never turned around. There was no way that woman's life was m
Inside one of the black sedans, Dustin rested his head against his headrest with his eyes closed. Despite how calm he looked outside, his murderous glint was exposed when he opened his eyes.Suddenly, his phone began to ring. Cornelius was calling him. "Sir, as you ordered, we've cut Felix apart and left his head untouched.""Alright," Dustin answered emotionlessly. "Sir, we've captured Felix's wife and son. What should we do about them?" Cornelius asked. "Kill them." "Yes, sir," Cornelius responded. "That reminds me." Dustin suddenly changed the topic. "Tell someone to look into Gavin Killian's whereabouts.""Sir, he's quite a powerful man. Are you sure you want to do that?" Cornelius hesitated. "I don't care who he is. Anyone who kills my friend deserves to die. Get it done at once!" Dustin snapped."Yes, sir!" Cornelius instantly responded. The Kirin Gang had many disciples, so it was easy for them to collect information. They found out where Gavin was in less th
"Why can't you see how wonderful your life would be if you married Mr. Killian? You'd have the whole world wrapped around your finger!" Florence was exasperated."If I want power, I can get it with my hands. I don't want to get it through marriage." Dahlia shook her head."Dahlia …" Florence sighed resignedly. "Alright, alright. I guess the fruits of her labor will taste sweeter." Victoria intervened, but she was secretly happy. Since Dahlia didn't like Gavin, Julie might have a chance. "Look, it's Mr. Killian!" Julie exclaimed. Everyone turned toward the door and saw Gavin entering confidently. Wearing a suit, he was followed by a group of men.The other guests automatically opened a path for them when they walked by. Their intense aura instantly made them the center of attention."What brings you here, Mr. Killian?" Florence and several others greeted enthusiastically. "It's your birthday, Mrs. Nicholson. It's only natural that I send my wishes." Gavin gestured with a
The noise made everyone turn to look. A man dressed in mourning attire walked in, surrounded by a murderous air. His expression was so cold it sent shivers up people's spines. "Dustin? What's he doing here?" Florence frowned. She was sure she didn't invite him, so he'd better not be here for the free food."He must be crazy. How could he wear mourning clothes at a birthday banquet? Ugh!" Victoria and Julie were disgusted at Dustin's choice of attire."Speak of the devil. I guess he does have a death wish." Gavin smirked coldly. He initially planned to take care of Dustin a few days later, but Dustin had approached him first. "Dustin?" Dahlia lit up and rushed over to greet him. She'd been worried that he was too angry at her to show up, so she was happy to see him. It proved that she was important to him. "I knew you'd come, Dustin. I …" Dahlia's words faltered when she met Dustin's cold glare. She was instantly rooted to the spot. She had never seen Dustin with such a
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
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