"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
"Dustin, you must show them what you got and make a name for yourself. Show the world what it means to be unparalleled and unmatched!" Gazing at his tall figure with admiration and adoration, Josie murmured to herself. A real man should aim for remarkable achievements that would be remembered for generations. Marching forward courageously, they were undaunted by the challenges and obstacles ahead. That was what a true man was all about!"So he dares challenge the leader of the alliance. Today would be the day he dies!" Lance muttered darkly under his breath. He only prayed that Ronald would kill Dustin as soon as he went up on stage. "Hmph! He would end up dead anyway. He just lived a few minutes longer." Quincey grinned wickedly. His expression was extremely hostile. "Dustin, please be safe!" Lyn clasped her hands together in a silent prayer. "What the hell? He really went up? Does he think he has what it takes to defeat the leader?" Toddy frowned, filled with jealousy a
"Familiar?" Emery was curious."Have you met Grandmaster Rhys before, Sir Bolts?""I must have been mistaken." Woody stroked his beard and gave it some thought, but he couldn't recall anything. With his memory, he would never have forgotten such a talented martial artist. It was a rare sight to see a young man become a grandmaster in Dragonmarsh. In normal circumstances, he would never forget such a talent if he had met him before. That could only mean that they were not acquainted."Sir Bolts, you must be tired after traveling this far. Please, have a seat and rest." Emery gestured. "There's no rush. Let me have a word with the young grandmaster." With that, Woody headed straight for the stage.Emery frowned briefly before regaining his composure.The Martial Arts Union became powerful mainly because it attracted talent from all walks of life. Be it good or bad, anyone with skills or unique abilities could join the union if they were strong enough.Woody had clearly take
"Young man, as long as you join us, I'll make sure to assign you a venerated role." Woody proposed a tempting offer. In the Martial Arts Union, a venerated role was higher than an official. Dustin would enjoy a rapid promotion and advance by two ranks immediately. "I'm sorry, I'm still not interested." Dustin shook his head once more.Woody frowned at being rejected repeatedly. He didn't expect Dustin to be this ungrateful when he had been extremely accommodating. "No way. What is he thinking? He's declining a venerated role in the union?""Being favored by the union is a great honor, but this guy is not appreciative! He's so ignorant!" "Hmph! What's a young grandmaster in front of the union? They're nothing but country bumpkins!"A few jealous martial artists commented on the situation. Most martial artists saw an offer from the union as the highest honor one could receive. However, Dustin declined the offer repeatedly, showing complete disregard for the union. He was t
"He's here?" Everyone turned their attention in the direction Theodore was looking. What they saw was a white figure jumping down from the top floor of the alliance headquarters. As light as a feather, the figure moved with the wind. "He's here! Sir Reeds is here!" A commotion broke out in the arena as the crowd watched the figure descend from the sky. Ronald Reeds had finally made his appearance. Under the watchful eyes of many, a white-clad Ronald arrived with his hands behind his back. His clothes swayed with the wind, and his steps were graceful. He looked like a higher being making his descent, carrying himself mysteriously and charismatically. He didn't have an imposing air or an overbearing presence. Still, nobody dared look him straight in the eye as he commanded utmost respect. At that moment, Ronald was like the brightest light, illuminating the earth and dispelling the darkness. It inspired genuine awe in the hearts of those who beheld him. "Sir Reeds, cong
What did he say? Wasn't he challenging the leader of the alliance for power and position? Wasn't he doing it to make a name for himself?Why did it sound like he was here to seek revenge? Was there a conflict between them? "How dare you openly insult our leader? It's simply unforgivable!" Quincey yelled as he rose angrily from his seat. The members of the alliance were also clamoring indignantly. Ronald was the face of the alliance. Naturally, no one could tolerate it when their leader was being slandered."That's enough, everyone calm down." Ronald raised his hand to silence the noise. Remaining unfazed, he continued, "Dustin, justice is clear. I have always acted honorably. Do you think a few accusations can tarnish my reputation?""Accusations? Hmph!" Dustin snorted. "You betrayed and killed your master. You're worse than an animal! A hypocrite like you who pretends to be virtuous deserves to be condemned by everyone!""How dare you!" Ronald's expression darkened.
Upon Ronald's command, a waiver was brought forth. Both he and Dustin signed their names on it without a word. A duel in the arena had always been a grave affair of life and death. However, unless there was a deep-seated enmity, the victor would normally show mercy. That was the unspoken code of conduct. However, by signing the waiver, that unspoken code would become void. There would be no room for mercy and no option for surrender. All that lay ahead was a ruthless battle for survival.It was either live or die. No third alternative existed. "Dustin, this is the most foolish thing you've done in your entire life." After signing the contract, Ronald's entire demeanor shifted.Instead of his previous grace, he now exuded an imposing might. A tremendous force seemed to emanate from him, enveloping the entire arena. Following that, the martial artists in the audience felt a sudden heaviness. It was as if an invisible boulder was pressing down on their shoulders. Even thei
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
"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