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
The black mist bomb that Abigail had just dropped was way more potent than the white mist she had created.The white mist was a slow poison. Once one was poisoned by it, their limbs would go weak, and they would faint. If they managed to get help in time, there was still a chance for them to live.However, the blast mist was different. It had a potent erosion effect. It could turn a human being into a corpse in just seconds.Plus, it would be the disfigured and bloody type of corpse."What a troublemaker!" Anders gritted his teeth when he saw Abigail in the air.A poisonous bomb that could kill soldiers within a 300 feet radius—it was terrifying how lethal the bomb was.Nobody would be able to survive if she threw a couple more down."So? Do you know how capable I am now? Oldie, get away now if you know what's good for you. Otherwise, I promise you'll be dead meat once I throw a few more down!" While riding the eagle, Abigail yelled from above.While saying that, she took out a
After stabilizing everyone, Nestor's gaze turned to the sky. "Brat, I don't believe that the poison in your hand can kill everyone here. If you're really that capable, go ahead," he sneered."What? You don't even care about your subordinate's lives?" Abigail furrowed her eyebrows.She did have different kinds of poison with her. However, she didn't have much of each.She only had three of the corrosive poison she had thrown down just now. Even if she dumped all of them, she couldn't eliminate all the enemies.That was why she threw out different kinds of threats to make them back off.However, she didn't expect Nestor to be so vicious. He didn't care about his subordinates' lives at all."All of them are brave soldiers who aren't afraid of death. I'm sure they'll be willing to sacrifice themselves just to complete the mission," Nestor replied calmly."That's right! What a troublemaker! You'd better not poke your head into this. If you know what's best for you, you should leave i
When Dustin and Abigail turned around to look, they realized Nestor and the others were still struggling in the white mist. The latter couldn't even tell where they were."Be careful!" At this moment, Dustin's expression suddenly changed. Then, he shielded Abigail. The true energy in his body oozed out, forming a Black Tortoise Shield.In the next second, a black arrow shot across the sky. With lightning speed, it pierced through the body of the giant eagle. However, it didn't stop until it collided with the Black Tortoise Shield.A deafening sound resounded in the air.The Black Tortoise Shield exploded on the spot. The massive impact caused Dustin and Abigail to be blown away.Meanwhile, the eagle that had gotten shot in the chest didn't even manage to cry. It died on the spot and fell from the sky."Blackie!" Abigail cried out.The black eagle was not only the transportation of the Mystic Arts Order's Grand Sorceress but also a heirloom left behind by Abigail's mother.Abi
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