“Grandpapa, didn’t you sleep well last night?” In the living room of the McCall family villa, Allison looked at her grandfather in shock. Jonathan’s disheveled hair, bloodshot eyes, and haggard expression made him look nothing short of terrifying. “It’s nothing. I was inspired to train all night, so I’m just a bit tired today,” he said curtly. As he glanced past her to Dustin, who was standing behind her. His face grew even darker. “Grandpapa, you’ve just recovered! How could you push yourself like this?” Allison said sternly in concern. Caught off guard, Jonathan could only offer a sheepish nod. Last night, in a misguided attempt to drug Dustin with some aphrodisiac and force his granddaughter into a closer relationship, he had somehow fallen victim to his own scheme. If not for his strong constitution, the consequences could have been far worse. Looking back, he was almost certain Dustin had seen through his ploy and turned the tables. “Allison,” Jonathan
“Miss Allison, is this your friend? You’re aware that everyone attending this gathering is admitted strictly by invitation...” said the doorman with thinly veiled displeasure. Allison was known for her distant and untouchable persona. Even the most prominent heirs in Grayvale struggled to approach her. Seeing someone like Dustin standing so close to her was enough to spark envy and resentment. “He’s…” Allison glanced at Dustin and blushed as she hesitated. She was unsure how to explain their relationship. Her hesitation only fueled the doorman’s irritation. His expression darkened further. No way... Could someone as beautiful as her... with someone like him… There was no way… As the thought festered, his jealousy intensified. He was even more reluctant to let Dustin in. “This is Fustin Dox,” Allison said after regaining her composure. “He’s currently staying with the McCall family as a guest.” The doorman’s eyes widened. He barely registered the rest of her exp
When the last of the metal powder fell from Dustin’s hands, he chuckled. “Am I qualified to enter now?” he asked calmly. “Uh… yeah…” The doorman was still in a daze, and he barely managed a couple of incoherent responses. Allison was clearly pleased with his stunned expression. She turned to Dustin with a satisfied smile and beckoned him to follow her inside. The radiant smile left the doorman momentarily dumbfounded. She was so beautiful… The famously aloof Allison could smile like that? When the pair disappeared into the venue, the doorman snapped out of his trance. Then, as though in disbelief, he dropped to the ground and began gathering the scattered metal powder. He was indeed doubtful about the authenticity of the metal sphere. But the texture was unmistakable. It really was that type of metal… “Impossible! No one can crush Onyx Iron into powder… No one!” he murmured in a trembling voice and was lost in disbelief. Meanwhile, Allison led Dustin in
Henry could no longer keep his composure. How dare a country bumpkin lay a hand on the goddess of Grayvale? To them, Rivenesco was nothing but a backwater village. What kind of talent could possibly come from Rivenesco? Nearly every young heir in the room wore the same expression of disdain mixed with indignation. How had this bumpkin managed to win her favor? The jealousy was palpable. “Well, if Miss McCall has acknowledged you herself, then you must be quite extraordinary. Welcome to Grayvale’s gathering,” Henry said and kept up a pretense of politeness. But as he turned his head, he shot a subtle glance at the two men behind him. “You’re from Rivenesco? What kind of talent could possibly come from that place? Hey, kid, have you even reached the fifth grade yet?” one of them asked and sneered. “Just because Mr. Henry is being polite doesn’t mean the rest of us are. If you’re not qualified, you don’t belong here. Not even Allison’s backing will change that.”
The man whose head had been wedged into the pillar was finally pulled free. He gasped for air as if he had nearly suffocated. Henry’s face darkened. “Mr. Dox, even if he struck you first, don’t you think your response was too harsh?” he said in displeasure. “Apologies,” Dustin said calmly, though his tone betrayed no real regret. “I didn’t expect the so-called prodigies of Grayvale to be this fragile. I only used ten percent of my strength.” Dustin had not exaggerated. In fact, the man had been defeated with far less than the claimed ten percent strength. The room erupted in murmurs at his casual remark, which sounded more like an insult to everyone in the venue. This gathering was full of the young prodigies from Grayvale’s most prestigious martial families, and Dustin’s remark came across as outrageously arrogant and utterly intolerable. “How dare a nobody from the countryside insult the young elites of Grayvale!” The crowd’s anger was unrestrained. Just then
Dustin and Julian quickly positioned themselves in front of the platform. Each clutched ten iron marbles in their hands. Julian wore a sly grin. This game was his specialty. He had mastered it to perfection. Not only did he plan to thoroughly humiliate Dustin, but he also aimed to strip him of his money and dignity in front of everyone. The amused expressions on Henry and the others’ faces were a testament to their unwavering faith in Julian’s skills. “Let the game begin!” someone shouted and signaled the start of the game. The participants had to throw all ten marbles within the allotted time. Scores would then be tallied, and final points would determine the winner and payout. Dustin did not bother with the larger holes on the platform. His gaze was fixed solely on the smallest one. The hole was barely wide enough to fit an iron marble. It was incredibly difficult to hit. But it was the highest-scoring target. It would score ten points if one succeeded. Dusti
Whoosh! The two marbles collided. Bam! One shattered on the spot, while the other remained intact and flew into the smallest hole. “Fustin earns ten points. Julian scores zero.” The crowd was stunned. Their faces darkened. It had happened once again… It was exactly like the last round. Julian looked perplexed, and so did Henry and his group. Their faces were all grim. “Are you sure you really switched them?” Henry asked in a low voice, and his brows furrowed. “I swear I switched them!” The man being questioned looked frantic. Henry glared at Dustin as his gaze grew intense. This kid... was hiding something. “Again!” Julian was visibly frustrated and unwilling to accept defeat. Whoosh! Bam! “Fustin earns ten points. Julian scores zero.” The result was the same again and again, and Julian’s face darkened further. He had never lost like this in this game before, even when facing someone stronger than him... This was utter humiliation.
Even though they all came from prestigious families, losing fifty million in one go, and with it, their dignity, would not go unnoticed by their elders. In previous games, the skill gap had been minimal, and the score difference was usually around ten points. But this time was different. Julian’s face darkened. The Ward family did not own big businesses, so while he could pay that amount, it would not be easy. “Julian, you’re not going to back out and refuse to pay, are you?” Allison asked. Julian grew increasingly uncomfortable. “I wouldn’t stoop so low as to avoid paying for such a small sum!” he retorted coldly. “It’s just a few million. I’ll have it delivered to your villa in two days,” he said dismissively and turned to leave. “I remember you all always settle these games on the spot. No delays, right?” Allison pressed and did not let him off the hook. Julian’s face shifted between frustration and embarrassment. He turned to the other young heirs.
Zion, after bowing several times to Dustin, was waved off and dismissed. “It’s time for us to leave too,” Dustin said as he glanced at Allison and Shawna. “You can’t go!” Allison suddenly called out anxiously. Dustin looked at her in confusion. “If this is about me returning to the McCall family, you can forget it. I can’t leave right now,” he said as he politely refused. Allison froze for a moment before a look of melancholy appeared on her face. “What’s wrong with the McCall family?” she asked as she cast a sidelong glance at Shawna. Her displeasure was evident. Allison thought that Dustin was reluctant to return because he fancied this woman, whose beauty rivaled her own. It felt as though he was abandoning her for someone new. The way she looked at him… made him feel like he was so heartless. His face stiffened. He had not done anything, yet he was suddenly a villain in her mind. Allison had already decided Shawna was his new woman. “The McCall family is f
Pop… It was as if a barrier within Zion’s body had shattered. His pure energy surged freely through every part of his body and filled him with an overwhelming sense of strength. He felt like he could split mountains and tear through the earth with a single strike. Snapping back to awareness, he felt a fiery heat coursing through him. He let out a loud roar and thrust his palm against one of the thick stone pillars in the restaurant. A deep palm print appeared on the pillar. He had nearly punched through its massive structure… Staring at the mark he had left, Zion’s eyes widened in disbelief. With his previous prowess in the ninth grade, he could barely leave a faint impression on such a pillar, let alone something this profound. “This is…” Zion stammered as he tried to find his words. “What happened, Master Fox?” he finally asked as he snapped back to reality. Dustin smiled faintly. “I infused a trace of my pure energy into you. It helped to lift the obstruc
“Where is the baby girl now?!” Dustin’s eyes sharpened as his gaze locked on Zion. It was clear the baby Zion mentioned was none other than Dustin’s twin sister. She was the only surviving bloodline of the Fox family apart from himself. The mere mention of his sister was enough to stir a rare wave of emotion within him. “Master Fox, I discovered that twenty years ago, the baby girl that the Fox family smuggled out ended up in an orphanage on the outskirts of Grayvale. Around five years later, the orphanage shut down, and all the children were relocated. The girl was reportedly adopted by a couple who took her out of Honora. Unfortunately, her whereabouts now remain unclear,” Zion said in a steady voice. Dustin’s brows relaxed slightly. Learning that his sister might still be alive filled him with a surge of hope and excitement. He had to find her! She was his only family left in this world. “Continue the investigation. No matter what the cost or effort, find h
Dustin narrowed his eyes slightly as he processed the information. Initially, giving Zion the Martial League’s Gold Token had been more of an experiment. It had been a way to gauge his capability. To his surprise, Zion had not only proven capable but had uncovered significant leads. ‘It was no wonder my adoptive father insisted I gather enough strength before seeking vengeance. The eleven forces already identified are all formidable. Even among the Seven Clans of Central Harbor, three were involved. The most powerful figures at the very pinnacle of Lovellia hierarchy might struggle to make any significant headway,’ Dustin thought to himself. But he was the King of Hades and the master of Star Tower. He commanded two of the most elite forces in the world. He had no reason to fear anyone. “For now, this is everything I’ve uncovered about the forces behind the Fox family massacre,” Zion said earnestly. “If I weren’t facing interference, I’m confident I could dig up even m
Waylon and Kenneth’s frantic shouts fell on deaf ears. The martial artists from the Martial League branch acted decisively and dragged them off to the Martial League Penitentiary without entertaining any protests. If they were officially labeled as second-level offenders, the repercussions would ruin them, and their families’ reputations and influence would take a serious hit too. As the two were hauled out of the restaurant in cuffs, Shawna stood frozen and struggled to process what had just happened. She never imagined Dustin could wield this level of authority. Even the branch leader of Martial League was acting on his orders… The Martial League was the kind of organization that could effortlessly declare someone a second-level offender and detain them. They were undoubtedly among the most powerful figures at the very top of Grayvale’s hierarchy. What shook her more was Zion’s attitude. He was so respectful and submissive when addressing Dustin. “Dustin, why did
“My uncle is truly dependable,” Kenneth smiled in satisfaction as he stepped forward to greet the man who had just arrived and was catching his breath. “Mr. Larson, I’m Kenneth from the Dixon family,” he introduced himself. “I’m sure my uncle must have mentioned me to you?” He extended a hand to Zion confidently. With the branch leader of the Martial League showing up personally, there was nothing left to fear. “Who the hell are you?” Zion’s face darkened as he slapped Kenneth’s hand away. Kenneth froze. He was stunned. What was going on? Was Zion not here to back him up? “Get out of my way!” Zion barked impatiently before turning to Dustin with a respectful bow. “Master Fox, what are your orders?” His tone was respectful. Kenneth and Lucas stared at them with wide eyes. Was this really the branch leader of the Martial League? He treated a lowly security guard with such reverence… Was he in his right mind? Even Shawna and Allison were visibly surprise
Waylon was not going to accept this. With Allison stepping in to protect Dustin, there was no way someone of his status could speak up. However, Dustin had broken a few of his bones, and he could not let it go. His only option was to provoke Kenneth to step in. Kenneth furrowed his brow and looked at Allison, then at Dustin. He could not let this insult slide. “Allison, you’re going to protect this guy, huh? I won’t let that happen!” he said viciously. “If you want to take him away, fine! But you have to leave his left leg behind!” It was Dustin’s left foot that had stepped on them earlier. Allison’s face turned even colder at his words. “Kenneth, do you think you’re someone important? How powerful do you think your family is?” Allison asked. “Do you honestly think that the Dixon family can match the McCall family?” Kenneth’s face shifted, and his anger surged. “What if the branch leader of the Martial League in Grayvale gets involved? Do you think your McCa
Kenneth was shocked. In the elite circles of Grayvale’s upper class, everyone knew about Allison. Shawna’s gaze flickered with intrigue the moment her gaze landed on Allison. While both women were strikingly beautiful in their own right, the social divide between them was undeniable. Naturally, they were not in the same circle. “Allison, what brings you here?” Kenneth asked as his brows furrowed. Allison’s appearance anywhere was a rare event. “I’m here to find someone,” Allison said coldly. “Who?” Kenneth’s surprise was evident. Allison looking for someone? That was unheard of. “I’m here for him.” She pointed at Dustin. The group was stunned. This renowned beauty was famous both inside and outside Grayvale. She was sought after by countless young elites in Grayvale who would have given anything to win her favor. Yet, here she was, actively seeking out a man, and not just any man, but a lowly security guard! “Miss Allison, are you sure?” Kenneth’s disb
Waylon and Kenneth were nearly knocked unconscious under the crushing weight of Dustin’s foot. Blood spurted from their lips and their faces were pale as sheets. Shawna gasped at Dustin’s audacity. She had not expected him to go so far as to pin both of them beneath his foot. Waylon was the pampered heir of the Riley family, while Kenneth was the eldest son of the influential Dixon family. Offending either of them could only spell trouble for her. “Son of a b*tch! Do you want to die? You’re asking for it!” Kenneth roared in pain. “Mr. Dixon! Call your uncle! Get him to send someone here. Didn’t you say he knows the branch leader of the Martial League? Have the leader come here now!” Waylon shouted. “This guy doesn’t know his place! We have to teach him a lesson!” Dustin pressed down harder, and both men howled in pain. “Brat… I dare you to let me make a call!” Kenneth gritted his teeth. Dustin’s face remained cold, and his foot stayed firmly in place. The t