The revelation struck them. A concealed truth existed despite the plethora of martial arts experts and the constant emergence of formidable figures. None dared to confront the authorities directly because of the vast disparity in strength. As a massive force of several hundred thousand soldiers advanced, even the most extraordinary skills proved futile. In any sect, confronting the elite forces of the authorities meant certain doom.The command echoed, "Surround them!" Instantly, a hundred thousand troops encircled not only Dustin but also the surrounding onlookers, creating layers upon layers. Armed with guns and knives, each person exuded a piercing gaze and an unmistakable aura of hostility. "I'm Anders Mosey, the Veros Warrior. Where are the eight commanders?" As Anders advanced, he showcased his imposing demeanor. As a God of War, standing before a second-tier general was unquestionably a demotion. Even the influential commanders, acknowledged as the Eight Sovereigns, wou
"What did you say?" Amidst the rising tension, Dustin's expression swiftly transformed. He responded with resolve, "Rufus is stationed far away in West Lucozia, commanding a formidable force with numerous skilled protectors. How do you propose to confront him?"Though the Dragon Guard wielded considerable influence, the West Lucozian monarchy proved to be a formidable adversary. They had tolerated this thorn for years, likely out of fear or caution.As long as Rufus stood firm, the West Lucozian monarchy remained secure. It would dissuade the Dragon Guard from any bold moves.From Nestor's words, it seemed the situation had shifted."Your Grace, times have changed." Nestor smiled. "The Dragon Guard has been preparing for a day when they could eliminate the West Lucozian monarchy. If we calculate the time, that day is coming soon.""What exactly do you want?" Dustin demanded."Your Grace, you don't need to worry about these matters. Besides, you won't leave here alive today," Ne
The swordman's robe billowed, and he gave off an aura like no other.If a normal person saw him, they would immediately kneel and worship him.Just as the white-robed swordsman was on his way, a white sword suddenly shot up from the ground and pierced straight into the sky. Then, it blocked his path as if declaring war."Who is blocking my way?" the swordsman dressed in white asked indifferently."I've long heard that your swordsmanship is unparalleled. Thus, I've specifically come and ask for your guidance."At this moment, a handsome young man with a bare upper body slowly ascended into the air. Eventually, he stood on the sword.The person and sword faced Seth Hughes while in the air."Who are you?" Seth eyed him up and down."My name is Glenn Hadley from the Sword Union. I came all this way just to learn a few moves from you." Glenn clasped his hands together in a respectful way."Glenn? The ambassador of the Sword Union?"Seth narrowed his eyes in shock. "I've heard earl
While Glenn was challenging Seth, Adam was about a hundred miles to the east of Quandary Mountain as he led an elite force toward it.As it happened suddenly, he didn't bring many troops. He only had 500 soldiers with him.However, these 500 men were his bodyguards. Thus, they were extremely capable. Many martial experts were among them.If he put all of them together, they would not be at a disadvantage even if they faced 10 thousand soldiers."Quick! Go quicker!""Hurry up. We need to make sure we can get to Scenic Monastery as soon as possible!" Adam kept urging while sitting in the car. He seemed very anxious.When the two officials saw that, they felt a bit astonished.After all, Adam was known to be stoic. No matter what he encountered, he could handle it calmly.Thus, they wondered what had happened today for him to be so agitated. "How's Scarlet? Is there any news about her?" Adam suddenly asked."Ms. Spanner has been suddenly called on a mission by the patriarch. Th
"Kill them!" 500 elite soldiers jumped down from the vehicles and rushed forward, charging into battle.Just then, the cargo truck's compartments opened from the side. It was filled with people inside.These individuals were clad in black combat gear, wore faceless masks, and brandished steel knives. As they had a powerful aura, it was obvious they were skilled martial artists."Go!"When the man in the mask waved his knife on the top of the truck, the martial artists inside the car rushed toward Adam without hesitation.The two parties soon engaged in a violent fight.Adam had more soldiers and horses, not to mention that they were well-trained. Thus, they seamlessly executed their attacks and defenses with astonishing momentum. However, the masked assassins were also capable of fighting. There were five of them in a team. Not only did they exhibit seamless coordination, but they were also ferocious in their attacks.Both sides engaged in intense back-and-forth combat for
At this moment, roars and screams rang out at the bottom of Quandary Mountain.Dustin wielded a sword and maneuvered through the hundred thousand soldiers. His sword was unstoppable wherever it went.With each swing, a dozen or more soldiers fell into a pool of blood.However, the troops beside him didn't reduce, no matter how many he killed. Instead, it got more and more.They were like surging waves, coming one after another. By how they kept coming, they were like an endless tide.It would take several days to finish killing them even if the hundred thousand soldiers stood still and allowed themselves to be killed.However, these hundred thousand soldiers were all elite equipped with armor and shields. That made the task of slaughtering them far from easy.Although Dustin was capable, he couldn't kill a hundred thousand soldiers on his own.Humans were not robots. It was impossible for them to keep killing so intensely.Dustin would use a bit of energy every time he swung h
Not long after the female martial artists fell to the ground, a few more also fainted.Moreover, this situation was spreading rapidly and was irreversible.In the back, the soldiers standing in the back who first inhaled the white mist fell one after another like a row of toppling dominoes.A large number of soldiers displayed symptoms of poisoning. Plus, they were completely defenseless against it.It seemed like a hurricane sweeping through fallen leaves where the white mist passed. Nearly half of the hundred-thousand-strong army had collapsed in just a few minutes."What happened? Why did the people at the back fall?"The eight commanders soon noticed that something was off. They couldn't help but feel shocked."There's poison in the mist! Be careful, everyone!" a soldier yelled out. However, it was too late.More and more soldiers got poisoned and fell to the ground. There were no signs of stopping.If this continued to happen, they would be fighting a losing battle."Qui
While riding the black eagle, Abigail circled on top of everyone.Her indifferent gaze was staring at the crowd below.As Nestor had acted in time, the poison mist only managed to affect half of them.However, it was not difficult for her to poison the rest of them with her skills.The Mystic Arts Order was not afraid of human wave strategy at all."Abigail?" Dustin felt stunned when he saw the young woman riding the eagle.He did not expect her to arrive the soonest out of his other disciples."Sir, are you okay?" Abigail asked in mid-air."I'm fine. I can still hold on," Dustin answered with a smile.While saying that, he took out a tablet and ate it.He depleted a lot of energy from his battle just now. Thus, he needed to replenish his energy and stamina.Thankfully, he always had some tablets on him. That way, he could use them to replenish his lack of stamina."Young woman, who are you? How dare you stir up trouble over here?" Nestor asked while tilting his head."Are
"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