"Hahaha!" Dexter suddenly began laughing. It started as a soft laugh and gradually grew louder and more maniacal.The onlookers felt their skin crawl, and they reflexively moved away to distance themselves.Dexter was known to be very temperamental, with impulsive mood changes. When his signature laughter appeared, it meant there was bound to be blood soon."You're quite ballsy, aren't you, rascal?" After Dexter was done laughing, his expression instantly darkened."All these years, no one has ever dared to speak to me like that. Incompetent and incapable, you say? Very well, you shall pay for what you said today with your life!"As he spoke, his hand reached for the gun on his waist."Dexter! I'm warning you, you better not act rashly!" Natasha stepped in front of Dustin and shielded him. She continued frostily, "Dustin's mine. If you dare hurt him, I'll never let you off!""What?" Dexter frowned, his expression turning from bad to worse. "Natasha Harmon, do you know what y
His actions elicited hushed whispers among the crowd."Isn't the guy a bit too bold? He actually has the gall to go on stage to take Dexter up on his challenge? Dexter's a decent fighter! It'd be a futile attempt to fight someone like him in a match!""Though it's a courageous act to fight to defend his woman, I still say he's bringing trouble upon himself.""He should have known his place. Wouldn't it have been better if he just behaved and played the part of the boy toy that he was? "Why did he have to pretend to be all tough and insult Dexter? He'll regret it when he ends up injured."The guests sighed and shook their heads at Dustin. From how they saw it, Dustin's actions were no different from seeking out death.He originally had Natasha defending him, so he'd be alright if he just yielded to Dexter. He could have just pretended like nothing had happened. But because of his ego, he had to offend Dexter.Now, he was stuck in a difficult situation with no way out. He might e
The guests gasped in astonishment. They were shocked to see Dexter falling flat on his face.No one had expected that to happen to the magnificent and arrogant Dexter.Though he had a horrible reputation, no one doubted his abilities. No ordinary person could become a Four-star Marshal or be known as a Chaos Demon.With Dexter's abilities, he had no problem defeating ten, or even a hundred men, single-handedly.For an impressive general with a fearsome reputation to fall in such a humiliating manner, it was truly embarrassing. The powerful image that he used to carry was now completely ruined."What's going on? Why did Dexter suddenly fall?"Cody stared with wide eyes, not comprehending what had happened. Everything had happened so quickly that he did not catch what transpired."An accident … It must have been an accident!" Harper took a deep breath and began to convince herself that it had just been an accident.How could someone like Dustin be a Four-star marshal's opponent?
Dustin was already being nice by not hurting him, hoping that Dexter would retreat. However, he didn't expect him to be this persistent. Dexter looked ready to fight till the very end. It seemed that he had to show Dexter who had the upper hand by giving him a real fight.At that thought, Dustin decided to fight back for real and sent a punch right away. It was a simple yet brutal punch.With a loud explosion, Dustin punched through the powerful Infinite Shadow Fist. A surge of energy erupted, sending Dexter flying several yards away. He fell with a heavy thud and couldn't even get up.Dexter spit out a mouthful of blood as soon as he landed, and his face turned pale. He was in so much pain that it felt as if all his bones had been dislocated. He couldn't even muster the energy to turn over."What?" Everyone was in an uproar when they saw that. All of them widened their eyes in disbelief. When Dexter decided to use his killer move, everyone thought that Dustin's fate was sealed
"Huh?" Dexter, who had been firing shots, saw something flash before his eyes. Dustin suddenly reappeared in front of him. He was unbelievably fast, given the fact that he was already quite far away when he pulled the trigger."You … are courting death!" Dexter's expression changed when he heard a cold and stern voice beside his ear. He lifted his gun and wanted to fire another shot. However, before he could pull the trigger, Dustin held his wrist and gave it a tight squeeze. With a loud crack, Dexter's wrist limped downward immediately, and his fingers let go of the gun lifelessly."Ah!" After he recovered from his shock, Dexter let out a loud cry. Dustin gave him another punch in the stomach as he wailed.He spit out another mouthful of blood. Dexter was like a ballistic missile when he was sent flying several yards away. He then slammed into the wall heavily, and it cracked in several places upon impact. His body was stuck to the wall momentarily before sliding down slo
The fear of death enveloped him."Don't … don't kill me … Today was a misunderstanding," Dexter croaked and spoke with great difficulty. At that moment, he was really scared. When death was upon him, he couldn't care less about his status and dignity anymore. If he could live, he would gladly renounce all those. He still had a good life before him, and he could enjoy endless riches. He didn't have to risk his life unnecessarily."Mr. Dexter, don't be afraid! That guy wouldn't dare do anything to you. He's just trying to intimidate you!" Harper tried to comfort him."Intimidate?" Dexter's mouth twitched, and he was almost tempted to start swearing. His chest was this close to being crushed by Dustin. How was that just intimidation?"Mr. Dexter, please hold on! I've already called for backup. When they arrive, Dustin won't be able to escape!" Harper continued to encourage him."Stupid motherfucker! Could you please shut up?" Dexter swore in his heart. His life now depended on
Dexter took big gulps of air as he broke out in cold sweat. He felt as if he had survived an apocalypse. Never in his dreams did he think that Natasha's boy toy could be this strong. He was also ruthless and had no fear of the Fallon family. Was he ignorantly arrogant? Or did he have a powerful backing?"Mr. Dexter, are you alright?" At this time, Cody and Harper finally dared to walk up to him to check if he was alright and to show him their loyalty. They shouted at Dustin just to please him. If they could take this opportunity to become his confidantes, they would finally have the chance to join the elite social circle. They were very close to living the easy life they had dreamed of for so long!"Mr. Dexter, there was nothing you should be afraid of. You could have continued fighting till the very end. I don't think he would have done anything to hurt you!" Harper pointed her chin toward Dustin with an arrogant and disgusted look. In her opinion, he was just feigning bra
This had never happened before.Cody and Harper were speechless. They looked at each other in defeat. They had no idea that Dexter, the person they'd been trying their best to bootlick, could be this useless. He actually apologized publicly because the boy toy threatened him.What an embarrassment! It looked like the Chaos Demon was nothing but a title. Natasha quietly observed the whole event unfolding with a smile on her face. It was true that Dustin was unyielding. He'd never let these rich playboys have their way."How do you propose to compensate me for my emotional distress?" Dustin asked. "Why don't you give me a price?" Dexter replied."I can see that the Fallon family is quite wealthy. How about three million?" Dustin said calmly."What? Three million? This is daylight robbery!" Harper yelled in surprise."Dustin Rhys! You're asking for too much!" Cody said with a gloomy expression.Was this guy crazy? Besides injuring Dexter, he was now asking for a compensation
"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