The water sphere exploded with a pop. Even the fish inside exploded into a bloody mist. "Huh?" Augustus frowned at the unexpected scene. Though he had made a simple attack, it wasn't an attack an ordinary person could defend against. "Augustus Kline, your opponent is me." Dustin stepped out while shielding Cornelius. "So you're Dustin Rhys?" Augustus gave him a once-over. His gaze was sharp, cold, and imposing. He exuded an air of indifference, resembling a God looking down upon insignificant mortals. "That would be me." Dustin was stoic. "Break your limbs, destroy your core, and apologize to Terry on your knees. That way, I will let you live," Augustus spat out coldly. Although his tone was relatively composed, an underlying dominance was unmistakably present. "Hey, Rhys! Did you hear that? Hurry up and destroy your core, then kneel and apologize! Terry yelled arrogantly. He wouldn't pass up the chance to humiliate Dustin. After all, Dustin would be entirely unde
Only silence filled the scene. Everyone was dumbfounded. Their eyes widened in disbelief. Nobody expected a great martial artist like Augustus to crash into the water with one strike. He was a grandmaster, for God's sake! His presence was like a divine being to ordinary martial artists. A flick of a finger could take a life, and a simple attack could defeat a divine-level martial artist! Under normal circumstances, a top-tier skilled martial artist like him should be invincible. He could crush everything effortlessly. What the hell was going on, then? The revered Augustus was defeated on their first encounter. How the hell was that possible? After a brief silence, the area around Shinefield Lake erupted into a frenzy."Oh my God! Am I seeing things? Augustus Kline was sent into the water?" "No! That's not possible! A grandmaster is like God. How could an ordinary person compare?""A grandmaster can only be defeated by another grandmaster. Could that man actually be a
It was Augustus, who was just sent crashing into the water!His hair was disheveled, and his entire body was drenched. He looked awful.He wasn't badly injured. However, he couldn't get back his initial glory as a grandmaster."Master Augustus is actually alright? That's great!" Seeing this, Terry was reenergized. He also regained his confidence.The surprised crowd also had their hopes restored.Dustin was indeed a young grandmaster, but Augustus was a grandmaster too. Earlier, he had been too reckless. Augustus had underestimated his enemy, which led to his loss. As a veteran grandmaster, Augustus would surely be more skilled if they fought head-on. "Young man, how dare you attack me by surprise?!" Augustus came out of the water. He gritted his teeth with a fierce expression. He looked as though he wanted to eat somebody.Augustus had never felt so embarrassed. He had his dignity wiped by a punk in front of everyone. It was a huge humiliation!"A surprise attack?
"What …"The crowd was stunned as they watched blood fog fill the air.They were all rooted to the spot. It was as if they'd been struck by lightning. No one could have expected to see such a shocking sight. Didn't Augustus win? Why? Why did he suddenly explode?That was none other than Sir Augustus, the peerless grandmaster martial artist!He was a living legend! Someone like him died … just like that?!He was dead?!"Master…?" Terry's jaw dropped open. He stood there in a daze. His face paled. He couldn't believe his eyes. His invincible, extraordinary master had suddenly exploded and died.Even his body was gone."He's … dead? Sir Augustus is actually dead?!"After a brief silence, the crowd broke out in chaos."Oh my god, what the hell just happened? I can't be dreaming, can I?""No—no way! How did a grandmaster martial artist die?" "The sky is falling … The sky is falling!"Right now, all the martial artists were extremely shocked. They were all scared
Dustin said indifferently, "Sir Augustus wanted to kill me earlier. Why can't I kill him?""I'm going to take revenge on you for killing my master!" Terry roared. His eyes were bloodshot. "Terry, don't say that!" Phil quickly yelled. He was afraid. This young grandmaster in front of them was able to defeat Sir Augustus, much less them."If it's a fair challenge, I'll welcome it. But if you dare use dirty tricks, I'll annihilate the entire Doyle family!" Dustin said as he looked at Terry coldly. The Doyle family stepped backward in fear. They looked terrified. It would be easy for a grandmaster to wipe them out. "Cornelius, let's go home." Dustin no longer wanted to entertain this conversation and headed down the mountain. "Dustin …" At that moment, Nikki ran up to him. With a guilty look, she said, "I'm sorry, I was wrong. I'm willing to turn over a new leaf and listen to you. Will you give me another chance?""Actually," she continued, "if you'd been honest with me so
In the evening, Dustin was quietly sipping tea at his table by the window of the Roseate Restaurant.The battle of grandmasters shook up the two major martial arts alliances entirely. Various parties were thinking of ways to recruit him. This even included several overseas alliances. Of course, he paid no attention to those people.Because today, he'd invited Natasha for dinner.At that moment, the restaurant's doors opened. Natasha walked in elegantly. She was in a long black dress that complemented her complexion. She was wearing light makeup today. Her natural features looked even more alluring.Together with her unique aura, she was a stunner. Even though he'd seen her many times, Dustin was still as surprised as always."Why are you staring at me? Am I not beautiful today?" Natasha purposely twirled in front of Dustin, putting her sexy figure on full display."Of course, you're beautiful. Words cannot describe your beauty." Dustin nodded with a smile."Hehe … Da
Natasha was solemn. Given her father's personality, she knew he would never hand over the treasure map once he knew Tyler was behind everything. However, that would certainly anger Tyler and put her father in danger. "I understand. I will send someone to protect Mr. Harmon discreetly," Dustin assured her."That puts me at ease." Natasha grinned. "Of course, I won't be gone for long. Once I've taken care of things with my new company in Oakvale, I'll return to Millsburg immediately. If everything goes well, I'll be back in three to five days.""Alright, I'll wait for you." Dustin nodded.After their food arrived, they chatted and ate in a pleasant atmosphere. Just then, the doors to the restaurant opened once again. A group of elegantly dressed young men and women entered, chatting happily. Dustin glanced over instinctively. He didn't think much of it at first, but suddenly, he froze. Looking back in the same direction, he appeared somewhat surprised. "What's wrong?" Nata
"I've been here for a while now. But I've been quite busy and haven't had the chance to visit General Murray."Dustin smiled and changed the subject, "By the way, how are you recovering? Do you still feel unwell?"Polarfrost was an extremely rare disease. It was hard to get rid of it entirely. His method of using a fiery beetle to suppress it could only ensure Sheila's safety for the next ten years. After ten years, unless she found a rare treasure to save her, she would die. "I'm doing great! I've been eating well too." Sheila smiled. "Of course, it's all thanks to you. I would have been long gone if it wasn't for you.""No need to mention it. Solving people's problems and getting paid is what I'm supposed to do," Dustin replied with a smile."Sheila, who's this? Why don't you introduce him to us?" a woman in red beside Sheila asked. "Ah, I almost forgot." Sheila was quick to catch on. "Vivian, this is Dustin. The one I've talked about. He's the one who cured me of my
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
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