Although the voice wasn't particularly loud, a commanding presence in the room silenced the noisy crowd.The stout old man with the white beard entered, radiating authority. He wore a black robe and had a gruff appearance with piercing eyes. As he walked, his robe fluttered in the wind. Although he wasn't particularly strong, he exuded a profound sense of grace.Without doing anything, all eyes were on him. It was Graham, the leader of the Soul Reapers."Sir Thorne is finally here. Something big is about to happen.""The kid dares to challenge Sir Thorne. There's going to be trouble.""Why be so foolish? Why provoke a grandmaster? Let's see how he handles it now!""Words can really lead to trouble!"People whispered, pointing their fingers. Some even had pity in their eyes. They thought Dustin had taken it too far when he challenged Graham."It's over now." Lyn trembled."Wow, this guy is playing with fire! Why mess with a grandmaster? That's like asking for trouble. I hope
"Huh …"As the crowd watched Graham hastily retreat, they were all confused. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and they wondered what had happened.Graham, the respected grandmaster and leader of the Soul Reapers, had actually been scared away? What had become of his authority and dignity?Lance hesitated before asking, "Master Thorne! Where are you going?" "I have urgent business at home. I'll be back soon." Graham's trembling voice came from a distance, and he quickly left.Graham's earlier injuries from the Black Forest had not recovered. Now that he was facing Dustin again, he realized running away was the best thing to do. If he ran into Dustin again, it could cost him his life. Making a wise decision meant preserving his life, even if it required swallowing some pride.Lance was speechless for a moment. Since joining the guild, he had never seen his mentor appear so shaken. He wondered what could have terrified Graham to this extent."What's going on? Why did Sir Thorne
"Mr. Harrison! They're right here. My men spotted them coming in." This announcement caused a stir as a group from the martial arts alliance enforcement team stormed into the arena.At the forefront was a stern figure in black clothing. He was an alliance supervisor. Next to him was the enforcement team captain, who had been injured earlier by Dustin."Oh no! The enforcement team is here!" Lyn's expression changed as she quickly stood in front of Dustin. "Mr. Rhys, they're looking for you. You should leave now. I'll distract them," she said, wanting to repay Dustin for saving her life earlier."Lyn, why are you worried about him? Many alliance members are on their way. Let's hide and avoid the situation," Toddy suggested. He had the confidence, but not enough to take on the entire alliance."Mr. Rhys, please leave! If you don't, it will be too late!" Lyn became concerned as Dustin refused to leave."I'm not afraid of Graham, so why should I fear these guys?" Dustin smiled and
No one anticipated Dustin's impressive background. Many believed he was a disciple from a small guild with above-average abilities. But now, it was clear that this seemingly ordinary young man was actually the young grandmaster.Dustin's outstanding performance at the Knighthood Society Tournament, his victory over Augustus at Shinefield Lake, and the events in the Black Forest have solidified his legendary status in the martial world.In addition, Dustin challenged the leader of the martial arts alliance. Each of these events had a profound impact.He outshone his peers, and even veteran grandmasters were eclipsed by his reputation. Seeing this living legend in person put everyone in awe."Is he really a young grandmaster?" Lance was so startled that his body shook uncontrollably. He couldn't believe the person he had challenged was the legendary genius behind these extraordinary events. Dustin had defeated him with only one finger, and his leader had suddenly fled. Everythi
The captain immediately snapped out of his stupor. He quickly went forward and cowered. He showed his respect, and his voice trembled as he said, "Grandmaster Rhys, I take full responsibility. Please forgive me."Suddenly, a thunderous cry rang out. "What in the world are you doing?"Quincey and a group of top martial arts alliance members entered the arena. When he saw the captain and Wayne in such an embarrassing position, his expression darkened."You are a disgrace! Your actions have brought shame to our alliance!" Quincey stormed toward the two and slapped them. The two severely beaten people, feeling unjustly treated, hesitated to retaliate. They wondered if asking a grandmaster for mercy had been a mistake or if they should just accept their fate."Mr. Reeds, this is Grandmaster Rhys. The one who has challenged Sir Reeds," Wayne said nervously. He hoped Quincey would forgive him.Quincey angrily exclaimed, "You still dare to speak?" He continued to slap Wayne.He added
"I can't believe he got the Three Guardians to appear. Quincey has really gone all out!""It's rumored that the Three Guardians are all martial arts grandmasters. Although Dustin is skilled, it would be hard to go against three of them alone.""Is this how the martial arts alliance conducts itself? Dustin came to challenge the leader. Instead, they are trying to intimidate him with numbers.""What a blatant disregard of our martial ethics!"The crowd clamored at the sight of the three black-clad figures in masks. The Three Guardians were the alliance's hidden strength. They ranked higher than the elders and third only to the leader and assistant leader. They would never be deployed unless the alliance was in grave danger. Nobody knew how strong they were or what they looked like. Those who had seen their faces never lived to tell the tale. The last time the Three Guardians were dispatched was ten years ago. It was during Ronald's inauguration as the alliance leader. That
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in our affairs?" Quincey's expression darkened. "I'm a disciple of Boulderthorn, and I disapprove of your actions." Josie said indignantly, "The martial arts alliance should uphold fairness and justice. The alliance had accepted Grandmaster Rhys' challenge when he issued it. "But you're taking matters into your own hands. You try to attack him before Sir Reeds even arrives. "Where is the integrity of the alliance? Where is its dignity?" "That's right! If you're looking for a fight, do it the official way! You're such a coward for using numbers to bully him!""Grandmaster Rhys has shown respect to the alliance by coming alone for the duel. The alliance should be returning the courtesy. A duel in the battle ring is the only way to convince the public.""You guys aren't afraid, are you? Are you afraid that Grandmaster Rhys would threaten the alliance leader's position? Is that why you have resorted to such dishonest methods?"The martial arti
"Sir Williamson, I'm acting in the interest of our reputation." Quincey frowned.He continued, "This guy has killed an innocent man and is acting aggressively. He has no respect for the alliance. If we don't deal with him now, we'll likely face more in the future!" "Mr. Reeds, I saw what happened earlier. You were the one acting aggressive and arrogant." Emery continued calmly, "Besides, you have violated our code of conduct. You had commanded the Three Guardians without the permission of our leader. "If you insist on continuing this argument, you'll add another offense to your record—knowingly breaking the law.""You—!" Quincey was exasperated.Through gritted teeth, he whispered, "Sir Williamson, we're on the same side. Are you really going to oppose me for this brat?""Mr. Reeds, I've always handled matters objectively. I will never act in favor of personal gain."Emery declared confidently, "Everyone can tell right from wrong. I believe everyone here wishes to witness a
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
"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