"Grandpa, I…" Jasmine began to protest.But Douglas cut her off, "Don’t be hasty. He’s about to take the stage. Watch his performance first, then decide."With a sigh, Jasmine settled back to watch. A few minutes later, the tournament began. The arenas were alive with fierce battles.Steven stepped onto his platform, facing his opponent. The man opposite him was Bruce Larkin from the Tranquil Academy, known for his exceptional sword-drawing skill."Steven, you don’t even have a weapon. How do you plan to go against my sword, the Eclipse Azure Blade?" Bruce sneered at him, his face full of contempt. "If you surrender now, you might escape with your life."Bruce didn't want to get into trouble with the Diamond Guild by killing Steven.To his surprise, Steven just smiled. "The same goes for you. You’re not worth my time. You should step down and surrender."Bruce’s face turned red with fury. "Are you that eager to die? Fine! I’ll grant your wish!"He launched his sword-drawing s
The next instant, Jasmine realized the gravity of the situation."Oh no! He's on Steven's platform!" Seeing Frederick step onto the platform, Steven sneered mockingly. "Who's this skinny kid? Never seen you before. You dare challenge me? But hey, I'll give you credit for guts! I'll leave your corpse intact as a sign of respect!"With that, he charged straight at Frederick without hesitation."No! Stop!" Jasmine couldn't help but scream.The next moment, a thunderous sound echoed through the place as Steven's body flew through the air in a perfect arc. Then, he crashed heavily onto the ground.Blood sprayed from his mouth, and his eyes rolled back. His body convulsed uncontrollably.Frederick withdrew his hand, and quipped, "Could you be any ruder? You come up here just to take a swing at me? This tournament doesn't seem to value martial ethics much!"Instantly, the entire arena fell into silence. The crowds' eyes widened in disbelief."What just happened?""I think I saw Ste
"Revenge is a dish best served cold. There are plenty of opportunities ahead. We'll take our time!" The members of the Diamond Guild spat out these harsh words and departed triumphantly, leaving Frederick behind feeling both amused and exasperated.He had been late by several minutes, which by the rules should have disqualified him from participating. Yet, fate seemed to intervene in mysterious ways, allowing him to advance unexpectedly."This is absurd! It's as if some unseen hand is deliberately helping me out," Frederick mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.Suddenly, he looked up towards the highest tier of the spectator area, where a secluded private room was located. Liana was there, lounging with crossed legs like a commanding queen. Her smile was enchanting."It's just a few minutes late. With my name, I could sway the outcome of this entire event!" she declared with a sway of her wine glass.However, Liana wouldn't be helping Frederick any further. She wanted to witness
"Wayne Sowle? Never heard of you. You think you can tell me what to do?" Cameron tilted his head and sneered. "I don't want any trouble. Get lost, and I might spare your life."Wayne grinned wryly. "So you're not willing to back down, buddy?""No kidding!" Cameron's fist immediately shot out, ready to strike.Cameron had lost his patience. He was determined to send this guy packing to the next world if he insisted on picking a fight!But in that split second, Wayne astonishingly blocked Cameron's deadly attack with just one finger. The released energy dispersed like smoke in an instant.Cameron gasped in shock. "How is this possible?"Shaking his head, Wayne replied calmly, "I initially wanted to resolve this peacefully, but I guess things are the same everywhere, even in Aston."With a swift kick, he sent Cameron flying hundreds of meters away, the force collapsing walls on both sides. The scene unfolded before everyone's eyes. Cameron was bloodied and beaten, while Wayne was r
Frederick shrugged indifferently. "It doesn't matter. We'll see what happens when we get on stage."When everyone saw that Wayne was going to be Frederick's opponent, the scene exploded into excited chatter."Holy crap! That's Wayne Sowle!""I bet Frederick's in for a rough time!""Defeating Steven with just a slap shows some skill, but there's always someone better. Wayne is on a whole different level of extraordinary!"No one had any faith in Frederick winning. Some even started secret betting pools, with overwhelming odds favoring Wayne.Jasmine couldn't help but worry. "Wayne is so powerful. Will Frederick be okay?"Meanwhile, Douglas silently cursed in his heart. He hoped both would perish in the match, ending his grievances once and for all!Finally, it was time for them to take the stage.Wayne strolled in with a relaxed yet commanding stride. He narrowed his eyes slightly and declared, "Let this arena become the epitaph of heroes!"His words immediately became memorab
The leader struggled a while more on the ground before he breathed his last."He's dead!"The whole scene erupted into chaos. It was a complete mess!With just a few words, the formidable Savant Grandmaster had perished in such a miserable manner.It was terrifying!Now, Garo walked confidently up to Frederick and examined him closely."Good heavens. Sir, I have no personal grievance with you. I'm simply obliged to repay the Gallagher family for their long-term support. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to die!""Looks like you're showing your true colors now, huh?" Frederick replied with a smirk.So, the Gallaghers were behind this. That explained everything!Cameron and Steven, who had been injured before, headed to the spectator stands. Even Wayne, who was still dripping with blood, did the same.Normally, enemies meeting would lead to fierce animosity. But now, these three met and found their emotions surprisingly complex.Wayne forced a smile. "I think we all have a c
"Because I'm serious now!" Garo tore off his black robe, revealing a brown Venomsteel Plate underneath. It was crawling with many poisonous creatures.Everyone assumed Garo's strength lay in combat prowess. But as a witch doctor, his specialty was actually in curses and hexes. Close-quarter combat was, in actuality, his weakness."Now this is my true power! Repent for your earlier disrespect! You've already missed your chance for a painless death!" Garo snapped his fingers, and immediately, dark clouds gathered in the sky.Ordinary witch doctors relied on blood sacrifices and rituals to invoke their powers. Each curse required a significant setup time. But with the Venomsteel Plate, Garo could cast curses anytime, anywhere, at will! His swollen face twisted into a sinister grin as he screamed, "Go to hell!"This was the first time someone had slapped him away in such a manner. The blow had enraged him thoroughly. He was determined to tear the limbs off this young upstart with
"Also, nature mysticism is the natural nemesis of witchcraft!"The crowd gasped in awe."This kid actually knows the lost art of Ethereal Heights' nature mysticism!"Frederick approached Garo calmly, and demanded, "If you want to live, spill all the secrets of the Gallaghers’ plot."Looking hideous, Garo cursed, "Damn it! When did I say I lost? I haven't lost yet!"He suddenly roared and spat out a mouthful of blood, then plucked out one of his own eyeballs and crushed it in his palm.In an instant, his entire body transformed into a gigantic python. It opened its bloody jaws wide, and swallowed Frederick whole in one gulp."Ugh!"The entire arena erupted in uproar once again.Wayne was the first to react. Grinning maliciously, he said, "Hahaha! I know this move! It’s the serpent transformation in witchcraft! Once swallowed by Garo, he'll be corroded and digested by the stomach acid inside. He'll turn into a pile of rotting flesh in no time!"Cameron said in a gloating tone,
Heston was still scoffing when he received a call from Giovanni.He was taken aback, and he nervously glanced at Frederick. 'No way…'The moment he picked up the phone, he got a torrent of scolding.Meanwhile, a bloody power struggle was underway in the Imperial Capital.After the Conservatives took down Woody, their ambition surged. They now aimed to dismantle the entire Radicals faction. Though the Radicals had already compromised in the Woody affair, they were taken aback by the Conservatives' greed and refused to back down any further.A fierce conflict broke out between the two sides, quickly escalating into open warfare. The entire Imperial Capital was placed under lockdown, with martial law in effect. Gunfire and smoke filled the air as both sides clashed, and the violence soon spread across Drakonia. Armies from all regions were mobilized, and a war was about to erupt. At this critical moment, the First Elder woke up.Years ago, after deposing the Dark Monarch of
Senspiras, located in the southeast of Drakonia, was also a neighboring country of Drakonia. It also has the largest population of overseas Drakonians. Many of the wealthy families in Senspiras migrated from Drakonia within the past century or two. The current richest man in Senspiras was one such example."Is Mr. Stone your father?" Frederick raised an eyebrow and asked."Looks like you've got some sense! Name your price!" Heston smirked, and pulled out a checkbook.Frederick's expression darkened."Your dad's assets are not even enough to wipe my shoes. Who do you think you are, pretending to be a big shot? Get lost!"Frederick quickly realized that Heston was just a spoiled brat who would throw money around bullying people. Since he wasn't much of a real threat, Frederick wasn't bothered by dealing with him. Upon hearing Frederick's words, Heston was stunned. "Are you out of your mind? My dad is the richest man in Senspiras! How dare you belittle him?" “So what? Your enti
Sylvia had so many questions. She wanted to know what Frederick had been doing to provoke such dangerous enemies. She wanted to know if Frederick had really killed a hundred people. She wanted to understand how her son had gained such abilities. And most of all, she wondered if Frederick had been living this kind of disturbing life all these years."Mom, we'll talk about it when we get home," Frederick said, gently lifting Sylvia and leaving the company.On the way, Frederick lightly tapped on Sylvia's head, and she quickly fell unconscious. He had used a special method to erase part of her memory.When they arrived home, Sylvia slowly woke up."Fred! Why are you suddenly home?" Sylvia exclaimed in surprise when she saw Frederick."I'm about to go on a long trip, so I came to visit. Why are you sleeping on the couch instead of in your room?" Frederick smiled.Sylvia sat up from the couch, feeling a bit stiff and sore."I was talking to your sister on the phone. How did I
"Yes, it was me. If no one managed to escape, the entire Steinfields family—except for children under sixteen and elders over seventy—should be dead by now," Frederick said with a smirk.If he didn't deter the Steinfields with a show of force, others might try the same methods against him in the future.Hearing this, Kaizer's face went blank and terror filled his eyes. At that moment, Frederick's phone rang. It was Melanie calling. Frederick answered, and put the call on speaker. "How did it go? Tell me, so Kaizer here can hear," Frederick said."There were a hundred and seventy-three Steinfields. Fifty-two were children and elders. The remaining hundred have all been executed!" Melanie reported. Kaizer spat out a mouthful of blood in shock. "No way! We're the Steinfields! The Steinfields of Imperial Capital! How could this happen?"In a panic, Kaizer fumbled with his phone, trying to call his family. However, every call he made went unanswered."You'll find out for sure onc
"Let her go!"A sharp voice rang out.Kaizer instinctively turned around, and he was stunned by Nella's beauty. He couldn't believe someone like her existed."Nella, why did you come down?" Jasmine called out, her eyes widened in panic. She had specifically told them not to come down.Nella trembled in fear. "Ms. Smith, we were worried about you!"Though she was terrified, she still stepped forward. She couldn't just stand by and watch Jasmine get assaulted."Well, well, Frederick sure is lucky with women. But now, they're all mine. Who would've thought that I'd be blessed with a feast before leaving Drakonia!" Kaizer was practically drooling.He let go of Jasmine, and rushed toward Nella eagerly. Nella backed away step by step, but soon found herself cornered."Haha, come to me!" Kaizer spread his arms wide, lunging toward Nella.Just as he was about to grab her, a thunderous crash shook the room. The outer wall of the building crumbled down.Frederick had burst through it a
Meanwhile, Frederick had just gotten off the plane. As soon as he turned on his phone, he saw a long list of missed calls from Selene.He immediately felt uneasy. Selene would never call him so many times unless something urgent had happened.He was about to call her back when his phone rang again.Frederick answered Selene's call quickly, but before he could ask anything, Selene's tearful voice came through."Fred, Mom's been kidnapped!"Frederick's face darkened instantly, and his killing aura surged."Alright. Don't worry, Mom will be fine."With that, Frederick hung up the phone; he then immediately called Melanie, who was still in the Imperial Capital, lazily lounging in bed."Do you have any intelligence on the Steinfields in the Imperial Capital?" Frederick asked through gritted teeth.He didn't need much thought to figure out who was behind this. There was hardly anyone left in Mirage City bold enough to cross him, except for Kaizer. And now, Sylvia had been kidnapped
When the elevator doors opened, Jasmine stepped out into the lobby.Kaizer's eyes lit up as he eyed her from head to toe. Though he had seen pictures of her before, she was more of an eye candy in person. Kaizer, holding his rifle, approached her. "Ms. Smith, you certainly kept me waiting!""What do you want with me?" Jasmine asked coldly. She knew that showing fear or vulnerability would only embolden these lawless men."Ms. Smith, why don't you take a guess?" Kaizer reached for Jasmine and lifted her chin with the barrel of his gun, forcing her to look at him.Jasmine met his gaze without a hint of fear."Is it money you want? The company has ten million in cash reserves. You can take it, and I guarantee I won't call the police. We can pretend nothing ever happened as long as no one is hurt. As for the funds in the company’s accounts, you wouldn’t be able to take it even if I transfer the money to you with today’s financial systems," Jasmine spoke calmly."Ms. Smith, you're q
Bang!With a loud crash, the door was violently kicked open. Kaizer and his men stormed into Frederick’s place.Sylvia was startled, and she shouted, "What do you guys want?" "We're here to kidnap you!" Kaizer strode toward Sylvia. Then, he snatched away her phone and crushed it."Tie her up and take her away!" Kaizer and his men acted quickly. Selene, on the other end of the video call, was shocked by the strangers. Fortunately, she was still on alert. She quickly tried to call Frederick while shaking with fear. However, Frederick’s phone was off since he was on a flight."How’s everything going on your end?" Kaizer asked his men over the phone."We’ve rigged all four walls of Aerowind Enterprise with high-powered explosives. Once we detonate them, the whole building will turn to ashes," his subordinate reported.A smile finally appeared on Kaizer’s face. "Good, I’m heading over now." Soon, Kaizer arrived at Aerowind Enterprise with a backpack."I want to see Ms. Sm
Upon hearing Frederick’s words, Woody stumbled. "Take him away!" one of the senior officials from the Supervision Department ordered.The respected elder of the Drakonia Royal Court, Woody, was escorted away along with the evidence and witnesses."After today, the Lamberts will cease to exist, and you're finally free." Frederick sighed in relief, and smiled at Easton.Easton looked slightly lost. He wasn’t sure what to do next with his sudden freedom. "What's wrong? Struggling to find a new purpose in life?" Frederick teased.Easton nodded, and replied, "Yeah, my ambitions have been completely worn down these three years. I feel a bit aimless.""Should I find you a job?" Frederick suggested casually."It’s best if I could work for you, Mr. Lester!" Easton’s eyes lit up with excitement."I have a pharmaceutical company under me. If you're interested, you could take the position of Chief of Biomedical Engineering," Frederick said jokingly. To his surprise, Easton was genuinely