The Cobra was more brutal than they had expected.He even dared to slap an elite from Millsburg over a minor misunderstanding. There was no doubt that he was the mighty Cobra!"How dare you hit me?" Matt cried as he cradled his burning cheek in disbelief. How dare some random thug hit him? He was from the Laney family!"So what if I hit you? Don't you deserve it for causing trouble on my turf?" The Cobra shot him a cold smile."Do you know that I'm from the Laney family?!" Matt thundered. He had always been a prideful person, so getting slapped in public was the greatest humiliation of his life! "The Laney family? So what?" snorted the Cobra. “Don’t you know how to show respect on someone else’s turf? I don’t care if you’re the king. When you’re on my turf, you bow to me. You understand?!”The Laney family had been glorious once. Even his boss had to show them his respect in the past. Now, they were no different from anyone else. Even if they were famous, the Laney family had fa
The Cobra's expression darkened, and he swept his piercing gaze around the room. He was greeted by the sight of beer bottle after beer bottle."Smash, smash, smash, smash!"The bottles shot out like cannonballs and sent each man sprawling. Each bottle met its target with deadly accuracy!"Who's being such a fucking coward? Come out and face me if you have the balls!" roared the Cobra furiously. No ordinary man could send a dozen men flying with just beer bottles. "Sir Draco, forgiveness is a virtue. Why won't you show mercy?" a voice replied. Dustin strolled out from amongst the crowd, attracting stares across the room."Who is that? How dare he attack Sir Draco's men? Does he have a death wish?" "He's quite handsome, but he's not very smart to offend Sir Draco.""If it were me, I would have run away after hurling the bottles. Why would he fucking show his face? Isn't he courting death?!"The crowd gossiped. Some were surprised, some showed admiration, and some enjoyed the
“How… how dare you hit me?!"The Cobra rubbed his head in disbelief. His hand was covered in blood. In the years since he had taken over South City, no one had dared disrespect him, much less hit him with a bottle.“This fool must have a death wish!” he thought."Sir Draco, take my advice. Let it go," said Dustin calmly."Fuck you! I'm telling you, you're dead meat! I'm going to rip you apart!" the Cobra cursed and swore as he returned to his senses.As the threat left his mouth, a knife was held to his neck. The sharp blade pierced his skin, and drops of blood trickled from the fresh wound. An inch deeper, and the knife would have pierced his artery. Silence. The entire bar fell into complete silence. The Cobra's roars stopped, along with the crowd's prattling.Everyone was utterly shocked as they turned to look at Dustin, who was wielding the knife. Hitting Sir Draco with a bottle could still be excused as an accident. Unfortunately, holding a knife to his neck was undeniably
When Sir Anderson showed up, everyone thought Dustin was done for.To their surprise, nothing dramatic happened when Sir Anderson saw Dustin. Instead, they chatted amicably like they were old friends.The Cobra was appalled by this turn of events. Even Florence and the others were stunned."This can't be for real, right? Could he really know Sir Anderson?""My goodness, who is that man? How could he and Sir Anderson be talking like buddies?"The crowd gossiped in hushed voices, obviously taken aback."S—Sir Anderson…you know him?" The Cobra gulped. He was slightly panicked and at a loss."Dustin is Natasha's friend. What gave you the nerve to offend him?" Duane's expression grew colder by the second."Huh? Ms. Harmon's friend?" The Cobra got the fright of his life.Natasha Harmon wasn't just one of Swinton's big guns, she had the support of Millburg's aristocrats. She was as prominent a figure as Sir Anderson himself. What's more, Natasha was a very protective person. Anyone w
“Duane, let's not beat around the bush, shall we?" Dustin sipped his tea and said, “You said you've found the Panax root. Where is it?""Since you're so anxious, I won't tease you any longer." Duane smiled and clapped his hands.A bodyguard entered the room carrying a wooden box. Placing the box on the table between him and Dustin, Duane opened it slowly. A dark yellow root no bigger than a palm sat inside. It was a Panax root with unusually long roots."This really is good stuff!" Dustin exclaimed upon examining the root closely. He looked delighted.A 500-year-old Panax root was an extremely rare treasure! Now that he had another herb, he was another step closer to his goal!"How is it, Dustin? Are you satisfied?" Duane smiled expectantly."Of course, I'm satisfied. Thank you so much." Dustin smiled, reaching out to take the root.Suddenly, the lid of the box snapped shut."Dustin, what's the hurry? Let's talk more," Duane asserted. One hand remained wrapped around the box. E
Duane was still smiling confidently at the start of the battle.But it was not long before he noticed something was very wrong. Dustin was much stronger than he had expected. He could feel terrifying surges of energy rushing at him like waves in the ocean. They made the bones in his hand tremble. They would break any minute!Duane's expression darkened, and he couldn't take it anymore. He threw a hard punch at Dustin, trying to make him fall back. However, Dustin did not dodge and faced it head-on instead.Their fists collided, and Duane's chair was smashed into pieces! The force of the punch shoved Duane backward until he hit the wall to catch his balance.Even so, Dustin remained seated calmly. They both knew who was more powerful!"Damn! I never knew you had tricks up your sleeve. I underestimated you!" Duane's eyes narrowed as a complex mix of expressions clouded his face. With how young Dustin was, Duane had never expected him to be so powerful. Considering how young he was,
“I’m just trying to remind you to think twice before you act. Just because you have support from the higher-ups doesn’t mean you can run amok.” With a solemn look, Dahlia added, “Dustin, you must realize that your worth has to be backed by ability. Currying favors with powerful people can propel you to greater heights, but it won’t last unless you can prove you’re a person of high caliber. So don’t think you’re all high and mighty—consider this a lesson from me.”Dustin snickered upon hearing this. “How can you be sure that I’m currying favors with the powerful?”“Is that not the case? If it weren’t for Ms. Harmon’s reputation, would the Cobra have let you go so easily?” Dahlia didn’t hold back with her remark.“Whatever you say. I know that, whatever I do, I’m nothing but a useless prick in your eyes,” Dustin sneered as he shook his head.First impressions truly were tough to change. Even with the evidence in front of their eyes, some people would simply refuse to believe it. They
Nighttime, in the interrogation room of the police station.Dustin and Dahlia sat with their backs against each other, bound to the chairs in the middle of the room.The air in the room was cool and damp, and darkness shrouded them completely. They could feel an invisible weight on their shoulders.“My bad, I didn’t mean to drag you into this mess,” Dustin spoke first.“They claimed you stole some valuables. Is that true?” Dahlia asked, cutting to the chase.“What do you think?”“You don’t look that bold to me, so my guess is someone is trying to frame you. Does this have anything to do with the Cobra?”“The Cobra is merely a pawn. The mastermind is none other than Duane Welch.”“Duane Welch? Are you talking about Sir Anderson?” Dahlia was dumbstruck. “Weren’t you on fairly good terms with him before? Did you strike a nerve? How?”“I punched him,” Dustin admitted flatly.“What?” Dahlia choked, struggling to keep her calm, “You…You dared hit Sir Anderson! Are you out of your m
"Your Royal Highness, it's an honor to have you here," Jonathan said.Upon seeing the distinguished guest arrive, he quickly pulled himself together and aside his grief. He led his family to greet Tristan, and they bowed in respect.Before they could finish the gesture, Tristan raised a hand to stop them. "No need for such formalities," he said. "The deceased deserves our respect."He turned to Jovian's portrait, which was displayed in the mourning hall, and sighed deeply.Tristan continued, "Mr. Jovian's untimely passing is truly a great loss to Dragonmarsh. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to your family during this difficult time."Jonathan's eyes were filled with tears as he bowed his head slightly. "Thank you, Your Highness, for your kind words. My family is heartbroken over my brother's tragic death."Tristan nodded slightly. His gaze quickly swept across the hall before asking, "I've heard that Duke Lachshire fainted from grief. How is he doing now?"Jonathan
The unrest in West Lucozia finally ended with the capture of Warrick.Every official who was his accomplice was thoroughly investigated. Those who needed to be arrested were taken into custody, and those who deserved to be punished were executed.After the purge, more than 300 officials in West Lucozia were removed from their posts. Those guilty were arrested, and those whose crimes were severe were executed.Under Austin's iron-fisted reforms, West Lucozia's government underwent a complete overhaul. Corruption, bribery, and the tangled web of illegal deals were swept away like dust in the wind.The citizens quickly noticed the difference. When they visited government offices, they no longer faced delays, refusals, or demands for bribes.Long-neglected public issues began to move forward, thanks to the organized efforts of newly appointed officials. Things were improving across the board.Instead of fearing the crackdown, the citizens welcomed it. The corrupt officials who had dr
Austin's expression also turned serious as he saw the doubt in Dustin's eyes. He knew Dustin wouldn't worry over nothing.There were many strange beings in Streuqua, including vampires, werewolves, and the like. These supernatural species were notoriously hard to kill. Even after being decapitated, they weren't necessarily dead.Austin wasn't sure if Poseidon had that kind of ability. After all, the Hall of Gods and its so-called royal gods were still a mystery to most people in West Lucozia.To play it safe, they needed to recover Poisedon's head for their own peace of mind.Out on the water, Jaxon led a team of soldiers and ship crews to comb the sea in search of Poisedon's severed head.At the docks, all eyes turned to Warrick, Mulder, and the others. They had been tied up and were now being dragged before Dustin and Austin one by one.Warrick looked pale, but there was a certain defiance in his eyes. He knew his fate was sealed. After Dustin killed Poseidon, Warrick knew his
Moments later, the once-turbulent sea finally calmed. All that remained was a dense cloud of steam. Like a giant beast, it slowly drifted across the water, as if telling the tale of the heart-pounding battle that had just taken place.Dustin stood on the surface of the sea with the Celestial Blade in hand. His face was grim as he looked ahead. His clothes were torn, and his body was covered in cuts and bruises. Blood streamed from his wounds and dyed the water beneath him red.Suddenly, a headless corpse floated to the surface. Covered in blue scales, it had torn, ragged wings on its back. The body was riddled with gaping wounds as the dark blue blood seeping from it dissipated into the water.The body belonged to Poseidon."H-He's dead? How is that possible?"Looking at the headless corpse floating on the sea, Warrick and the others couldn't help but stare in shock. They never imagined Dustin could slay one of the world's mightiest royal gods with a single blow. If they hadn'
Poseidon slowly rose from the seawater, his wound now fully healed. A flicker of madness flashed in his eyes. The severe injury he just sustained not only failed to make him retreat but instead ignited an even stronger fighting spirit within him.He sneered. "Logan, you've surprised me. But you're still going to die today."Poseidon spun his trident wildly, and the already turbulent sea grew even more violent. The waters swirled around him and formed a massive vortex. It expanded rapidly and soon reached nearly 1,000 feet wide. The surrounding waters were sucked in with terrifying force.The suction was so powerful that even Warrick, Mulder, and the others, watching from a distance, had to brace themselves to avoid being pulled in."Hmm?"Dustin frowned as he felt an overwhelming pressure closing in. The force of the swirling vortex before him was terrifying, as if it could swallow everything in its path. But he didn't flinch. In a flash, he launched forward like a streak of
Poseidon scoffed. "You're so full of yourself." The surrounding seawater surged violently. It transformed into countless razor-sharp water spikes and whistled toward Dustin. The deadly edges glinted under the sunlight. Like a silver rainstorm, the barrage swallowed every inch of space around him.Dustin's sharp gaze locked onto the incoming strikes. With a light swing of the Celestial Blade, a streak of black sword aura shot out. Every water spike in its path shattered into mist and rained down in a cascade of droplets.However, Poseidon refused to relent. His attacks came in endless waves, an unbroken torrent.He gripped his trident with both hands and spun it, creating several blue energy rings. Each one expanded rapidly and surged toward Dustin like crashing waves.Dustin's figure flickered and vanished from his spot. The next second, he reappeared just outside the energy rings.Hovering in midair, he spun at incredible speed. The Celestial Blade in his hand turned into a b
"Logan, I have to admit that you're stronger than I thought. I never expected you'd push me this far," Poseidon said.His arms slowly spread wide, and his blue eyes glowed with murderous intent. "As a mark of respect, I will give it everything I've got. You'll witness the true extent of my power."With a flick of his hand, he made a grabbing gesture. His trident, which had fallen to the bottom of the sea, shot back up through the water and landed firmly in his grasp.Compared to his earlier arrogance, Poseidon now stood with a newfound seriousness. It wasn't just Dustin's strength that had him on edge but his terrifying potential.At only 20, Dustin already possessed this level of strength. If he continued to grow, he would become a serious threat to the Hall of Gods. Hence, Poseidon resolved to eliminate him today."Watch closely," he said.Poseidon slowly raised his trident and gripped it like a javelin. While channeling his energy into the weapon, it pulsed with an intense blu
Dustin was Dragonmarsh's elite prodigy, while Poseidon was the famous royal god of the Hall of Gods.Every move they exchanged unleashed destructive power. Within moments, the area within a 300-foot radius was reduced to wreckage.Dustin wielded his true energy-infused longsword. Each swing unleashed a blinding flare of light as if it could split the sky apart with the Celestial Blade.On the contrary, Poseidon's trident commanded the winds and rains. Each strike could summon huge rolling waves as if he were a god reigning over the forces of nature.Sword aura clashed against walls of water and plunged the entire area into chaos.Warrick and the others watched with rapt attention. Their eyes were locked on the battle ahead as they tried to make sense of the chaos.But Dustin and Poseidon were moving so fast that their actions were almost impossible to follow. Their movements blurred together, and they could only catch flashes of two figures constantly clashing. Their strikes ca
"Let me correct you," Dustin said.As his hand slowly tightened into a fist, a white longsword formed from his true energy. "In Dragonmarsh, there is no 'God. ' We only have the Lord of the Dead."The moment the words left his mouth, a tempest of sword aura exploded outward. Within a radius of several dozen yards, the winds howled, sand and stones were sent flying, and the waves along the shore grew even more violent."Such overwhelming pressure. That sword aura is insane. Is this Logan's actual strength?"Feeling the surge of energy, Warrick and the others couldn't help but turn pale. It was then they realized that Dustin hadn't been fighting seriously before. Or perhaps, with their strength, they hadn't even earned the right to make him fight for real. They figured only someone of Poseidon's caliber could force Dustin to go all out."Interesting… truly fascinating." Poseidon suddenly laughed. "I thought you were just a pup, but it turns out you're a hungry wolf. Now, this is s