Diego had numerous elite assassins by his side. Even the Murrays' most formidable kill team struggled to make a move. Although Dustin was skilled, it was impossible for him to eliminate everyone in a matter of seconds. "Cut the crap! If you want to save your daughter, then help me right now!" Dustin urged. "I'll help!" Lily reacted first and hurried over to untie him from the Dragon Rope. Dustin was tightly bound, and brute force wasn't going to help. Lily could only unravel him loop by loop. "One …" Right then, Diego had counted down to the final number and was grinning widely. "Since you won't drop your weapons, don't blame me for being ruthless!"With that, he raised the knife in his hands, about to slash Sheila's arm. "Stop!"Enduring the pain, Caden roared and rushed forward. But he was swiftly restrained by the Kimbokuan assassins.At that critical moment, a silver needle shot out with a sharp whistle, precisely hitting Diego's sword. A sharp metallic clang ran
The hall fell silent as everyone witnessed Diego's head explode. Caden's shouting came to an abrupt halt, while Vivian, Evan, and the rest of their group were dumbstruck. Everything had happened so rapidly that they could not react for a moment. Even with Diego using a hostage as a shield and guarded by elite assassins, Dustin still achieved a one-hit kill. It was truly horrifying. As Diego's headless corpse fell with a dull thud, Dustin grabbed a confused Sheila by the shoulder. He pulled her out of the encirclement and tossed her back to the Murray camp. Finally, Sheila was safe. "Diego!" Antonio's expression contorted in fury as he looked at his grandson's dead body. He roared in a thunderous rage, "You bastard! How dare you kill my grandson? I'll tear you to pieces! Kill him! KILL HIM!"At his command, a horde of elite assassins rushed forward. They hurled their concealed arsenal of poisoned darts and throwing blades. It was a relentless assault. The tight-knit b
Upon saying that, Caden firmly gripped Sheila's wrist and pulled her away."No! I won't leave! Let go of me!" Sheila began to struggle frantically.She already owed Dustin once and wasn't going to owe him a second time. If she did that, she wouldn’t forgive herself for the rest of her life."Sheila! Your dad is right. Time is running out. Let's go!""That's right, Sheila! This is a matter of life and death; don't be stubborn!""So what if Dustin dies? As long as we survive, his sacrifice for the Murrays will be the greatest honor of his life!"At that moment, Evan, Vivian, and the rest of the group also persuaded Sheila. It would be the greatest advantage to have Dustin's life exchanged for their safety. "Go ahead and leave if you want. I'm staying!" Sheila refused to listen to their advice."You foolish girl!" Caden was furious and slapped her.He scolded, "You can't afford to be stubborn right now! You will follow my orders!"Take her away!" Sheila was stunned by the sla
The Celestial Blade turned into a bolt of dark lighting. After piercing through Antonio's chest, it returned to Dustin's hand.Blood flowed down slowly from the blade, gathering at the tip before dripping onto the ground. It created a blossom of bloodstains.Meanwhile, Antonio's body trembled and plummeted from midair, crashing heavily onto the ground. He landed on his knees, freezing in a motionless kneeling position. Silence engulfed the entire place. It was so intense that one could hear the faintest sound of a pin dropping. A collective shock seized them all. Their faces were etched with sheer astonishment.They never could have imagined that Kimboku's mighty Sword Sage, the highly skilled Antonio, would be pierced through the chest by Dustin's sword. The entire situation happened so suddenly and without any warning that no one had time to react. All they witnessed was a bolt of dark lightning, and the next thing they knew, Antonio was already seen on his knees. "Ugh …
Even the major official institutions would have to treat Dustin with utmost respect. Dustin was young, and he displayed formidable strength. It wasn't an exaggeration to say he could easily stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Christopher in the future. A young prodigy like him was someone to be admired and looked up to for a lifetime. The biggest issue was that Evan, Vivian, and their group had treated Dustin with disdain and contempt. They had even resorted to offensive language. If Dustin ever chose to retaliate, the consequences would be unimaginable.The thought sent shivers down their spines. They regretted having offended Dustin and how foolish they acted. They had underestimated him, causing them to miss out on a valuable talent. If they had established a good relationship with Dustin, they could have effortlessly risen to greater heights."Impressive, kid. You hid your true abilities so well that even I didn't notice," Christopher remarked. He exhaled a long sigh of r
Christopher had chosen his words intentionally. On one hand, he genuinely admired Dustin. He saw him as a young talent who excelled in both the martial and literary arts and had a promising future. Not only that, he also had an impeccable character and a pleasant personality. A young prodigy like him was a rare find in the whole of Dragonmarsh. If only Dustin could become his grandson-in-law, the Murray family would be in good hands. On the other hand, he had Sheila's well-being in mind. She was a kind-hearted and rather innocent girl who easily fell for deceit. She needed a strong protector by her side, and Dustin was the best choice. They were the perfect match. Sheila stood quietly behind the both of them. Her face was tinged with a blush, reflecting both shyness and anticipation. She waited for Dustin's response, hoping to hear the answer she desired."Thank you for thinking highly of me, General Murray. But an ordinary citizen like me is not worthy of Ms. Murray."
Christopher let out a soft sigh. "The more talented one is, the more prideful they become. "Going back to how things used to be won't be easy. You've made your decision. While he may not blame you, things will never be the same.""What should I do?" Sheila was visibly anxious."Just go with the flow, Sheila. Only time will tell. Perhaps you can meet again someday." Christopher shook his head.Although that was the advice he offered, he knew it was too late. Once a rift had formed, no matter how hard one tried to mend it, the scar would remain. …After leaving the Murray residence, Dustin drove back to Zephyr Lodge.As soon as he walked through the doors, an anxious Cornelius rushed out to meet him.yelleding as he ran, "Sir Rhys, we have a problem! We have a big problem!""Huh?" Dustin frowned instantly."What happened? Why are you so anxious? Calm down and tell me.""I-It's the Scarlet Warrior. She's here!" Cornelius was breaking out in sweat."What about it? It's not li
"Say that again?" Scarlet's expression was frosty. She pointed the tip of her sword against Natasha's throat. If she just pushed forward an inch more, Natasha would easily end up dead. "Hmm?" Natasha frowned at the sight of the blade against her throat. She hadn't expected Scarlet to have such a bad temper and draw her sword without a word. She was also certain that Scarlet was serious. If she provoked her further, she would be as good as dead. It seemed like she had met her match. This woman before her was harder to deal with than Dahlia. "Stop it!" Amid their deadlock, Dustin suddenly rushed in. "Dustin, you're here!" Scarlet immediately sheathed her sword. Her previous cold demeanor was replaced by a smile."Scarlet, what were you doing earlier?" Dustin frowned, evidently displeased. "Nothing, I was just joking around with Ms. Harmon," Scarlet said with a smile. "Joking around?" Dustin turned to Natasha and asked softly, "Are you hurt?""I'm fine. I was bored e
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
"This…" Dustin began.He hesitated on purpose and didn't give an immediate answer.Upon seeing him deep in thought, Nathaniel was convinced that Dustin was weighing the pros and cons. He leaned in slightly, his smile widening with anticipation. "You should know how much the Dracan essence means to me," he said. "If I can gather all the essences, it’d be like fate is on my side. My path to the throne would be unstoppable—and when that time comes, your reward will be waiting."As he spoke, his gaze stayed on Dustin as he searched for any sign of hesitation in his expression.Dustin looked up and met his eyes. For a moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.He pressed his lips together and spoke slowly. "You're right, Your Highness. But it wasn't easy to find the Dracan essence. I went through quite a few twists and turns. Besides, if I give it to you, it might put me at odds with the other two princes."He paused deliberately and left the rest unsaid. Still, the concern
The next morning, Nathaniel was inside a lavish mansion. He was in his study, flipping through an ancient manuscript. One of his most trusted aides hurried in and lowered his voice, "Your Royal Highness, word just came in. Another trace of Dracan essence has been found."Nathaniel raised an eyebrow and closed the manuscript. "Where?""Our investigation shows it ended up in the hands of Logan Rhys," the aide replied."Logan Rhys?" Nathaniel narrowed his eyes slightly and was surprised by the name.He had tried to win Logan over before and spared no expense, but never received a response. Later, he discovered that Tristan and Matthias had done the same.Fortunately, Logan still hadn't picked a side. He might be holding out for the best offer, but at least he hadn't shut the door on Nathaniel.With the Dracan essence in his hands, Logan had become an even more valuable target. In addition to the West Lucozian monarchy, Logan was an ultimate grandmaster, which made him worth recrui
"Give me a moment to think," Dustin said.Grace's words sent him into deep thought.After all, carrying the fate of Dragonmarsh was no small burden. First, he had to be tough enough to handle it. Then, he needed the resolve to accept what came with it. Once he carried that burden, it meant taking on a heavyweight.He used to act on his own terms and do things as he pleased without worrying too much about the consequences. But once the nation's fate was involved, everything changed.Not that he had many options.Dustin could either hide in Sacred Wrym Summit and hope Arion would protect him, or take a risk and absorb the Dragonmarsh's fate to push through his cultivation's bottleneck. Between the two, he was leaning toward the latter."I can give your plan a shot," Dustin said suddenly. "But we're still missing a piece of the Dracan essence. If we're doing this, we need to find that last one first."Only once all five pieces of Dracan essence were united could he truly wield the
"Royal gods? And two of them?" Dustin frowned at the news.His battle with Poseidon in West Lucozia had shown him firsthand that the Hall of Gods didn't send weaklings into the field.One royal god had already pushed him to his limit. If two came at him together, winning wasn't even the question. He'd be lucky just to make it out alive."That's right," Grace said solemnly. "The royal gods, Zeus and Hera, have crossed the border. They're even stronger than Poseidon. If they ambush you together, your chances are slim."She knew Dustin was strong, but he was still young. Moreover, Zeus and Hera weren't just anyone. They were world-class powerhouses. Surviving a fight with them would be next to impossible.The Hall of Gods had probably figured out how dangerous Dustin could become. If they had given him a few more years to grow, they might not have been able to stop him."Well, that complicates things." Dustin rested his chin in one hand with a thoughtful expression.Two royal god