With a loud "boom," the 30-foot-tall decorative rock formation shattered into pieces. At the same time, the pond split apart.The crowd was silenced, their wide-eyed looks showing their disbelief.About 40 feet away, another decorative rock formation also collapsed to the ground."Is he a grandmaster martial artist?""Wait! I remember hearing about a rising young genius in the martial world. Could it be him?""Wow! He's in his twenties and already a grandmaster martial artist. Unbelievable!"The crowd buzzed with excitement. While some were shocked or in awe. Meanwhile, Leah, Quinton, and Livie were dumbfounded. They hadn't expected Dustin to be a grandmaster martial artist. They struggled to accept reality."No ... It can't be?" Trent's expression shifted from joy to sheer horror. He realized that he was in deep trouble.The reveal shook the Harmon family and struck them like thunder.It was fine if they had to face Dustin only. But it was now different after learning that
"I object! Being a grandmaster martial artist doesn't mean you can bully others with your title?" A stern middle-aged man in military attire stepped forward confidently. He was followed by a group of intimidating-looking, fully armed elite soldiers."General Zink!"Dylan's face brightened with relief as if he had found a savior. The despair in his eyes was replaced with hope."He's here! Our savior has arrived just in time!" Jacob exclaimed. He had lost hope for his son's survival but now saw a glimmer of hope."Wait, is that General Zink? What is he doing here?""I wonder if he's as strong as they say.""You guys don't know? General Zink is one of the Four Generals of the Dark Panther Cavalry. He's just one rank below the Scarlet Warrior and commands an army of one hundred thousand. His power and influence are unmatched in the region.""Wow, that's impressive!""General Zink being here means things are about to get interesting!"The arrival of Gideon sparked a wave of excit
At that moment, Gideon believed he could defeat any grandmaster martial artist with his army of one hundred thousand soldiers."Rhys! Your strength means nothing to General Zink. Surrender now, or you'll regret it!" Dylan grinned menacingly.With Gideon and the Dark Panther Cavalry by his side, Dylan had no reason to fear Dustin anymore. "Gideon Zink, let me warn you again. Gather your men and leave immediately. Otherwise, don't accuse me of disrespecting the Spanner family," Dustin warned sternly."What?" Gideon frowned. "You, a nobody from the martial world, dare to threaten me? Are you looking for trouble?""I'm offering you a choice. If you don't take it, you'll regret it," Dustin cautioned."Regret?" Gideon looked at Dustin, puzzled Then he burst into laughter. "Kid, haven't you realized? We've got you surrounded. One word from me, and my troops will shoot anytime!"Dustin narrowed his eyes. "Don't push your luck.""What if I do?" Gideon sneered. "Do you think being
"Do you still want to interfere in others' affairs now, Gideon?"Dustin's grip tightened on Gideon's neck. Gideon struggled to breathe, and his heart raced."Young man, don't act recklessly!"Gideon gritted his teeth. "Holding a high-ranking military officer hostage is a major offense. Even if the military can't catch you, the Martial Arts Union exists. They won't let you go if you hurt me!"The Martial Arts Union was responsible for supervising martial artists' conduct. They would usually punish those who broke the rules. It applied to all martial artists, regardless of their status, including grandmaster martial artists."Are you trying to threaten me? Do you think I won't dare to kill you?" Dustin's eyes grew colder."I'm just warning you. Don't ruin your future," Gideon advised. "You're young, talented, and have a promising future ahead. Stop what you're doing; it's not worth sacrificing your future. Think it through.""So, are you trying to stop me?" Dustin asked."L
Just as Gideon was about to speak, he was interrupted by Trent's furious shouting. "Quick! Fire! This punk wants to kill General Zink! Shoot him down now!"Trent looked impatient. It was as if he was afraid that Gideon would beg for mercy. Upon hearing Trent's words, Dark Panther Cavalry soldiers removed their safety locks. Then, they proceeded to load their bullets. "What the hell are you guys doing? Stop it! Stop it now!" Gideon yelled with all his might. He was shocked.At this rate, he would be shot all over his body before Dustin died. However, in the next second, the sound of gunfire was heard. When he locked eyes with them, Trent had secretly signaled the Harmon family's gunmen hidden among the crowd. That was why they fired. Trent thought it would be best if they managed to hit Dustin. But it did not matter if they failed and accidentally killed Gideon instead. They could just pass it off as a desperate attempt to save a life. If that were to happen, Trent could
"The Scarlet Warrior is here!" When the clear female voice sounded, everyone suddenly fell silent. Instinctively, all of them turned and looked at the entrance. Their eyes fixed on the door. Soon, a woman dressed in red walked in casually, holding a viridescent sword. The woman had short silver hair. Her beauty was truly breathtaking.Every move of hers exuded an air of confidence. She looked imposing and dignified at the same time. Especially her eyes, her gaze was cold and arrogant. It seemed like she was looking down on everyone. The woman appeared like a higher being without regard for all living things. She was none other than the Scarlet Warrior, the most formidable Goddess of War in Dragonmarsh.After a brief silence, the crowd burst into shouts of excitement."The Scarlet Warrior! It really is the Scarlet Warrior!""Oh my gosh! I didn't expect the Scarlet Warrior to come. What an amazing day!""It is said that not only is the Scarlet Warrior stunning, but als
"This guy is done for! The situation escalated to the point that the Scarlet Warrior came. His life is about to become a living hell!""All I can say is that he's very unlucky. It just so happened that he ran into his greatest enemy. There's nowhere for him to run now.""I guess it's his honor to die in the hands of the Scarlet Warrior." Many people's gazes fell on Dustin as they gossiped. Some pitied him, while some took pleasure in his misfortune. Some looked at the scene sorrowfully. Scarlet was the commander of the Dark Panther Cavalry. Meanwhile, Dylan was a high-ranking commander.So, everyone naturally believed that Scarlet came to save Dylan.Dustin was indeed formidable. However, he could never go against Scarlet. That was an undeniable fact. There were no reasons or logic to explain it. It was simply because she was Scarlet. After all, she was an undefeatable legend. "My Lady! What brings you here?" After collecting himself, Gideon was the first one to greet h
Suddenly, Dylan's head dropped to the ground with a thud and rolled to a stop. His eyes were still wide in disbelief, his face filled with shock.Till his death, Dylan never expected that Scarlet would kill him. She was supposed to be his savior. However, she turned out to be the reason for his death. "W—what?" The sudden turn of events shocked everyone. They gasped as they looked at Dylan's severed head on the ground. They looked as if they had seen a ghost. They couldn't comprehend what was happening. As the commander of Dark Panther Cavalry, wasn't the Scarlet Warrior supposed to help Dylan?Why did she kill him instead? Did she make a mistake? "H—he's dead?" Trent stuttered, his eyes wide. He was frozen in shock.Kate was terrified at the sight of Dylan's lifeless body. She could not believe Scarlet actually killed Dylan. "How did it turn out like this? Why would the Scarlet Warrior kill Dylan?""T—that's impossible …" Jacob muttered as he stood there dumbfounded.
"Mr. Rhys, you're so generous," Felicia said. "I don't know how to repay you."She lightly ran her fingers over the smooth surface of the ornate box. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked up at Dustin gratefully."It was nothing, Ms. Thorns. Don't mention it," he replied with an indifferent smile. "Besides, this Dracan essence was always destined for Prince Nathaniel. I'm merely delivering it."Felicia smiled earnestly. "What do you want in return? If it's within my power, I'll gladly help."Dustin replied, "I'm not asking for anything. I only hope that if I ever find myself in trouble, Prince Nathaniel will be willing to help me.""I get it now." Felicia nodded.Dustin wasn't asking for treasure, but rather seeking a favor from Nathaniel. With Nathaniel's current status, his favor was more valuable than any treasure.If he ascended the throne and became king, the value of that favor would increase exponentially. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that, even if D
When Dustin heard Felicia's word, his hand briefly hesitated before he placed the chess piece. He smiled and said, "I thought you came to learn chess, but I didn't expect you to be here as a messenger."Felicia gave a light, teasing laugh. "With a mind like yours, how could you not know why I'm here?"She added candidly, "Prince Nathaniel saved my life and welcomed me as an honored guest. It's only right that I repay the favor by helping solve his troubles. I hope that it doesn't bother you.""You're frank and gracious, Ms. Thorns. Why would I take offense?" Dustin replied with a faint smile.He had expected her to start with pleasantries or try to butter him up. So, her bluntness actually caught him off guard."To be honest, Prince Nathaniel has never taken this kind of interest in anyone before," Felicia said as she placed another chess piece on the board. She smiled and continued, "I can tell he truly wants you on his side. And as someone close to him, I'd like to help make
Nathaniel's mansion was huge. It was more like a maze than a home. Even with a detailed layout, Dustin had to stay sharp as he moved through the grounds. After all, blueprints never quite captured the twists and turns of the actual place.Led by a maid, he followed a winding path through the corridors for nearly ten minutes before finally arriving at a guesthouse with a garden.The place was spacious and quiet, filled with birdsong and blooming flowers. It was a secluded spot that was ideal for privacy."Mr. Rhys, you can stay here. If you need anything, just let me know," the maid said. Her gaze was warm with a hint of admiration. She had watched Dustin's performance in the training ground earlier and knew he was an important guest brought in by Nathaniel. If she could catch his attention, it could completely turn her life around.He waved her off and said, "Okay. You can go now. I don't need anyone to attend to me." "Uh… but…" The maid hesitated."Don't worry. I'll explain
The crowd murmured among themselves as they looked at the broken broadsword and the stunned expression on Lycas' face."That strike was insanely fast and dead-on too," someone commented."I never expected General Derin's secret move to be defeated like that. It's unbelievable," another said."I thought General Derin could turn things around for us, but he still lost," a third added.Everyone knew how strong Lycas was. As a fully developed grandmaster with a broadsword, he was supposed to be unstoppable. However, at the critical moment, Dustin's strike shattered his broadsword.Lycas' loss was sudden and almost unbelievable. Some blamed bad luck and thought he could have won if things had gone differently. But those who truly understood what happened knew better.Even with Dustin's movement restricted and Lycas unleashing his strongest technique, he still pierced through the opening with near-impossible timing. That strike wasn't just lucky but masterful. It was a brutal display
Lycas gripped his broadsword with both hands and roared. The sound cracked through the air like a thunderclap.He sidestepped sharply and charged straight at Dustin like a raging bull.The heavy broadsword moved like it weighed nothing in his hands. He swung it with brutal speed. Each arc cut through the air with a sharp, whistling howl, as if it could slice through anything in its path.The broadsword came crashing down on Dustin with bone-crushing force, like a mountain falling from the sky.Lycas threw his full weight into the swing. As the sword descended, the force of the strike stirred up dust from the ground. It sent plumes of dirt in every direction.He knew Dustin was no ordinary opponent. If he wanted a chance to win, he had to make the first move and seize the initiative."Nice form," Dustin said.As Lycas launched a powerful, aggressive attack, Dustin remained calm and unruffled. With effortless grace, he sidestepped without the slightest rush. The broadsword whizz
Bryce knew Dustin was strong, but this was beyond anything he anticipated. Though he had gained the upper hand early on, Bryce still believed his skills matched Dustin's.From his observation, Dustin relied on martial arts techniques and hit-and-run tactics. Plus, he didn't dare to confront Bryce head-on.He had assumed that as long as he found an opening, he could exploit Dustin's weaknesses and defeat him. But when Dustin finally stopped holding back, Bryce realized how wrong he'd been.It turned out Dustin wasn't just playing hit-and-run tactics. Instead, he'd held back the entire time to spare Bryce from an embarrassing defeat.The moment Dustin stopped holding back, Bryce didn't stand a chance. Even without special techniques, Dustin's raw power, speed, and reflexes were enough to crush him.The difference in their abilities was staggering, so much so that no amount of skill could close the gap.And it wasn't just Bryce who was shocked. Except for Nathaniel, who had already
Bryce's request for a fight heated up the atmosphere.Soldiers around the training ground started murmuring among themselves."Lieutenant General Gantz is a legend in our ranks. His combat skills are no joke—he's taken down countless enemies on the battlefield. I haven't seen him in action in years," one young soldier said with awe."Yeah," a veteran agreed. "Lieutenant General Gantz has been through countless battles, and his strength is unmatched. If he steps in, Mr. Rhys might be in for a rough time."After the fight earlier, the soldiers knew firsthand that Dustin was no slouch. Otherwise, he wouldn't have easily defeated the five elite soldiers.But in their minds, no matter how skilled Dustin was, he stood no chance against Bryce.Bryce was a grandmaster not just in rank but in skill, physical strength, and battlefield experience. He was stronger than any expert from the martial world.Nathaniel had once recruited several grandmaster martial artists to spar with them, but
"Your Highness, the soldiers under me are trained solely in killing techniques. If they hurt your guest, things could get ugly," Lycas said.He didn't say it outright, but the message was clear. If Dustin wasn't strong enough, he'd better stay out of the way, or he was just asking for trouble.Bryce didn't say anything, but the look he gave Dustin was full of contempt. How could a pampered young man like Dustin measure up to soldiers who've been through the grind? He figured Dustin was probably some heir from a prominent family who knew Nathaniel and was trying to assert his relevance."You guys are blind to greatness when it's standing right in front of you." Nathaniel chuckled and shook his head. He added, "If any of you manage to land a hit on Mr. Rhys, I'll pay out a thousand gold. But honestly, I doubt any of you have what it takes."At the mention of rewards, the soldiers perked up. Their eyes lit up with excitement. They were practically itching to charge at Dustin and g
During the meal, Nathaniel arranged for two women to accompany Dustin.Throughout history, even the greatest heroes couldn't resist the allure of beautiful women. Sometimes, a woman of extraordinary beauty could be far more enticing than rare treasures or high status.Dustin remained composed. He neither showed any enthusiasm nor did he deliberately reject it.As for the women seated on either side of him, he treated them with polite respect. He enjoyed a drink and the easy conversation with them, but nothing beyond that.However, Nathaniel saw it differently. To him, it seemed that Dustin was unimpressed by the women at his side.Considering Dustin's background, it made sense. A woman of ordinary beauty would never catch his attention. Nathaniel realized he would need to pull out all the stops. Perhaps, it was time to bring out his most prized companion and see how Dustin responded.After the meal, he led Dustin to his mansion's training ground.The midday sun blazed overhead